The Oban Times, 6 November, 1915 A Record of Pipers 54 Parliament Street, London, 29/10/15 Sir,–In association with Mr. John Grant, of 27 Comely Bank Street, Edinburgh, I am engaged in compiling a record of the Pipers of Regiments taking part in the War. Through the courtesy of the pipe presidents and pipe majors of […]
Author: Alan Armstrong
OT: 6 November – A. MacKay “The Bagpipe”
The Oban Times, 6 November, 1915 The Bagpipe 188 Commissioner Street, Johannesburg, 7 October, 1915 Sir,–in your issue of 28th August Mr. MacPharlain says in his letter on the above subject, “We know that the third drone is a modern innovation.” Mr. MacPharlain as a Gaelic scholar and poet, cannot be ignorant of the fact […]
OT: 6 November 1915 – Eilean A’ Cheo “Piobaireachd and MacCrimmon Canntaireachd”
The Oban Times, 6 November, 1915 Piobaireachd and MacCrimmon Canntaireachd Sir,–In your issue of the 9th inst., “Patrick Og” asks if there is anyone alive who knows anything about the real MacCrimmon notation, and I beg to reply in the affirmative. Mr. Simon Fraser, Australia, appears to have a thorough knowledge of this notation, and […]
OT: 30 October 1915 – J.P.M. “The Bagpipe Scale and Its Modern Interpretation”
The Oban Times, 30 October, 1915 The Bagpipe Scale and Its Modern Interpretation Tain, 25 October, 1915 Sir,–Mr. Colin Sinclair has seen or heard it stated that the upper G on the pipe chanter is neither G nor G sharp, but a “compromise”! I have seen or heard this statement too somewhere and sometime, and […]
OT: 30 October 1915 – John Grant “Highland Bagpipe Music”
The Oban Times, 30 October, 1915 Highland Bagpipe Music 27 Comely Bank Street, Edinburgh, 25 October, 1915 Sir,–In your issue of last week I appear at the first glance as a Dreadnought in a storm and surrounded by an apparent fleet of some strength; but there is room for manoeuvre, and care and skill may […]
OT: 23 October 1915 – W.C.F. “Gesto and the MacCrimmon Notation”
The Oban Times, 23 October, 1915 Gesto and the MacCrimmon Notation 18 October, 1915 Sir,–With reference to the discussion in “The Oban Times” about Captain Neil MacLeod, Gesto, a friend well-versed in Highland matters writes me as follows:– “My mother, who was the niece of Mrs. Captain Macdonald of Rodil, Harris, it was brought up […]
OT: 23 October 1915 – Musæus
The Oban Times, 23 October, 1915 Sir,–Mr. Grant, in your widely-read paper of last week, states that the bagpipe chanter is in the scale of A major. Anyone can make a statement of that kind, but the point is to show clearly that it is no other. The chanter has two distinct scales–one from G […]
OT: 23 October 1915 – James Cameron
The Oban Times, 23 October, 1915 Edinburgh, 16 October 1915 Sir,–Seeing the heading “The Chanter Scale” in “The Oban Times,” I hoped for something informing, but found elementary quibbling. What many chanter scales have is practically key of A, with flat seventh (more or less according to fingering employed and the boring of the intervals, […]
OT: 23 October 1915 – Donald MacRae
The Oban Times, 23 October, 1915 Aberdeen, 16 October, 1915 Sir,–I have read with great interest the description of the Highland bagpipe scale given by your correspondent “J.P.M.,” and am of opinion that his is the correct interpretation of it. Mr. Grant and Mr. Sinclair both maintained that the bagpipe scale is the diatonic scale […]
OT: 23 October 1915 – Colin Sinclair
The Oban Times, 23 October, 1915 Glasgow, 17 October, 1915 Sir,–On further investigation on the subject, I find that, on my practising chanter, the upper G note is sharp, while on the complete instrument this note loses its sharpness, and almost reaches G natural. I am aware that the practice chanter in my possession may […]
