Bagpipe Tunes And Their Stories E-Book

Susy Klinger

• Herausgeber: Books on Demand
• Kategorie: Geisteswissenschaft
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 219

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2024

Beschreibung

Bagpipe Tunes and Their Stories - Old Times to 1950 - Volume 1 Take a fascinating trip through the world of bagpipe music: a journey in time covering the history of this wonderful instrument. Bagpipe Tunes and Their Stories: Old Times to 1950 features stories behind the unique bagpipe tunes that were composed before 1950. Bagpipes are at the centre of a vibrant culture that has grown over many generations and continues to fascinate music lovers throughout the world. This book unearths stories connected with well-known tunes that were played and written before 1950. A tribute to the rich heritage of bagpipe music, it is captivating reading for long-time bagpipe enthusiasts as well as people less familiar with this distinctive instrument. You will become acquainted with a wide range of bagpipe tunes, from the Scottish Highlands to the hills of Ireland and beyond. In addition, you will learn about the occasions for which they were composed and interpreted. Author Susy Klinger, a well-known music expert and bagpipe enthusiast, has put her broad-ranging knowledge and passionate musical interest into this book. She has done many years of research in Scotland and neighbouring countries, conducted numerous interviews with famous pipers and thoroughly studied bagpipe music in order to put together this collection of stories and personal portraits. The book is a treasure chest of musical discoveries, encompassing everything from traditional ballads to lively dance melodies. The wealth of information on bagpipe tunes is supplemented by carefully selected photos and illustrations that bring the atmosphere and culture of the relevant period to life. Each page is an invitation to delve into the past and become absorbed in stories of times gone by. Order your copy now and let yourself be inspired by this fascinating survey of music history.

