Bagpipe News

Bagpipers' lament for BBC 'tartan fun day'

Bagpipers’ lament for BBC ‘tartan fun day’ - Scotland on Sunday
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YouTube - Ross plays scottish bagpipe.

There are superstitions all over the world about pretty much everything- don’t step on a crack, don’t let a black cat cross your path, pick up a penny for good luck. But, are there any superstitions about Bagpipes?

In Italy, bagpipe drones are traditionally tied with red ribbon to ward off the devil.

Some believe that you should never walk counter- clockwise while playing piobaireachd.

Many people believe that you should never play Lord Lovat’s Lament at a wedding. This one has some historical basis to it. Simon Fraser kidnapped, raped and forced into marriage the Widow of the 10th Lord Lovat. During the attack, he had his piper play to cover up the screams and protests.

Internet Marketing Explained.

ARMY chief Ken Gillespie says he wont bow to pressure and overturn a decision to axe a bagpipe band because the army is short by about 1700 troops and needs trained soldiers, not pipers.

He said the decision to axe the Royal Australian pipe and drum band followed a series of reviews and was based on advice to former army chief Lieutenant General Peter Leahy from his generals advisory committee.

“The commanding officers of the battalions of the regiment also agreed with me that the priorities were for their manpower to be employed and trained in other areas,” he said.

Army defends decision to drop pipe and drum band | Herald Sun.

Pembroke Branch 72 of the Royal Canadian Legion will soon have its own pipe and drum band, thanks to the efforts of a number of dedicated people.

Piper Hugh Briand and drum major Harry Blackley have taken up the task of whipping a band into shape, the idea of which has been forwarded by Navy veteran Stewart Taylor, who is sponsoring the group.

Jean Campbell, Branch 72 president, said Mr. Taylor has approached the branch before about forming a pipe and drum band, to which many military veterans feel a close kinship.

"It has been his dream to have one," she said, so Mr. Taylor and his family have stepped forward to make one a reality.

Ms. Campbell turned to Mr. Briand, who had retired from his duties as Branch 72's piper, to head up the effort, and he in turn contacted his friend Mr. Blackley, with whom he played in the 2 Canadian Guards Pipes and Drums during their time in the army.

The Daily Observer - Ontario, CA
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The Mpingo tree, also called the African Blackwood, is a member of the Rosewood family that grows in the Miombo woodlands of Africa. It has a high density, great durability, and natural oils that seal the surface of the wood, making it great for musical instruments like the bagpipes.

These trees often grow naturally knotted and twisted. To use them for musical instruments, they must be straight and without defects. Less than 2% of all the wood harvested can be used for this purpose It takes about 70 years for the Mpingo tree to reach maturity followed by 3 years of processing before it can be used to make an instrument.

The middle of the wood is black and so hard that it can blunt an axe and must be drilled before screwing or nailing it. The wood is very resistant and the roots support bacteria that increase soil fertility.

Kinnaird Bagpipes The Bagpipe Tree- : Art on the Avenue.

Working as a fireman is a demanding job…It’s also a very dangerous job that not many people are cut out for.

That’s why you need to find a little peace in your life, whenever you’re not fighting fire.

Joe Ashcraft works 24 hours a day, every 3rd day at the Tallahassee Fire Department.

When there’s work to be done, Joe is front and center, but when there’s not, he likes to take his mind of things with a little music.

“We have a lot of down time between calls and I can sit around and watch reruns of MASH, or I can do something a little more productive, more stimulating. It’s a great hobby.”

Ashcraft has been working his hobby for as long as he’s been with TFD, almost 25 years. He’s played in Scotland, France, and Canada and that’s not all.

“I’ve played for three Florida Governors, at least two Georgia Governors. The band performed for Jimmy Carter. I’ve played at some unusual churches, and a lot of parades.”

Someone You Should Know-Joe Ashcraft

As airmen and soldiers gather at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan to pay their final respects to a fallen warrior, the sound of a lone bagpipe echoes over the mourners.

Tech. Sgt. Iain Morrison, of Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., estimates he’s played at 40 ceremonies honoring about 70 service members since he arrived this spring at Bagram, where he is assigned to the 455th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron.

Airman honors fallen troops with bagpipes - Air Force News, news from Iraq - Air Force Times

The new evening class term commences on Saturday 6th Septembre and runs for fifteen weeks, finishing on Thursday 18th December. The 50 minute classes start at 6pm, 7pm and 8pm Monday to Thursday and at 10am and 11am on Saturday mornings. Tuition is given in small, ability and aged-grouped classes. You will learn under the instruction of one of our expert tutors, using The National Piping Centre’s instructional system.

