Joseph MacDonald’s Complete Theory of the Scots Highland Bagpipe Transcribed into a Digital Medium

Vortex Street Music is proud to announce the debut of Joseph MacDonald's A Complete Theory of the Scots Highland Bagpipe transcribed into a modern layout with both the text and music typeset reworked electronically into a more accessible format.

Joseph MacDonald created a collection of piobaireachd and of Gaelic airs at the age of twenty-three which would eventually be published posthumously with the Gaelic Airs in 1784 and the Theory in 1803. This work includes some of the earliest analysis of the structure of bagpipe musical tradition that anyone had ever attempted. For further information and to read the work itself please click on the this link to download the .pdf of the collection.

The Fractal World Collection Published

Vortex Street Music is happy to announce the publishing of Campbell Naismith's fifth book of original compositions, The Fractal World Collection,  along with compositions by Jamie Hamilton.

Additionally, we are pleased to announce the publishing of two piobaireachd for the first time in any of the currently published books and look forward to composing more pieces in this genre. In addition, there are tunes arranged for pipes from Highland vocal airs collected in the early 1700's by Joseph MacDonald.

New Awards and Scholarships for 2019 Posted

Han Hoang, winner of the 2019 Irene Naismith Mathematics Award from Crawford High School.

Pictured: Hao Hoang and Campbell Naismith

Devorah Magallon, winner of the 2019 Campbell Naismith Mathematics Award from Chula Vista High School.

Pictured: Chang Lee, Devorah Magallon, and Campbell Naismith

San Diego Highland Games Margo Naismith Memorial Award: Erica Stewart

Pictured: Erica Stewart and Judge Anne Sutherland

James Naismith Memorial Targe: Seumas Coyne

Campbell J. Naismith Amateur Pibroch Award: Charlie Morris

Marilyn “Pinkie” Sutorius Bonner and Campbell Naismith are collaborating on a collection of dances by Mary Isdale MacNab.

It will include instructions for lesser-known Scottish dances taught in the Highland tradition and will include photos plus a historical narrative describing the legacy Pinkie inherited from her great-aunt.  Some of these dances date from the 19th century.  All were performed by the Vancouver Lassies of the Isdale School and by the San Diego Highland Dancers of the Sutorius School of Highland dancers.