Leseprobe

Contents

FOREWORD

GENERAL KNOWLEDGE

THE OLD TIMES UP TO 1950: VOLUME I

A. A. CAMERON’S STRATHSPEY

AE FOND KISS

A HEBRIDEAN AIR

ALE IS DEER, THE

ALFRED E. MILNE

ALICK CAMERON, CHAMPION PIPER

ALICE CUNNINGHAM

ALLANGRANGE

ALLAN ROWAN OF PORT APPIN

A MAN’S A MAN FOR A’THAT

AMY MACLEAN

ANGUS MACAULAY’S TUNE

ANGUS MACKINNON

ANGUS MACPHERSON OF INVERAN

AN MHAIGHDEAN MHARA

ANON

AN T’ALLTAN DUBH

ARCHIBALD CAMPBELL OF KILBERRY

ARDVASAR BLACKSMITH, THE

ARGYLLSHIRE GATHERING, THE

ARLITRACH

ARTAFALLIE

ASSYNT HILLS, THE

ATHOLL CUMMERS

ARTHUR BIGNOLD OF LOCHROSQUE

ATHOLL HIGHLANDERS MARCH

AULD LANG SYNE

AULD WIFE AYONT THE FIRE, THE

BALLOCHYLE

BALMORAL HIGHLANDERS

BARNYARDS O’ DELGATY, THE

BARREN ROCKS OF ADEN

BATTLE OF KILLICRANKIE, THE

BATTLE OF THE RIVER PLATE, THE

BATTLE OF THE SOMME

BATTLE OF WATERLOO, THE

BECAUSE HE WAS A BONNIE LAD

BENS OF JURA

BIDDY FROM SLIGO

BLACK ISLE, THE

BLOODY FIELDS OF FLANDERS, THE

BOBBY CUTHBERTSON

BODACH NAM BRIOGAIS

BOGALLAN

BONNIE ANN

BONNIE ARGYLL

BONNIE LASS O‘ FYVIE, THE

BONNIE DUNDEE

BONNIE ISLE OF JURA, THE

BONNIE STRATHYRE

BONNIE WELLS O’WEARIE, THE

BONNIE WOODS OF STIRKOKE, THE

BONNY GALLOWA

BOY CHAPMAN

BRAES O’BANFF, THE

BRAEMAR GATHERING

BRAES OF ABERARDER, THE

BRAES OF BRECKLET

BRAES OF CASTLE GRANT, THE

BRAES OF FORBES, THE

BRAES OF MAR

BRAES OF TULLIEMET

BROCHAN LOM

BRIDGE OF OICH, THE

BRIG O’PERTH

BROSE AND BUTTER

BROWN HAIRED MAIDEN, THE

BUNDLE AND GO

BURNING SANDS OF EGYPT, THE

BUZANCY

CABAR FEIDH

CALON LAN

CALUM BEAG

CAMPBELLS ARE COMING, THE

CAMERONIAN RANT

CAPTAIN BALD’S MARCH

CAPTAIN C. M. USHER’S REEL

CAPTAIN DUNCAN MACGREGOR

CAPTAIN E. B. B. TOWSE VC

CAPTAIN E. TOSH, 1ST VBRH

CAPTAIN G CS MACLEOD

CAPTAIN LAWSON’S MEN

CARLES WITH THE BREEKS, THE

CASTLE OF GIGHT, THE

CASTLE TOWARD

CA’ THE EWES

CAWDOR FAIR

CECILY ROSS

CENTER’S BONNET

CHARLES EDWARD HOPE VERE

CHASING DE WET

CLAN MACCOLL, THE

COCK OF THE NORTH

COLIN’S CATTLE

COLIN THOMPSON

COLONEL, CHARLES OGSTON, CB, CMG,

COLONEL H.H. BURNEY’S FAREWELL

COLONEL SIR JAMES BURNETT

COLONEL WILLIAM FRIZELL

COMRADES WE LEFT IN GALLIPOLI, THE

CONON BRIDGE

COWAL GATHERING, THE

CRAIGMILLAR CASTLE

CRAIG-N-DARROCH

CREAG GHUANACH

CREAGORY BLEND

CUIDICH AN RIGH

CUMHA FHINN

CUMHA RUAIRIDH MHOIR

DALNAHASSAIG

DANCERS OF DOUNE, THE

DANCING FEET

DARK ISLAND, THE

D.C. MATHER’S FAREWELL

DEVIL IN THE KITCHEN

DINAH FARQUARSON

DONELLA BEATON

DONALD BLUE

DONALD CAMERON

DONALD CAMERON’S

DONALD MACLEAN’S FAREWELL TO OBAN

DONALD MACLEOD

DONALD MCLENNAN’S EXERCISE

DOORNKOP

DOVECOTE PARK

DREAM VALLEY OF GLENDARUEL, THE

DRIVE HAME THE MAINLANDERS

DRUMMOND CASTLE LAUNDRY

DRUNKEN PIPER, THE

DUCK, THE

DUNCAN GRAY

DUNCAN LAMONT

DUGALD MACCOLL’S FAREWELL

DUNTROON

DUNOON HOME GUARD

EDINBURGH CASTLE

ELPHIN LADS, THE

ELSBETH CAMPBELL

EWE WITH THE CROOKED HORN

FATHER JOHN MACMILLAN

FAIR MAID OF BARRA, THE

FAIRY DANCE, THE

FALL OF PORT ARTHUR, THE

FAR AM BI MI FHIN

FAREWELL TO THE CREEKS

FEAR A’BHATA

FIDDLERS JOY, THE

FLAGON, THE

FLIGHT OF THE EAGLETS

FLOWERS OF THE FOREST

FORTY AND TWA, THE

GABHAIDH SINN AN RATHAD MÒR

GALWAY CITY

GAIRNSIDE

GENERAL GEORGE PATTON - US ARMY

GHLASS-AULT, THE

GIRL WITH THE BROGUE, THE

