Scots Guards Junior Solos – Updated

Adjudicator Robert Wallace writes: This was a first class day of junior piping in the impressive surroundings of the Army School of Piping at Inchdrewer House in Edinburgh. It was a credit to competition convenor Jimmy Banks, and to the Scots Guards Association, the promoters. There was substantial sponsorship from Pipe Dreams, manufacturers of the famous Eezidrone drone reeds, and from Grants of Dalvey who supplied beautiful silver keepsakes for…

New Letter, New Comment

RW: Updates for the site this morning include a letter from Roddy Livingstone of the Scottish Piping Society of London on my report on last Saturday’s competition. Roddy puts the record straight on the JB Robertson March and makes some other valuable points. Read here…. Also, we have an extended piece from Duncan Watson on the Piobaiareachd Controversy article. I believe Duncan makes an important contribution to this discussion, a…

London: B Grade Piobaireachd Review

[easyrotator]erc_75_1413484305[/easyrotator] Scottish Piping Society of London Competition, Nov 1, 2014, ‘B’ Piobaireachd Review By Andrew Wright Competition reports and feedback, as a rule, tend always to centre on the very top level, with lower grade events mostly by-passed other than for the recording of the results. It is, however, at the lower level that the apprenticeship for the top is served, where performing skills are learned and honed toward the…

Piobaireachd Controversy

Paul Ross, an Australian piper based in Newcastle, New South Wales, has written a lengthy monograph on the controversial subject of piobaireachd interpretation. He endorses Allan MacDonald’s approach, and lauds the recent publication of Donald MacDonald’s books and the MacGregor – MacArthur book by Dr Roderick Cannon.  This article will be of interest to all ceol mor enthusiasts. Read more here.

Bratach Gorm Goes Modern

Scottish Piping Society of London Vice President Roddy Livingstone has issued this statement: Dear All, An important announcement regarding the 2015 Bratach Gorm will be published shortly on the Scottish Piping Society of London’s website. The format of the competition has been altered to encourage the playing and promotion of piobaireachd composed during the last one hundred years.  2015 has been considered a suitable year for this innovation given the set…