Dunaber music

Scott MacAulay

mike — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 18:48:57 +0000

What sad news that the dynamic force of nature known as Scott MacAulay has died. I’ve known him for pretty much as long as I have been piping, and, I guess, because of that, I’d expected him to be around for, at least, as long as I was. I hadn’t spent much time with Scott over the last number of years; like so many people we know, especially friends, we take them for granted: “I’ll call tomorrow”, “We’ll get together soon”.
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Benbecula

mike — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 22:00:20 +0000

Labour Day marks the official end of summer for most people in this part of the world. School starts back tomorrow and there’s no more holidays in sight until mid-October and Thanksgiving.
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Summer Vacation

mike — Thu, 29 May 2008 22:17:58 +0000

In honour of the looming and long-awaited Canadian summer I post for your edification and enjoyment a truly archival Grey family photo - summer vacation a good few years ago, Lake Massawippi, Quebec.
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My First Outdoor Pipe Band Contest

mike — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 01:18:45 +0000

Southern Ontario in general and the Toronto area especially used to see a lot of teaching happening - and a lot of kids’ pipe bands. I can’t say for certain today how much teaching is going on but I do know we don’t have many “junior” bands around, the kind built for kids.
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Overcoming Real Challenges (John Wilson)

mike — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 01:49:40 +0000

One of my prized “piping possessions” is a signed copy of John Wilson’s autobiography, “A Professional Piper in Peace and War“: the front page, inscribed in broad strokes, “With all good wishes, Michael, from the author, John Wilson, 13th, January, 1979″. Sweet.
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Photographs: Italy September 2007

mike — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 12:43:34 +0000

Here’s a stream of photos you can click through to get a sense of the fantastic scenery of the Molise region of central Italy and the good fun at the “Big Italian Gathering“.

The Gathering, staged by the the Bagpipe Italian Group, in connection with the Associazione Piper Italiani in the Tuscan village of Tavarnelle Val di Pesa, is an annual event that includes workshops, a concert and a competition. All are welcome.

Duncan Johnstone

mike — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 22:55:23 +0000

A photograph from 1983: a party at George Steele’s house [Strathclyde Police Pipe Band] in Glasgow.
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“Loch Carron”

mike — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 01:32:39 +0000

Here’s a photo I came across that made me laugh - taken a good few years ago. On a road trip through Skye and the North we (Bill Livingstone, his wife Lillian, Bruce Gandy and me) drove by Loch Carron. We had to stop, as you can see the scenery is quite good.
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A Great Bass Drummer

mike — Sat, 19 May 2007 23:12:11 +0000

I’ve been thinking a lot about the current phenomenon of what is now called the “mid section”. More later.
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