GLASGOW POLICE MARCH PAST, THE

GLENCUIL COTTAGE

GLENDARUEL HIGHLANDERS, THE

GLEN GELDER

GORDON’S FAREWELL TO CASTLEHILL

GORDON’S MARCH, THE

GREEN HILLS OF TYROL

GREEN GLENS OF ANTRIM, THE

GARB OF OLD GAUL, THE

GURKHAS’ JOY, THE

GUR MILIS MHORAG

HAMILTON BAY

HAWK, THE

HAWK THAT SWOOPS ON HIGH, THE

HECKY MORRISON

HECTOR THE HERO

HENDERSON’S STONE, THE

HEROES OF KOHIMA, THE

HE-RO-HIRAM

HEY CA’ THROU

HIGHLAND BRIGADE AT

HIGHLAND BRIGADE’S MARCH TO HEILBRONN, THE

HIGHLAND CRADLE SONG, THE

HIGHLAND EMIGRANT, THE

HIGHLAND LADDIE

HIGHLANDMAN KISSED HIS MOTHER, THE

HIGHLAND WHISKY

HIGH ROAD TO GAIRLOCH, THE

HIGH ROAD TO LINTON

HIGHLAND WEDDING, THE

HEIGHTS OF DARGAI, THE

HILLS OF GLENTRUIM, THE

HILLS OF JAVA, THE

HODDOM CASTLE

HUGH KENNEDY MA BSS

I’LL GANG NAE MAIR TAE YON TOUN

INVERAN

INVERLOCHY CASTLE

INVERNESS GATHERING, THE

INVEROICH SHINTY CLUB, THE

ISHBEL MACKENZIE

JEAN MACLENNAN

JEANNIE CARRUTHERS

JENNY DANG THE WEAVER

JIG OF SLURS

JOHN D. BURGESS

JOHN MacCOLL’S FAREWELL

JOHN MACFADYEN OF MELFORD

JOHN MACKECHNIE

JOHN MACKENZIE’S FAREWELL

JOHN MORRISON OF ASSYNT HOUSE

JOHNNIE COPE

JOHNNIE MACINTYRE

JOHN ROY STEWART

JOSEPH MACDONALD’S JIG

JUMPIN JOHN

KATE DALRYMPLE

KATIE BAIRDIE

KATRINA BANNISTER

KATY MACDONALD OF CROYDON

KIRKHILL

KESSOCK FERRY

KILBOWIE COTTAGE

KILCOY MILL

KING GEORGE V’S ARMY

KILORAN BAY

KILWORTH HILLS

KITCHENER’S ARMY

LACE TOON, THE

LADIES FROM HELL, THE

LADY ANN MACKENZIE’S FAREWELL

LADY DOROTHEA STEWART MURRAY’S

LADY LOUDEN

LADY MADELINE SINCLAIR

LADY MARY ANN

LAMENT FOR RORY MOR

LANTERN OF THE NORTH, THE /

LEAVING BARRA

LEAVING GLENURQUART

LEAVING IRELAND

LEAVING LUNGA

LEAVING PORT ASKAIG

LEWIS PIPE BAND, THE

LIBERTON POLKA, THE

LIEUTENANT COLONEL D. POLSON HALL

LIVERPOOL SCOTTISH SALUTE

LOCHABER GATHERING, THE

LOCHABER NO MORE

LOCHANSIDE

LOCHIEL’S WELCOME TO GLASGOW

LOCH CARRON

LOCH KELVIN HIGHLANDERS

LOCH LOCHY

LOCH MONAR

LOGIE O’BUCHAN

LORD ALEXANDER KENNEDY

LORD MACDONALD’S REEL

LONDON SCOTTISH AT

LOWERGILL CROFTER’S FAREWELL

LT COL ROBIN CAMPBELL, DSO

MACALLISTER’S DIRK

MAC-A-PHI

MACCRIMMON WILL NEVER RETURN

MACGREGOR OF RORA

MACKAY’S FAREWELL TO THE 74TH

MACKENZIE’S FAREWELL TO

MACNEILLS OF UGADALE, THE

MACPHERSON’S LAMENT

MAGGIE CAMERON

MAIDEN OF MORVEN, THE

MAJOR C. M. USHER, OBE

MAJOR DAVID MANSON

MAJOR JOHN MACLENNAN

MALCOLM MACLEAN CURRIE

MALCOLM MACPHERSON OF PERTH

MAN FROM GLENGARRY, THE

MAIRI’S WEDDING

MASON’S APRON, THE

MALLORCA

MALTA BELLS

MANCHESTER HORNPIPE

MARCHIONESS OF HUNTLY, THE

MARY DARROCH

MEETING OF THE WATERS, THE

MEMORIES O’BON ACCORD

METHVEN CASTLE

MERRILY SAILING

MHAIRI BHAN OG

MICHAEL JOSEPH MACKINNON

MILLBANK COTTAGE

MINGULAY BOAT SONG, THE

MISS JOAN CAMPBELL

MISS MACDONALD OF VIEWFIELD

MIST COVERED MOUNTAINS, THE

MR AND MRS PETER MACLEAN

MRS CATH MACDONALD

MRS DONALD MACLEOD

MRS JOHN MACDONALD OF

MRS JOHN MACCOLL

MRS JOHN MACLELLAN

MRS MACDONALD OF DUNACH

MRS MACDONALD OF UIG

MRS MACLEOD OF RAASAY Dunach

MRS MACKINNON OF CORRY

MRS MACPHERSON OF INVERAN

MRS PAT MACLAREN

MRS WILLIAM MACLELLAN

MO CHUACHAG LAGHACH THU

MONS MEG

MUCKIN’ OF GEORDIE’S BYRE, THE

MUNLOCHY BRIDGE

MUILE NAM FUAR BHEANN

MURDO MACGILLIVRAY OF EOLIGARRY

MURDO CAMPBELL

