This is an updated version of the brief article published in the December 2016 issue of Common Stock, the journal of the Lowland and Border Pipers’ Society. Here the article has been expanded by the inclusion of more music notations…
Blogs
Albert Ssempeke
Albert Ssempeke was not only a gifted musician with a deep knowledge of the music of the royal court of the king of Buganda but also a patient teacher from whom I, my son Andy and many students were privileged…
Banadda Godfrey – Ugandan artist extraordinary
I first met Banadda when visiting Busoga (eastern Uganda) in 1987 after an absence of some 19 years during which time Uganda (and Busoga especially) suffered horrendously from the lawless and chaotic rule of Idi Amin and after him…
Benedicto Mubangizi
Omukuri gw’enteguzi (wedding flute) – played by a flautist on a simple notched four-hole flute – when on the day of the wedding the groom’s party arrives within earshot of the home of the bride to be. Recorded by…
Betsy Whyte – still travelling
A new little book, Wee Betsy, about that friendly and cleverest of Scottish travellers, Betsy Whyte, has just been published by her great-grandson David Pullar. It is written for young schoolchildren. I’m keenly waiting for my copy to arrive.…
Budongos, Okemes and Lukemes
The above title gives just three of the names used in Uganda for that class of musical instrument known as Lamellaphones. Search for lamellaphones on Facebook if you wish to see a variety of instruments from elsewhere in Africa.…
From Uganda: An Hour of Gayaza Praise!
Gayaza Girls School is situated around 12 miles north east of the Uganda’s capital, Kampala. It is the country’s oldest all-girls boarding secondary school, founded in 1905 by the Church Mission Society, and has a long tradition of excellent…
George Moss : pibroch notations.
I’ve been pleased to read on the Altpibroch website three recent blogs discussing the piping knowledge and ability of George Moss (b. 1903). Robin Andrews’ three essays discuss George’s ideas and his examples of ‘traditional’ timing. Robin continues with a discussion…
George Moss again – and more.
In my earlier writings about George Moss I mentioned that when I first met him in 1970 he was no longer playing his bagpipes. However by the end of that decade he was prepared to try blowing them up for…
India 1986
In January 1986 I undertook fieldwork in several regions of India. It was partly funded by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations and arranged by the Inter University Circuit for Indian Classical Music. The funded part was spent visiting teaching institutions and meeting with some…
Memories of traveller Betsy Whyte
I’m delighted to share with you Mairi MacArthur’s ‘Memories’ of her friendship with Betsy and with Betsy’s many associates. I was researching in Uganda when Betsy died so had no knowledge of Betsy’s last days nor of her funeral so…