World Masters of Piping Competition

(September 2000) 10 tracks: William McCallum - March, Strathspey and Reel * William McCallum - Piobaireachd * Gordon Walker - March, Strathspey and Reel * Angus MacColl - Piobaireachd * Gordon Walker - Hornpipe and Jig * Angus MacColl - March, Strathspey and Reel * Niall Matheson - Piobaireachd * Roderick MacLeod - March, Strathspey and Reel * Roderick MacLeod - Piobaireachd * William McCallum - Hornpipe and Jig

An album of world class pipers competing at the highest level. Donald MacLeod from Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, was an outstanding piper and an expert teacher but it was as a composer that he created his own memorial. His compositions cover the whole range of pipe music, showing a remarkable inventiveness and originality, and his published works are testament to his awareness that he should share his gifts with others. With the passing of Donald in 1984, The Lewis and Harris Piping Society desired to promote a lasting memorial to its most famous piping son and in due course the first 'P/M Donald MacLeod MBE Memorial Competition' was staged in Stornoway and is now regarded worldwide as one of piping's most prestigious annual events.

The eight invited pipers are required to play mainly Donald MacLeod compositions during the competition, although other material can also be included in the March, Strathspey and Reel section. The Competition was held in the Seaforth Hotel, Stornoway, on Friday 7th April 2000, and was enjoyed by an enthusiastic and knowledgeable audience. The overall winner on the day was Willie McCallum, who was first in both the Piobaireachd and the MSR sections. Willie had stiff competition, particularly from Angus MacColl, Roderick MacLeod, Gordon Walker and Niall Matheson. Gordon Walker won the Hornpipe and Jig section.