Archive

In the latest “By the left . . . ” instalment, Jenny Hazzard of Edinburgh and Toronto wends her way around a few of the games in the Highlands of Fife, observing some of the more amazing circumstances that make the Scottish circuit so . . . interesting.

BBC Scotland officially announced what most of the piping and drumming world assumed or already knew, while at least two more . . .

For the first time in more than 20 years, not a single band from either Australia or New Zealand will compete in . . .

Donald McBride reviews “A Unan,” the new CD by Breton pipers Xavier Boderiou, Sylvain Hamon, Herv¨¦ Le Floc’h and Alexis Meunier . . . and he likes it . . . a lot . . . a really a lot

The unpredictable Canadian Maritimes weather held up for the two-day Antigonish Highland Games, one of the longest-running competitions in North America. Three bands travelling to the World Pipe Band Championships ¨C Grade 1 78th Highlanders (Halifax Citadel), College of Piping (Grade 3B) and Dartmouth & District (Grade 3B) ¨C competed in the Atlantic Canada Pipe Band Championships. Bruce Gandy won the aggregate award in the Professional solo piping. . . .

After less than two years in the role, Gavin Walker has resigned as Pipe-Major of the Grade 1 House of Edgar Pipe Band. The decision was made by Walker following a special . . .

Following the success of the first Pipes+Drums recital at the 2011 Piping Live! festival, pipes|drums Magazine will once again bring enthusiasts the free event at the Street Caf¨¦ at the National Piping Centre, this year with . . .

Benoni MacTalla won another Grade 2 contest in South Africa at the St. Benedict’s Gathering held at St Benedict’s College, Harcus Road. With the win the band gains the regional championship . . .

Roddy MacLeod of Glasgow captured a rare clean-sweep of the A-Grade competitions at the Inveraray Highland Games, and event that has emerged in the last 10 years especially as one of the elite competitions on the Scottish circuit . . .

Chris Armstrong is a piper who’s had a few firsts in his career, and on Monday, August 6th, at Piping Live! he will add another with the launch of his third collection of Highland bagpipe music, this time available only in electronic format ¨C a first for the piping world. The new collection¡ªnamed Re:Tradition ¨C will offer sound files embedded with each tune, so that purchasers can listen . . .

The Peel Regional Police were victorious at the Cambridge Highland Games, the band’s first win of the Ontario season. Peel was the third different Grade 1 band to win in three contests on the circuit. Ian K. MacDonald was the overall winner in the Professional solo piping. Weather was warm and sunny . . .

In this third part of Michael Grey: the pipes|drums Interview, we delve directly into the composition side of his career: how he approaches composing, the need to have a professional attitude about copyright and royalties, and his take on the great composers like Donald MacLeod, G.S. McLennan, John McLellan and Gordon Duncan. Grey discusses the notion of the “accepted competition repertoire,” and the need to expand attitudes to be more inclusive, while also citing what he feels are the greatest tunes ever penned. Exclusively for subscribers to pipes|drums.

Alan Clark, Jamie Hawke and Greig Canning were most successful at the Tomintoul Highland Games, held in good weather . . .

Boghall & Bathgate Caledonia and pipes|drums Magazine have teamed up to offer our many thousands of readers around the world two chances to win two pairs of tickets to “Forte,” . . .

The day-long performances of Grade 1 bands at the World Pipe Band Championships will no longer be the only content broadcasted live . . .

The Bridge of Allan Highland Games announced today that it has decided to cancel its August 5, 2012, event, scuttling the strategic plans of several non-UK pipe bands that zeroes . . .