Features

At a time when pipers, drummers and bands are concerned for the future for competitions being a primary performance platform, the City of Sacramento Pipe Band is getting the finger out, taking things into their own hands in an attempt to capitalize on new creative opportunities for players and public alike.

In sync with the launch of John Dew’s new digital collection, ‘Pipe Suites,’ we check in with the prolific young composer on the possibilities of this now 35-year-old musical category

This piping and drumming success story is one of v …

Many have called G.S. McLennan the greatest piper of all time. As a composer and competitor, he ranks with the best. His fame as a piper is well documented; his pipemaking career is less well known. G.S.’s firm operated in Aberdeen from 1922 until his death in 1929. There are few known examples of his instruments, despite his being in business for a little more than seven years.

Telling a competitor with an anxiety disorder to “relax, stop stressing and just play” would be similar to telling someone to play their instrument despite having a huge leak in their bag.

On the brink of the crowning of King Charles III, our intrepid piping and drumming historian Jeannie Campbell, MBE delves into the various coronations of UK monarchs that featured piping and drumming, including a highly inventive pipe band competition . . .

Since 2001, Dr. William Donaldson has been contrib …

Nova Scotia’s Bruce and Alex Gandy are famous in t …

Gary West We continue with the second and final pa …

Gary West For more than 20 years, Gary West has be …

“Fame” is subjective. We define fame as widespread …

Since 2001, Dr. William Donaldson has been contrib …

The most famous piper in the world isn’t a competi …

In Part 1 we reported on what chanters, chanter re …

pipes|drums looks into the wonderful world of what …