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The Drummond Castle Manuscript, Book One – Border Pipe Settings
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The Drummond Castle Manuscript, dated 1737, was compiled by David Young for James Drummond, the 3rd Duke of Perth, a prominent Jacobite and lieutenant-general of the Jacobite army in 1745. read more…
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Auld Tunes
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It is remarkable that tunes like Corn Rigs (first appears c1671) or The Roke (first appears c1663) have been part of our repertoire for at least 350 years but there are plenty more that that have fallen out of favour and countless others that have been forgotten completely. read more…
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Portugal, Autumn 2023
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In October 2023 we returned to Portugal, this time travelling with the motorhome, our fist time driving the whole way […] read more…
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Carnival 2023 – Scotland to Sardinia by Train – Day Four – Feldkirch Carnival
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With this being my eleventh carnival trip I’ve learnt that it is not unusual when travelling in Europe at this time of year to stumble serendipitously across some sort of carnival event. read more…
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Carnival 2023 – Scotland to Sardinia by Train – Day Three – Höchst to Bludenz
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After drinking numerous pots of mispelchen the previous night we expected to wake bleary, thankfully the apple brandy from Frankfurt […] read more…
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Carnival 2023 – Scotland to Sardinia by Train – Day Two – Ijmuiden to Höchst
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Predictably, everything was smoother, cleaner and more efficient as soon as we disembarked and set foot on Dutch soil. Although […] read more…
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Carnival 2023 -Scotland to Sardinia by Train – North Shields to Ijmuiden
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We chose the ferry to the Netherlands from the north of England over the Eurostar for a few reasons. First, […] read more…
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Carnival 2023 – Scotland to Sardinia by Train – Day One – Taynuilt to North Shields
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I’m lucky enough to live in one of the few villages in North Argyll with a train station, an easy, […] read more…
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Carnival 2023 – Scotland to Sardinia by Train – Introduction
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I have long been interested in the pre-Lenten carnivals that take place throughout Europe. The combination of old traditions, local […] read more…
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Dancing Around The Mast
I think this was the first tune I wrote on gaita, the bagpipe from Galicia in north west Spain, it’s certainly the first I have written down. read more…
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Auld Tunes – Stalker Castle
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Here’s an interesting wee tune from The Piper’s Assistant, Published by Glen Bagpipe Makers in 1845 and edited by John McLachlan. read more…
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Mrs Catherine McNally of Glenburn
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A slow jig named after my paternal grandmother, Catherine McNally (nee McCormick) of Glenburn in Paisley. read more…