Archive
William R. Fraser, known to most as Bill, died on September 24, 2024, in Aberdeen, Scotland, at the age of 80. He was most known as a solo piping judge, and though he did not compete much, he might have made a considerable name in piping with his steady temperament […]
The Commonwealth Pipes & Drums of Melrose, Massachusetts, was the overall winner of the top grade at the 2024 Celtic Classic in the historic downtown of Bethlehem. The band finished second in both Grade 3 Medley and MSR contests, which were won by New York Metro and McMillan-Birtles, respectively. Eight bands competed in Grade 3. The Grade 4 band contest was held on September 28th.
The motto for George Watson’s College is “Ex Corde Caritas” (Latin for “Love from the Heart”) and the stalwart producer of some of Scotland’s top pipers and drummers will stage the second annual Caritas Banner for piobaireachd players 18 and younger on November 24th at the college. in Collinton, on […]
With two second prizes, Tyler Bridge of Guelph, Ontario, was the winner of the 2024 Glengarry Cup Solo Piping Competition, an event put on by the Ottawa Branch of the PPBSO and originally organized in the 1980s by the Glengarry Pipe Band of Maxville, Ontario. The contest is traditionally held on the same weekend as the National Police and Peacekeepers’ Memorial events on Parliament Hill in Canada’s capital city.
Several sources close to the matter revealed that a formal letter from the Alliance of North American Pipe Band Associations (ANAPBA) to the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association is in its final draft phase. The letter reportedly expresses several concerns regarding the RSPBA’s repeated practice of re-grading North American association-member […]
St. Columba’s in Renfrewshire, Scotland, is looking to attract a Bass-Section Instructor to help push forward the private school’s successful Novice Juvenile piping and drumming program under the watch of Gordon Bruce. According to Bruce, the successful candidate will fill the part-time “self-employed” role with “enthusiasm and commitment,” and will […]
Alan Jones, the author of the pipe band study, “Insights into Pipe Band Ensemble,” and composer of the 16 original MSR pipe tunes that accompany it, outlines the steps he follows when writing an “Ensemble-Friendly™” pipe tune. In this article, Alan puts the findings of his study into practice – selecting an ensemble-friendly rhythm “Profile” and, from this, creating a new, two-parted, 2/4 march with a closely integrated snare drum accompaniment.
In his second piece, top-tier piper and computer scientist Colin Johnstone looks at how AI might augment or even replace human judges with strictly objective assessments free of the prejudices and biases inherent in adjudication as we know it now.
Any association sanctioning a competition has the right to advise a competitor who they believe is entering the incorrect grade for their playing ability. What competition organizers have no right to do is re-grade a band, solo piper or drummer who is not a member of their association.
We continue with the second part of the pipes|drums Reunion Interview with five Grade 1 Polkemmet Pipe Band members of the 1980s. This era of the now-defunct but historically significant band made a mark in only a few years. With the first-time leadership of Pipe-Major Robert Mathieson and Leading-Drummer Jim Kilpatrick, Polkemmet emerged as a driving creative force on the UK scene, which was then dominated by the seemingly unbeatable Strathclyde Police.
The recent news story about the lawsuit filed against the Pipers & Pipe Band Society of Ontario and its directors prompted dozens of messages from concerned readers. With each writer’s permission, we include just a few of the comments received here. The comments are unedited; with one exception (again, with permission), removing only content that might associate the writer with their identity.
Under an expanded program that brings coursework and training online, the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association has approved 10 new piping judges and one drumming judge for its panel. The organization has also elevated 10 existing judges to allow them to adjudicate ensemble. New judges: Chris Armstrong, Scotland (piping) Peter […]
The annual Balmoral Classic piping and snare drumming competitions for players 21 and younger in Pittsburgh will be wrapped with recitals by judges Paula Glendinning, Dr. Angus MacDonald and Matt MacIsaac, a concert by the Cape Breton Celtic folk band Beòlach, and workshops with all of the judges. The November […]
We asked several people who aren’t often vocal on social media for their thoughts about Richard Parkes, and we appreciate their contributions to help mark the historic occasion.
Since the beginning decades ago, hallmarks of pipes|drums have been the publication’s independence, our willingness to fight for the rights of pipers and drummers, and our commitment to fair play. And by “the publication,” I mean me, the editor and publisher, Andrew Berthoff. For the last nine months, I have […]
The Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association has announced grading changes for members and non-member “overseas” bands that competed on its circuit in 2024. City of Dunedin of Florida, members of the Eastern United States Pipe Band Association, and one of only two Grade 1 bands in the United States were […]