MY LODGINGS IN THE COLD GROUND

MY LOVE SHE’S BUT A LASSIE YET

NEIL SUTHERLAND OF LAIRG

NONA

OLD RUINS, THE

ORANGE AND BLUE

OSSIAN’S LAMENT FOR HIS FATHER

OVER THE CHINDWIN

OVER THE HILLS AND FAR AWAY

PIOBAIREACHD OF DONALD DUBH

PM DUNCAN MCPHAIL’S RETREAT

PIPE MAJOR HECTOR MACLEAN

PIPE MAJOR R. H. MACPHEE’S REEL

PLAINES OF NORMANDY, THE

PM DONALD MacLEAN OF LEWIS

PM JOHN STEWART

PORTPATRICK

PORTREE BAY

PRETTY APRON, THE

PROVOST DONALD MACDONALD

QUAKER’S WIFE

QUEEN ELIZABETH’S MARCH

REEL OF TULLOCH

RELIEF OF LADYSMITH, THE

RESOLIS

ROAD TO THE ISLES

ROCK AND WEE PICKLE TOW

ROCK (GIBRALTAR), THE

RODDIE CAMPBELL

ROSEHAUGH DANCE

ROSS BATTERY, THE

ROTHIEMURCHUS RANT, THE

SANDY CAMERON

SCORRYBRECK FALLS

SCOTS GUARDS FAREWELL TO

SCOTS WHA HA’E

SHAGGY GREY BUCK, THE

SHANBALLY CASTLE

SHEPHERD’S CROOK

SHOALS OF HERRING

SÌNE BHÀN

SIEGE OF DELHI, THE

SKYE BOAT SONG

SLEEP, DEARIE, SLEEP

SMITH OF CHILICHASSIE, THE

SOUTH UIST EMIGRANTS, THE

SOUTH UIST GOLF CLUB, THE

SURRENDER OF CRONJE, THE

SPORTING JAMIE

STABLE BOYS, THE

SWALLOW-TAILED COAT, THE

THA MI DUILICH

THOMPON’S DIRK

THREE GOOD FELLOWS BEYOND

TIBBY

TULLOCHGORM

TOM BIGBEE WALTZ, THE

TWENTY MEN FROM DUBLIN

UNKNOWN WARRIOR, THE

VALLAY ISLAND

VATERSAY BAY

WADE’S WELCOME TO INVERNESS

WALKING THE FLOOR

WHEN THE BATTLE IS OVER

WHIP HER AND GIRD HER

WHISTLE OWER THE LEAVE O’T

WI’A HUNDRET PIPERS AN’A’

WILLIE MACLEOD - REEDMAKER

WILLIAM MURRAY’S REEL

WILLIE MACRAE OF ULLAPOOL

YOUNG WILLIE MURRAY

2 nd BATTALION THE GORDON

72 ND HIGHLANDERS’ FAREWELL

51 ST HIGHLAND DIVISION, THE

8 TH ARGYLLS’ FAREWELL, THE

8 TH ARGYLLS’ FAREWELL TO DUNOON

71 ST’S FAREWELL TO DOVER, THE

9 th BN SEAFORTH HIGHLANDERS, THE

FAMOUS COMPOSERS THE OLD TIMES UP TO 1950

THANK YOU TO…

I AM SORRY IF…

SOURCES

INDEX

EXPLANATIONS OF ABBREVIATIONS USED

FOREWORD

I’ve always liked listening to stories from the past. When I started piping with Jimmy Young at the former College of Piping, he told me lots of stories about piping, pipers and facts behind the tunes. I listened and hoped he would tell me more stories. But I never had the idea to write them down. One day he spoke about the Cameronian Rant, which I liked a lot. That was in 2004 and I can’t remember the exact story anymore. Joe Wilson was another instructor of mine, also at the College of Piping. He was also full of stories.

In 2020 I had the idea of collecting all the stories of the tunes I play. But at that time, I thought it would be a good idea to find the stories of all light music tunes. Piobaireachd stories were available in writing, but not much research had been done for ceol beag. After a chat with Finlay MacDonald, who recommended that I have three categories in my collection (thank you for that), I started to get more interested in modern compositions. Even with internet and clouds, etc. there is no guarantee that all this knowledge will be saved forever. Now is the time to save the stories from modern compositions which pipers in 100 years might want to know. This is especially true for tunes that were written for individual persons. My favourite reel is Bessie MacIntyre. I really wanted to know who she was and for whom I played this tune. But I couldn’t find out at the time.