Evening Classes at The National Piping Centre

Seth Gallagher and Friends will present a program of Irish music at First Presbyterian Church of Philipstown, Cherry and Academy Streets, Cold Spring, on Sunday, October 5 at 3pm. Seth is an internationally known maker of uilleann pipes and a talented performer. Admission to the concert is free and the community is invited.

Seth Gallagher and Friends to Perform Irish Music Program at First Presbyterian on October 5 | www.pcnr.com | PCNR - Cold Spring, Garrison, Philipstown, NY.

The members of the Bellinger River District Pipe Band have been busy lately, having competed twice in Queensland over the past month.

Firstly, they competed at the Ipswich Highland Gathering achieving excellent results. The band took first place in the Grade 4 Championship, as well winning the March-Off Drill, Best Ensemble, Best Pipe Corp, and Best Musical Selection.

They followed up this performance last week by winning the Queensland Pipe Band Championships held at Redlands. The band also won awards for Best Ensemble and Best Pipe Corp.

Pipe Major Rod McGrath said, “There were some terrific bands competing at both these Championships, so results like this are a testament to the hard work and dedication of the band members”.

Pipe Band victorious in Queensland - Local News - News - General - Bellingen Courier Sun
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The Central Band of the Canadian Forces will be joined by the Laurentian University Pipe Band and Dancers and members of the Air Command Pipes and Drums from Ottawa. This is a fundraising event for the university pipe band to assist with the purchase of additional uniforms and equipment. 

Central Band of the Canadian Forces returns to Sudbury

Frankfort resident John Ludwig is piping his way back onto the music scene with his newest release “Pipes for the People,” comprised by his alter-ego, Piper Johnny. Like Ludwig, Piper Johnny composes songs that he hopes listeners will connect too on a personal level as well as a musical one.

Pipes For The People: The Frankfort Station - Frankfort’s Local Newspaper

The Ultimate Piping Guide—Piper’s Mind: The Portable Piping Workshop

This second installment of exclusive online bagpiping guides focuses on the mind of the piper. After perusing Starting Off (above), the first downloadable ebook, pipers of all stripes can dive in to comprehensive essays and exercises that delve into the deeper reaches of the psyche – and get you thinking and acting in new ways. Pipers of all levels of playing experience can take something from this guide and refresh the way they approach their music.

The Voicelog » FREE eBOOKS: The Ultimate Piping Guides

The Ultimate Piping Guide—Starting Off: Tips and Advice for the Beginning Piper

The Voicelog » FREE eBOOKS: The Ultimate Piping Guides.

In a first-of-its-kind arrangement, The Voice, announces a collaboration with the Mpingo Conservation Project to connect Highland pipers with a way to help the tree that has given them so much for so long and help preserve future stands of bagpipes for decades to come.

The Voicelog » Blog Archive » Bagpipers Can Help the Tree of Music.

When we did the review of Poitín’s CD Hot Days, I admitted that the envelope from Czech Republic is one of my favorite pieces of Celtophilia memorabilia. In light of that, I wanted us to talk to these guys a little bit about being a Celtic band in their country, and about their style in general. The band was so excited to talk to Bonnie and I that they got together and had a big Celtophilia Answering Party, (okay, that’s not what happened, but that’s what I like to pretend.) They put together some amazing answers, and I hope you all enjoy them as much as I did.

Interview - Poitín - 9.19.08 | Celtophilia.

YouTube - Jota Asturiana.

After a relatively successful season in 2008, Hawick Pipe Band is looking forward to a winter of hard work ahead of a busy 2009.

With the ranks swelled by new additions to the pipe and drum corps – the band is planning to contest all five major championships next year – and is currently raising funds to enable this.

New Pipe Major Kenny Short told the Hawick News: "We are very happy with the response to a recent recruitment campaign – and now have a band which could be a real force to be reckoned with next year.

Pipe Bands plea for equipment - Hawick Today
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Stuart Cassells is the founder of the Red Hot Chilli Pipers, the dynamic bagpipe rock band who have appeared on the BBC's When Will I Be Famous? They join Dame Evelyn Glennie and singer and actress Maria Friedman for the BBC's Proms In The Park event. How did the idea for the Chilli Pipers come to you?

Five questions for Stuart Cassells | Metro.co.uk
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