Tag: pipes and drums

Northern Meeting/ Pitlochry Draw/ Cancale Pipers

Posted on      by      Leave a comment

The annual Northern Meeting piping competitions got underway last night with a reception in Inverness Town House, writes the Editor. It was a convivial gathering with refreshments gratis from the town council and music from last year’s Silver Medallist Brodie Watson-Massey and the Queen’s Own Highlanders ex-members band. Heavy rain did not dampen the occasion. It takes more than water to dilute the importance of this gathering of enthusiasts for…

More Northern Meeting/ Pitlochry Draw/ Cancale Pipers

Jack Lee Retires from Simon Fraser University Pipe Band

Posted on      by      Leave a comment

Pipe Sergeant Jack Lee, in an email to band members, announced that he is retiring from the Simon Fraser University competition pipe band. Said Jack: ‘It was been a terrific 50 year run but I have decided to retire from the competition band. I think the band is in a very strong position to move ahead and I anticipate more amazing moments in the future. I will be cheering you…

More Jack Lee Retires from Simon Fraser University Pipe Band

Braemar Results and Report/ Blairgowrie Results

Posted on      by      Leave a comment

The Braemar Gold Medallist for 2025 is John McDonald, Aberdeen, (above). He gave a fine rendition of the supposedly MacCrimmon tune, the Glen is Mine, on a steady, tuneful instrument, writes the Editor How appropriate that a local man should win the medal with this tune. The first few bars of it are inscribed on the memorial cairn to the Bobs of Balmoral only yards from the piobaireachd board. As…

More Braemar Results and Report/ Blairgowrie Results

Editor’s Notebook: Ensemble Judges/ SPA Nights/ Inveraray Show/ MacLean request/ Peter Bain/ Cancale

Posted on      by      1 Comment

This week’s anonymous contributor should be thanked for raising the matter of wandering ensemble judges. Personally I felt that he wrote well but was guilty of pipe band overthink. Get up close to the tenor drummers to see if they are integrating with those around them. Really? What is ensemble if it is not an assessment of the entire package, pipes and drums, and how well they work together? I…

More Editor’s Notebook: Ensemble Judges/ SPA Nights/ Inveraray Show/ MacLean request/ Peter Bain/ Cancale

The Ensemble Walkabout – An Opinion Piece

Posted on      by      Leave a comment

The author of this article has asked to remain anonymous. We publish it in the interest of encouraging debate on this important topic for pipe bands….. The circles may have faded, the grass will have been cut. The shadows have more than lengthened on the outdoor pipe band season. Barring a trip to Peebles or Pitlochry, we’re done. I read the Editor’s review of the 2025 World Pipe Band Championships…

More The Ensemble Walkabout – An Opinion Piece