Bagpipe News

The Quebec Celtic Festival will take place on September 2nd and 3rd, 2006 at the Morrin Centre and the premises of St. Andrew’s Church on Chaussée des Écossais in Old Québec.

The organizers of this event, the Literary and Historical Society of Quebec (LHSQ), Scottish Heritage, Irish Heritage a Breton heritage group and the 78th Fraser Highlanders, invite the population of Quebec City and all visitors to rediscover their Celtic influences and origins. In fact, many Quebecois are not aware that they have Scottish and Irish or Breton ancestors. This festival will celebrate the Celtic cultural traditions and will display the contribution of the different cultural communities in Québec City that share those traditions and pass them on to their children and future generations.

Story

On this day in history: Robert Reid dies, Glasgow, August 31, 1965.

Pipe-Major Gordon Meldrum died suddenly on the morning of the August 28 at age 61.

Gordon, a resident of Braemar, was from a Fife piping family. His grandfather had planted the seed of interest in Gordon?s father, Norman, who moved to Aberdeenshire to study with Bob Brown and Bob Nicol. With the latter Gordon struck up a strong relationship and gained a solid grounding in piobaireachd.

Full Article - Piper and Drummer

Berwickshire has lost one of its single biggest piping influences after the passing of Pipe-Major Tim Ainslie BEM on July 22, 2006, aged 85. For 50 years, “Teem,” as he was known, taught every piper in the area, either directly or by his example.

Full Article - Piper and Drummer

BALLINA man and champion Uilleann piper Eamonn Walsh has won the overall Solo Musician of the Year at the recent World Fleadh.

The competition saw 45 soloists participating, all of whom were of All-Ireland standard. The group, featuring ten different instruments went through a preliminary round on Saturday, August 19th before a representative from each instrumental category was put forward to the grand final on Sunday. August 20th.

Western People - Ballina, Ireland

… It was a time to honor old traditions, such as the posting of the colors by Matthew Horetski and Greg Burgess, as performed to Elijah Woodward’s bagpipe music . …

Arizona Daily Star - Tucson, AZ, USA

… repellent for everyone. The Litchfield Hills Bagpipe Band performed under the direction of Stepney resident, Sue Bannay. Joel mentioned …

The Chronicle - Monroe, CT, USA

We are proud to announce we have just posted our 500th news story.

As we climb towards our one thousand post we will be holding a special contest for those readers who have subscribed to our Bagpipe News service before the thousand post.

Our lucky grand prize winner will be randomly selected and receive a special advertisement on our home page. In order to win you must be subscribed to the free Bagpipe News service.

Lots of great music from John and Simon this week including tracks from
Alberta Caledonia’s new CD “Another Round”, Roddy MacLeod, Danu and Bodega.

Simon also takes John through this quiz to find out which Pipe Band is best suited for him with some interesting results!

Tune in now to hear this weeks show and previous shows including our World Pipe Band Championshup Coverage.

Planet Pipe

On this day in history: J.B. Robertson completes 14 event winning streak through 5 contests, Pitlochry, August 30, 1938.

… Other events at the Clinton memorial service will include a bagpipe performance by Deputy Chief Gene Wilkerson of the Burlington Police Department, a Color …

Clinton Herald - Clinton,IA,USA

The sun rose a mellow burnt orange, a bagpipe played “Amazing Grace” and Gulfport remembered the tragedy of one year ago.

At least 500 people came to the harbor to pay respects to Gulfport’s victims of the storm and give thanks again to those who helped. …

Biloxi Sun Herald - MS, USA

… Junior Drum Major (The Buchan Pipe Band Trophy) - 1 S. MacDonald (Northern
Constabulary Community … Best bass section overall (The Pitfour Arms
Trophy) - Buchan. …

Buchan Observer - Scotland, UK

On Thursday, August 24, the Carnegie Mellon class of 2010+ participated in Convocation, a type of welcoming ceremony similar to graduation. Every year, first-year students march into the orientation tent, grouped by college and led by their college’s flag. As is also the usual practice, this year’s students walked in to the music of Carnegie Mellon’s Pipes and Drums bagpipe band. …

Carnegie Mellon University The Carnegie Pulse - Pittsburgh, PA, USA

PLEASANTON - Haggis, kilt-clad bagpipers, sheepdogs and highland dancers will all be part of the colorful revelries when the Scottish Highland Gathering and Games comes to the Alameda County Fairgrounds this weekend.

The Caledonian Club of San Francisco will host the 141st annual games which brings a two-day immersion into the Scottish culture through dance, traditional athletic competitions and some world-class bagpipe and drum events.

San Jose Mercury News - CA, USA

Immediately after the Cowal Championship, Keith Dawes resigned as pipe-major of the Grade 1 Lothian & Borders Police Pipe Band. Dawes had held the post for two years.

The band, one of the oldest and most famous in history, finished at or near the bottom of the Grade 1 lists at most major championships this year, and its status in the grade for 2007 has been a subject of discussion in unofficial pipe band circles. A ninth-equal finish in the Grade 1 qualifier at the World Pipe Band Championship was the band’s best showing in a 2006 major, and could keep the band from being relegated.

Piper and Drummer - Full Story

Reviewer’s rating: 4.5 gracenotes out of a possible five.

Every once in a while, one has the good fortune to stumble on a truly enjoyable album, an album that is a pleasure to listen to from start to finish. Blown Away, Stuart Cassells’ debut solo album, is just such an album.

This CD has something for everyone. Strathspeys, reels, and jigs form the bulk of the album, but there is also a slow air, a 4/4, and a song (Ross Kennedy singing “The Terror Time”) that round things out nicely. Some tracks feature electric guitar and drum accompaniment while others let the softer bouzouki and bodhran work their magic. Whatever mood strikes him, Stuart brings a certain freshness and youthful energy to the table that pervades the whole album and lets his sterling musicality shine.

Piper and Drummer - Full Story

… Students will begin testing out the new learning materials on Thursday
as they return to hallways filled with balloons and the traditional bagpipe
music. …

North Adams Transcript - North Adams,MA,USA

Utilikilts do seem manly, for a skirt, er, kilt. Built tough with thick
materials and muted tones, if a man was forced to wear a …

LAist - Los Angeles,CA,USA - Video

THE annual pipe band competition, held at Aden Country Park, Mintlaw, last weekend, was once again hailed as a great success by organisers.

… Junior Drum Major (The Buchan Pipe Band Trophy) - 1 S. MacDonald (Northern Constabulary Community … Best bass section overall (The Pitfour Arms Trophy) - Buchan. …

Buchan Observer - Scotland, UK - Full Story