So, I started this book and collected every story I could find. After a wee while collecting and writing, I noticed that there are thousands of tunes and one book is not enough. This will be number 1 and other volumes will follow.

I hope with this book we can save most of the knowledge behind pipe tunes and give it to other generations so that nothing will be lost for the future.

GENERAL KNOWLEDGE

OUR PIPE MUSIC IS DIVIDED INTO THREE CATEGORIES:

CEOL MOR

the big music or piobaireachd

CEOL BEAG

the little music, which includes quicksteps and dance music like strathspeys and reels

CEOL MEADHONACH

the middle music. As the name says, this is between ceol mor and ceol beag. Airs are an example. This is the oldest form of Highland music.

The MacCrimmons taught piobaireachd in their school in Boreraig. But I am sure there was light music in those days for weddings and other celebrations where the Highlanders danced to the bagpipes. Gaelic poetry also “speaks occasionally of the pipes being used as an accompaniment to general merrymaking in the big houses of the West Highlands”.

John MacDonald wrote about Calum Piobair that he “hardly ever played march, strathspey and reel, only piobaireachd and jigs. Each morning Calum used to play jigs on the chanter while breakfast was being got ready – he used to sit on a stool near the peat fire as he played. But his heart was in Piobaireachd […].”

In the 19th century the army got more influence and the style of music changed. The old piping tunes were originally Gaelic airs or fiddle tunes that were adapted to the pipes. But with the army, tunes were composed especially for the pipes. So, in this book the composer could also be a fiddler and not a piper. But I thought it is interesting who composed it, who had the idea of the tune.

Tunes from the old days had two parts and more parts were composed later. So it could be that the first two parts are very old and the other two are much younger. (15/p. 62 and 193)

PUBLISHER

Dudelsackschule.de,

Andreas Hambsch

AUTHOR

Susy Klinger

PHOTOS

Susy Klinger, Nils Bosshammer,

Freepik, iStock, Ambaille.org.uk

LAYOUT

Nils Bosshammer

ISBN

978-3-910702-02-8

EDITION

1st Edition, November 2023

BAGPIPE TUNES AND THEIR STORIES

THE OLD TIMES UP TO 1950

VOLUME I

A. A. CAMERON’S STRATHSPEY

STRATHSPEY

JOHN SKINNER

Alexander Anthony Cameron was born in 1875 in Dochanassie, Lochaber, Inverness-shire, near Fort William. He was also known as A. A. or Sandy Cameron. His nickname was “the Mighty Mucomir”. And that was his farm’s name. He loved farming. Alexander had a good physique and was very strong. He went to the Highland Games for the Athletics regularly and got very famous because he won so much. He also travelled to Australia, New Zealand, America and Russia, where he showed off his strength on stage. He died in 1951 at the age of 76

Source: www.tunearch.org/wiki/Annotation:Sandy_Cameron%27s (30.08.2022)

AE FOND KISS

SLOW AIR

TRADITIONAL

This tune is also known as Ae Fond Kiss and Then We Sever. The melody is traditional and Robert Burns wrote words to it. Burns met from time to time with Mrs Agnes Maclehose in Edinburgh. They started a regular correspondence and used the pseudonyms “Clarinda” and “Sylvander” for this. After their final meeting Burns wrote this poem. On 27th December 1791 he sent it to Agnes. She then departed Edinburgh for Jamaica to see her husband. The melody Burns took for this tune was Rory Dalls’ Port. But it was replaced later with another tune. Rory Dall was a blind harper living from about 1656 until about 1714. His real name was Roderick Morison. He lived at Dunvegan, in Skye. The replaced air for Rory Dalls’ Port is Hi Horo ’s na Horo Eile. This song was written by John McLean of Balemartin (Iain MacGhill’eathain) around 1880.

Source: www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ae_Fond_Kiss (30.12.2022);www.pipetunes.ca (10.06.2022); www.tunearch.org/wiki/Annotation:Rory_Dall%27s_Port_(1) (30.12.2022)

A HEBRIDEAN AIR

SLOW AIR

TRADITIONAL

This tune is originally a Gaelic song: A Luaidh. A Luaidh means in English: Oh my dearest dear. A Hebridean Air also means: O, my love. Oh, my love or Oh, my beloved. The Hebrides are a group of islands in the northwest of Scotland. They consist of at least 100 islands, some of which are uninhabited. The Hebrides include, for example, the Isle of Lewis and the Isle of Harris.

