OT: 14 June 1919 – Unsigned “The Culture of Pipe Music” [article]

The Oban Times, 14 June, 1919

The Culture of Pipe Music

 All lovers of pipes are deeply indebted to the enthusiasm of Mr. W. G. Burn-Murdoch for pipe playing and pipe music. He has taken a great interest in the training of a class of boys under Mr. John Grant, and the class held its annual exhibition in Mr. Burn-Murdoch’s studio, Arthur Lodge, Dalkeith Road, Edinburgh, on Saturday afternoon. There were present:–Mr. and Mrs. Brown, Major and Mrs. J. P. Grant of Rothiemurchus, Mrs. Watson, Mrs. John Grant, the Rev. Neil Ross, and Mr. Fred T. MacLeod.

The junior and senior classes gave samples of the work of the past session in a creditable manner, and an interesting feature of the exhibition was the appearance of Mr. Grant’s three sons, two of whom, but tiny tots, gave every indication of great promise.

At the close of the performance Mr. Burn Murdoch congratulated Mr. Grant upon the work of the session, which had been carried on by him in spite of deep personal sorrow and difficulties arising from the prevailing epidemic of influenza. He advised the boys to aspire to be not merely members of the band, but individual pipers. Unfortunately, in the case of many bands, while the band playing was excellent, too little attention was paid to individual playing.

The Rev. Neil Ross remarked that pipers generally, and that class in particular, were very much indebted to Mr. Burn Murdoch for the interest he had all along taken in fostering the love of pipe music, and also for having made it possible to hold a competition that afternoon under ideal circumstances.