Tag: bagpipes

Piobaireachd Society Conference 2017 – New Music and Friendship in the Perthshire Highlands

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The Piobaireachd Society Conference affords members, friends and enthusiasts the opportunity to gather together and, over a weekend, discuss the music and listen to some fine playing in a convivial atmosphere, writes Robert Wallace. Though it has always been thus, I can remember some fiery exchanges from my early days in the late 70s and early 80s when S MacNeill, Donald MacLeod and David Murray were to the fore. Not that Donald…

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100 Guineas Solo Contest, South Africa

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Nicholas Taitz reports: The overall results for the Senior 100 Guineas solo piping competition, held this weekend in Johannesburg, were as follows: Chris Terry Tom Fuller David Mason Nicholas Taitz Chris Terry (pictured above competing) made a memorable and remarkable comeback, winning the piobaireachd and dominating the light music too. He played the Lament for Donald Duaghal MacKay, a favourite tune of his, on an immaculate and quite magical bagpipe. Chris…

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PP Ed’s Blog: Piob Soc Conf./ Tain Games/ Donald MacKinnon/ Gillie’s Family

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The Piobaireachd Society conference enters its second day today and I must say it has been a roaring success so far. I’ll have a full report later as the there is not a lot of time before the next session on the 2017 set tunes begins. The weather up here in Birnam has been amazing – as it has been in much of the UK. Last night’s ceilidh went on…

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Band Cut Offs and Why Do Some Pipers End With a Rabble of Finger Gymnastics?

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For decades, possibly even centuries, pipers have been vandalising their own performances. I have been fortunate enough to hear some of the finest pipers ever, and I must admit that many of them have been as guilty of this crime as the rankest amateur. The vandalism I refer to is defacing their own performances by tacking on the end ‘wee twiddly bits’ rather than cutting off smoothly. Bands are expected to make perfect cut-offs. Why…

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PP Ed’s Blog: Schools Poll/ Gordon’s Recital/ SPA Pro/ Piob Soc Conf/ Barnaby

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The result of our poll into the suitability or otherwise of the new venue for the Scottish Schools Pipe Band Championship were as follows:  Some heart for the organisers if we amalgamate the two bottom stats: 41% think it okay or are prepared to give it another go. The majority however were clearly not happy. Read about the 2017 contest here. The picture up top shows the main winners, George…

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