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Welcome to Begg Bagpipes
------Est. 1980 Glasgow city centre's oldest bagpipe shop------
click on the banner for our home page

 
Dear Piping Enthusiast,  
 
We are well known for our sheepskin and hide bags, but less so for our bagpipes and chanters. We apply the same meticulous attention to detail on the pipes as we do with the bags, and all are hand crafted in our Glasgow shop. The picture shown is of a silver mounted, fully hall marked african blackwood pipe in dragon design- 26 piece set. If I say so myself, they sound really wonderful! If you are interested, please get in touch and you too could be playing a unique and beautiful instrument
 
Yours aye,
 
James C. Begg
Piping Perfection

News.
After a long period leading the Grade 2 Strathclyde Fire & Rescue Pipe Band and now representing the newly formed Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, the current Pipe Major Robert Shaw is stepping down at the end of the 2013 season.
The Band is seeking a new Pipe Major and if you are interested, please contact David.Murdoch@firescotland.gov.uk by the 9th August. The band is strongly supported within the organisation and has excellent provision for practice premises, maintenance of equipment, uniforms, and transport to pipe band events.
 
We had a nice email this morning from an old friend Fergus Muirhead with details of the launch of his new book, A Piper's Tale. It's at the National Piping Centre on Thursday 15th August at 5pm. There will be music from Roddy MacLeod, Gordon Walker and Finlay Macdonald and readings from the book from Hamish Moore, Dougie Pincock and Ian Duncan. There might also be a dram courtesy of Glenfiddich! The book is a "wild and wonderful tour of Scotland's traditional music - funny, deeply personal, heartfelt and essential to musicians and music lovers alike."  There's more information on the book on the website at www.apiperstale.com  Good luck with the book, Fergus.

I am pleased to advise that our Italian hard back cases are back in stock at £54.17(plus vat if applicable) - quality and style at a very competitive price.
 

Piping Live!
It's almost here - Piping Live!, the new look World Championships and piping mad pipers and drummers everywhere.  Glasgow will be really alive from the 11th August for a week of congenial mayhem, mixed with a steely determination to be champions of the world in the allotted grade. The coveted grade1 prize is where many aspire to but the lower grades are fought over just as hard. There is a frenzy when bands from all over the world converge on the best city in the world - well I'm bit biased. People who I speak to that have no specific interest in our music, seem to know it's on and are keen to hear the results. The taxi drivers can't wait, the hoteliers have got the champagne on ice and generally the city is totally alive.  I hope to see you out and about - please pop into shop as we are now virtually one of the few city centre shops left and still going strong. We are supporting the marquee outside the National Piping Centre on Friday the 16th this year which is the day before the Worlds. We have the majestic Vale of Atholl Pipe Band at 2 o'clock, with a full band on parade directed by P/M Adrian Cramb. The Vale, according to my sources, are playing well, and I'm sure they'll be in contention as always at the Worlds. At around 3 o'clock, we are pleased to welcome back Edward Seaman, with Robbie Greig on guitar.  Edward has played the last few years for us and we are glad to support such up and coming talent.

 
 Any Questions? - for William J. Morrison                          
 
William J Morrison, or Willie as he is known, is a piper, teacher and judge of distinction, and hails from Locheynort in South Uist. Willie, who is a multiple competition winner as a solo piper, is a well known and highly respected judge at all the major events, and has been a stalwart at the Uist and Barra competition for his obvious connections with the Western Isles. His answers below are very much to the point and perhaps somewhat tongue-in-cheek in places. We will maybe prise out more of his inner thoughts at a later date!
 
 
Q. At what age did you start playing and who were/are your tutors?
A. 6 yrs old - my grandfather DJ Morrison.
 
Q. What is the best piping advice you’ve had and who gave it to you?
A. Practice correctly and often.

Q. What would you say has been your biggest piping difficulty?
A. Playing in a storm on South Uist
 
Q. Which is the best piping book?
A. Willie Ross, D. MacLeod plus others.

Q. Who is your favourite player and why - past or present?
A. There are so many of them so hard to pick one.

Q. Is there something in piping you wish you could have done but haven’t as yet?
A. Tune my drones

Q. What is your pet hate within piping?
A. Skirls and chokes, crossing noises.
 
Q. What has been your happiest piping moment?
A. Playing at New Year,
 
Q. What is your most prized piping possession?
A. The Glenfiddich Championship and more, 20 years ago
 
Q. What do you do outwith piping that might surprise us?
A. Doing somersaults; playing my pipes on both shoulders
 
Willie - thank you so much!

Special Offer - Practice Chanters
 
 
Without wishing to sound like a supermarket chain(!), buy any practice chanter from our range and receive a second with 50% off.
 
 
 

 
YouReport.
If you would like to report on any aspect of the Piping World from wherever you live, or if you would like to comment on any articles or issues, we'd be pleased to hear from you. mailto:bill@beggbagpipes.com
Begg Bagpipes
202B Bath Street
Glasgow, Strathclyde G2 4HF
United Kingdom
This email was sent to: wgbegg@hotmail.com
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