Tag: bagpipes

Pipe Bands Australia Follows RSPBA Lead

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The Council of Pipe Bands Australia has approved changes to its contest framework to closer align it with Scotland. The PBA website reports: Australian contest regulations now more closely reflect requirements observed in RSPBA competitions following national council adoption of proposals put to bands in the recent annual ballot of Pipe Bands Australia. The new definition of music requirements for Grade 4 MSR provide both flexibility for developing bands and…

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Macdougall of Aberfeldy and that Feature of 1893 Part 2

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We continue with our feature on Macdougall of Aberfeldy and the feature which appeared in the People’s Journal newspaper of November 4, 1893. It is by their ‘Lady Correspondent’ and is headlined ‘An Interview with the Queen’s Bagpipe-Maker’. This is a period piece of writing and the author is clearly no piper. Would that we could get our hands on some of the sets mentioned. There is relevant information on the ivory…

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BC Pipers Association Indoor Meet Results

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Robert MacNeill reports: Bruce Gandy won the MacCrimmon Memorial Cairn for Open Piping Piobaireachd, the March, Strathspey & Reel, and the Aggregate at the 2017 BCPA Annual Gathering on April 14 & 15 at Clayton Heights Secondary School, Surrey, BC. Andrew Lewis captured the Competing Pipers Association Combined B&C Grade Piobaireachd. Andrew is pictured above receiving his award. Grant Maxwell won both the Open Snare Drumming events and Mackenzie Webster took…

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What Ensemble Adjudicators Should Assess at Competitions

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The following article by Alistair Aitken OBE was  first published in the April 2003 edition of Pipe Band Magazine, an edition now out of print. It throws some light on the still mysterious (to some) business of Ensemble adjudication. Given the rapid approach of the 2017 pipe band season we thought it would be helpful to bands currently polishing up their competition MSRs and Medleys. In the last edition of the…

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Maclean Highland Gathering NSW – Updated with Report and Pictures

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Report from the 113th Maclean Highland Gathering held 14th April 2017 in northern New South Wales, Australia. The picture above shows winner Andrew Roach in typical Antipodean formal dress. Robert Gibb writes: For the 113th time in its long history, the annual Maclean Highland Gathering was held on Easter weekend over the 14th and 15th of April.  The Friday focusses on solo piping with all grades represented. ‘A’ grade competitors compete in the Maclean Gold Medal contest comprising Piobaireachd, MSR, Hornpipe and…

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