A Piper's Tale: Stories from the World's Top Pipers

by Fergus Muirhead

Gather round the fire, grab a dram and join the world’s top bagpipe players – they have quite a few stories to tell… From Jack Lee to Finlay MacDonald, Terry Tully to the Red Hot Chilli Pipers, broadcaster Fergus Muirhead talks to the major stars of this musical world. Their stories are hilarious, revealing and often moving as they speak about a musical and cultural passion that has consumed their lives. Why did the NYPD leave a crime scene to speak to Willie McCallum? Did Gordon Walker really sleep with the Crown Jewels? Is there a secret dram for a better performance? What’s it like for traditional musicians to be treated like rockstars? With a foreword by renowned Scottish musician Eddi Reader and the world-acclaimed Carlos Nuñez, this is a wild and wonderful tour of Scotland’s traditional music – funny, deeply personal, heartfelt and essential to musicians and music lovers alike.

204 pages, Hardcover

First published August 12, 2013

Reviews

[Fiona Macdougall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent insight into the Piping World

This book is fantastic. As a piping fan, who isn't in a band it gives a great insight into the pipe band structure, the soloist competition along with some great anecdotes and controversial opinions. Each contributor has different stories and opinions and it allows you a look at how they practice, compete or play! Highly recommend this to anyone interested in piping or trad music!

[Nathaniel999 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic. A little formulaic per chapter, but then you get a lit of great ones in between. I feel connected to the struggles for gigs, understanding, acceptance, competition discussion, reverse discrimination, musical differences. and a lot more. Moving book for a piper.