Now here’s something I didn’t know. International Bagpipe Day. It seems this auspicious occasion is celebrated in England at the Morpeth Chantry Bagpipe Museum in Morpeth, just south of the Scottish border. I’m sorry to say I missed the international celebration but it appears from the following news story published in the Morpeth Herald that …
Read more “Who needs St. Patrick’s Day. There’s an International Bagpipe Day.”
It was a bit cool, but the rain held off. And at the St. Patrick’s Day parade in Vancouver, the bands, floats, Irish, Highland and even the normally annoying Morris dancers made for a wonderful parade through the downtown. Our band could not muster enough pipers and drummers due to spring break and family commitments, …
Read more “St. Patrick’s Day parade in Vancouver – bagpipers and dancers.”
Edinburgh, (ANI): Two communities in Tanzania have gained appreciation for making bagpipes from ethical sources of wood for the first time. Most Highland bagpipes, other traditional Scottish pipes and clarinets are made from African blackwood, which comes from the rare and threatened mpingo tree found only in certain parts of Africa. Now, according to a …
Read more “Ethically sound bagpipes – from Tanzania, Africa”
Here`s a nice example of Cape Breton piping in the far west. Barry Shears, a well known piper, judge and bagpipe historian from Nova Scotia, performing outside the `Wandering Angus`store in Port Townsend, Washington State. Barry was teaching at the springtime Féis Shià tail (Seattle Festival) along with Cape Breton fiddler-step dancer Andrea Beaton. This set …
Read more “Cape Breton bagpiping in Port Townsend, Washington”
Who knew Alan Walters had an alter ego: “Leatherman”. Seems he only comes out for Wacky Jigs and Hornpipes night at the Celtfest in Nanaimo. This performance is from July, 2008 but it’s certainly worth watching.
The Material Girl may have talent, but does she have any sense? Despite the rants of Elton John’s husband Canadian David Furnish, you have to give Madonna credit for her creativity and energy. But suggesting someone can learn the bagpipes in six weeks may be a bit of a stretch. Recently, British actor James D’Arcy …
Read more “Madonna says ‘bend reality’ and learn bagpipes in six weeks”
I have some fond, and some foggy, memories of bagpiping on New Year’s eve around this big country. My bagpiping career began in Halifax where I first squawked out a semblance of a tune under the tutelage of Pipe Major Barbara Stewart of the 33rd. Service Battalion. I credit Barb’s daughter Heather for my entrance …
You may have to be a bagpiper to figure this one out, but there’s something a bit unusual about this photo of a pipe band (I’m not sure of the band’s name). I’ll give you a hint. It has something to do with the front row.