The 25th annual pipes|drums New Year’s Honours
2025 Product of the Year (tie)
Brave New Music: The Martyn Bennett Story, by Gary West
“A charming and addictive read” was how reviewer Lorne MacDougall described Gary West’s biography of Martyn Bennett, one of the heretofore unsung piping greats.
The consensus from our panel was that West paid suitable homage to Bennett in a book that was simultaneously a labour of love and an overdue record of the late piper’s contributions to the art.
Hilton Chanter Founders Edition, designed and developed by Modern Piping
The humble practice chanter has forever been deemed an accessory for pipers rather than a stand-alone musical instrument. Australia’s Lincoln Hilton saw something new: a serious ensemble instrument designed to play solo or with virtually anything else.
Not only does the Hilton Chanter Founder’s Edition meet a musical need, but it’s also beautifully designed and crafted, as evidenced by its receipt of a significant product design award.
Panellists’ comments on Brave New Music: The Martyn Bennett Story:
- “A beautifully written account of a massive trendsetter in our game.”
- “This book depicts its title: ‘brave’ and ‘new.’ Martyn Bennett, a talented musician, was light-years ahead of the typical music scene of his day. To have the foresight to create music of this nature is awe-inspiring. His legacy is inspirational.”
- “A beautiful memorial to a talent taken too soon.”
Panellists’ comments on the Founder’s Edition Chanter:
- “One word: innovation.”
- “It’s a brave thing to improve something so relatively basic. This is a very successful attempt.
- “It won a Good Design award — like Porsche, and Dyson. That says a whole lot. And it’s beautiful.”
Also nominated (in alphabetical order):
The Bagpipes: a Cultural History, by Richard McLaughlin – An honest-to-goodness normal account of the Highland pipes, its people and music communicated our arcane culture to anyone who might be interested. That’s rare.
Cabar Fèidh, Peoples Ford Boghall & Bathgate Caledonia CD – The long-awaited recording by the 2023 World Champions showcased not only their incredible, sustained talent but that a pipe band can engineer and produce a professional-quality product as good as anything created with only the talent and ingenuity of its members.
The Life, Times and Music of John Macdonald, Inverness, by John Shone – A piper’s biography of one of history’s most significant contributors to the art was long overdue. All teachers and schools of piping (drumming, too) should make this required reading.
Note: Stuart Liddell’s solo piping album was released very late in 2025 and will be considered in the 2026 New Year’s Honours.
NO COMMENTS YET