Reviews: Ben Duncan Recital/ Airdrie Recital Videos

The piping recital season is in full swing in Scotland and indicative of a healthy desire among enthusiasts to hear top class, live piping. Today Les Hutt reports on a recent recital in Inverness and we have short videos giving a flavour of the highly successful recital/ fundraiser held in Lanarkshire last Friday…… For a second time this season, Inverness Piping Society’s recital coincided with a weather warning, writes Les Hutt. Fortunately this…

The Inaugural Peter MacLeod Memorial Recital

This past Friday (13/2/26) saw lovers of highland piping fill out the function room of Airdrie Working Men’s Social Club in Lanarkshire. The large audience was made up of people from all over Scotland and even a group who had travelled up from southern England to attend. The event was the very first held by the foundling charity, The Lanarkshire Piping and Drumming Trust.  By Dan Nevans The recital featured…

Editor’s Notebook: Bob Nicol/ Tonight’s Recitals/ RSPBA Website/ Solo Judging/ Balvenie Medal

Reading Duncan Watson’s article on Bob Nicol I thought, ‘they don’t make ’em like that any more’. Quite a character. To be a good teacher you must have a clear vision of how a tune should be played and RB Nicol clearly had that. Too many alternatives and the student becomes confused. But there is more to the man. When all we hear is of Nicol’s teaching we tend to…

Bob Nicol, A Blunt But Inspirational Teacher

Recent Piping Press posts on the judging of solo piping led to a response from Mr Neil Mulvie in which there was reference to an unnamed piper whose playing was criticised by Bob Nicol. The piper played the piobaireachd Beloved Scotland and apparently did not give enough value to the low A in the commencement to the tune and Nicol uttered the words, ‘he hasn’t got it’. By Duncan Watson This occasion was…

Stirling Contest Update/ NPC Juniors Draw

A quick update on the Stirling Junior Solo Piping Contest scheduled for Saturday 7 March at the King Robert Hotel in Stirling, writes Craig Muirhead.  I’ve had a really strong entry from all across the country for the Under 18s and have a great line-up of judges including Ian Duncan, Gordon McCready, Callum Wynd and Jonathan Greenlees.  Still a few places left and plenty of space in the chanter event,…