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An innovative adjustable stock that allows less-experienced pipers to shut off the flow to their chanter with a twist, allowing them to . . .
The familiar international array of competitors assembled for the Royal Braemar Highland Gathering, where 36 pipers vied for the prizes. Gordon Walker was the overall winner, winning both light music events . . .
In this, the fourth of five instalments to his pipes|drums Interview, we delve into Michael Grey’s substantial recording accomplishments, which comprise 10 solo CDs and about twice as many albums done with pipe bands, including three as a pipe-major. There have been few, if an, Highland pipers with as long a list of recordings and, still in his forties, there are undoubtedly more. In Part 4, Grey discusses many of the projects, how they came about ad where he gets his creative inspiration, while also openly analyzing the challenge of reaching non-piping audiences with the limitations and preconception of the instrument and its music.
The new-look House of Edgar-Shotts & Dykehead under recently appointed Pipe-Major Ryan Canning have started the rebuilding process with the addition of . . .
Organizers of “The Livingstone” have announced the format for the new-look competition, and confirmed that so far six pipers have accepted their invitation . . .
The contestants for the Final of the Northern Meeting Silver Medal have been determined after two qualifying heats this morning, Going through to the last round are . . .
Willie McCallum won his fourth Silver Star MSR, and Euan MacCrimmon added the Northern Meeting Highland Society of London Gold Medal to his expansive collection of piobaireachd . . .
Callum Beaumont won the highest award in piping for piobaireachd by taking the Clasp at the Northern Meeting in his first attempt after winning the Gold Medal at the Argyllshire Gathering in 2011, thus making himself eligible for the event. Earlier in the day, Derek Midgley of Mill Town, New Jersey, was awarded the Silver Medal in a 10-contestant final, that saw five players each from two heats held the previous day go through. Audience attendance at the Northern Meeting this year has been relatively light, with as few as 30 watching the Gold Medal and about 150 at the Silver Star MSR . . .
As the off-season presents itself in the northern hemisphere, select pipe bands that have had successful summer winning most of the prizes, or even dominating, their grade are hoping to make the leap up. The goal of almost all competing bands is to climb the grading ladder, but making the transition, no matter what the level, can bring substantial challenges. While the playing standard might be there, the psychological hurdles are perhaps the hardest to overcome. Bands moving up are used to winning and, more often than not, they won’t be making the prize-lists in their new grade. In essence, the have to trade the thrill of victory for the pain of defeat. Without doubt, historically the hardest jump is from Grade 2 to Grade 1. As Pipe-Major Robert Cupples of Cullybackey described it, “Grade 1 can be a graveyard for bands moving up.” A Grade 2 band can dominate their . . .
The Grade 2 MacKenzie Caledonian Pipe Band of Dundee, Scotland, made what is thought to be a first for the piping and drumming . . .
More than 40,000 people were said to have attended the 2012 World Pipe Band Championships, and with 11 months to go before the revamped two-day 2013 World’s . . .
Highland Society of London Gold Medallist Glenn Brown has been in the news recently for moving from the ScottishPower Pipe Band to . . .
With a first in the MSR and a second in the Piobaireachd, Willie McCallum was the overall winner of the Springbank Invitational Solo Piping Competition for the eighth time in his career. Niall Stewart won the Piobaireachd, while Angus MacColl won the Hornpipe & Jig event, which is not counted towards the overall championship. With efficient stewarding , there was very little time between competitors and hardly any tuning.
Eric MacNeill has resigned as Leading-Drummer of the Grade 1 Oran Mor Pipe Band of Albany, New York. MacNeill cited “irreconcilable differences” as the reason. MacNeill had . . .
You might say that Jack Lee and his sons want more skin in the games. The Vancouver-based Lee & Sons Bagpipes, headed by renowned piper Jack Lee, have added pipe bag-making to their . . .
The pipers who will compete at the 2012 Glenfiddich Invitational Solo Piping Championships have been confirmed, and they feature the winners of the designated qualifying competitions and . . .