Source: 43/p. 9

The Standing Stones of Callanish, Isle of Lewis

ALE IS DEER, THE

REEL

TRADITIONAL

The tune’s name in Gaelic is Tha leann daor aig na Gillean. And that means Ale is expensive for the boys. It was published in the William Gunn Collection in 1848. Other names are Maighstir Ord, Tha Leann daor aig na Gillun.

Source: 43/p. 52

ALFRED E. MILNE

2/4 MARCH

G. S. MCLENNAN

Alfred E. Milne was G. S McLennan’s advocate in Aberdeen.

Source: 12/p. 8

ALICK CAMERON, CHAMPION PIPER

REEL

G. S. MCLENNAN

Alexander Cameron was born in 1848. He was the 2nd son of Donald Cameron. He was a very good piper and in private service as a piper to William Malcolm Esq. of Dunoon. Later he went to the Marquis of Huntly at Aboyne and was piper to Cameron of Lochiel. He won the prize pipe at the Northern Meeting in 1867 and the Gold Medal for former winners in 1870. One of his homes was at 61 Grove street, Cowcaddens in Glasgow. John MacDougall Gillies stayed at the same lodging. On one occasion Alick Cameron was walking the dogs. One of the dogs saw a hare and ran after it. Cameron was badly injured when the leads tightened round his hand, and he was given a pension. He died on 5th November 1923 in Inverness.

Source: 15/p. 69 and 70

ALICE CUNNINGHAM

SLOW AIR

PETER R. MACLEOD

Alice Cunningham was Hector MacLeod’s wife. Hector was Peter MacLeod’s son and then of course the brother to Peter MacLeod Junior.

Source: www.pipetunes.ca (10.06.2022)

ALLANGRANGE

2/4 MARCH

JOHN BAN MACKENZIE

Allangrange lies between Tore and Munlochy in Scotland. George Falconer was the owner of Allangrange in the 19th century. Around 1820 he had a piper, John Ban MacKenzie. In 1821 John Ban left Allangrange and became piper to Duncan Davidson. The tune has 2 parts. Source: 53/p. 56

Photo: www.ambaile.org.uk

ALLAN ROWAN OF PORT APPIN

2/4 MARCH

CAPTAIN JOHN MACLELLAN

Allan Rowan was a shinty player from Port Appin in Scotland. He was also a piper. He played with the Strathsclyde Police Pipe Band at the World Pipe Band Championships several times. The tune was composed in 1949.

Source: 30

A MAN’S A MAN FOR A’THAT

2/4 MARCH

TRADITIONAL

This tune is an old Scottish air. Burns wrote words to it and even a poem with the same title. It was first printed in The Glasgow Magazine without the poet’s name in August 1795. The tune was first a ballad, then it was played on the fifes and later on the pipes. And because Robert Burns wrote words to it, it is “often used to march out the haggis after the address” at a Burns Supper.

Source: www.pipetunes.ca (10.06.2022); 51/p. 5

AMY MACLEAN

JIG

GEORGE GRANT

George Grant emigrated from Scotland to Ontario. In Ontario he was a contemporary and friend of the great John Wilson

Source: www.pipetunes.ca (10.06.2022)

ANGUS MACAULAY’S TUNE

2/4 MARCH

UNKNOWN

Angus MacAulay was born on Benbecula and later moved to Glasgow. The tune’s name is sometimes Something to do with Morag.

Source: 2/p. 106

ANGUS MACKINNON

6/8 MARCH

DONALD SHAW RAMSAY

Donald Shaw Ramsay was Pipe Major of the Edinburgh City Police Pipe Band. Angus MacKinnon was a member in this band for 30 years

Source: www.pipetunes.ca (10.06.2022)

ANGUS MACPHERSON OF INVERAN

2/4 MARCH

W. MACDONALD, GRUID

Angus MacPherson was born in 1877. His father was Calum Piobair. Everybody who knew Angus MacPherson said that he was an extraordinary person. He had many talents as he was an expert piper, angler, seannachaidh and sheep farmer. Inveran Hotel was owned by Angus and his wife.

JIG

JOHN WILSON

The old Inveran Hotel, where Angus lived for 35 years

Pipers were always welcomed and of course everybody was allowed to play a tune on the pipes. Many great pipers stayed at the hotel, e.g. John MacDonald of Inverness. Angus and Alice had one son, Malcolm. Malcolm was also a very well-known piper. In 1949 Inveran Hotel burnt down and it was replaced by the Shin Power Station. Angus died in 1976.

Source: www.electricscotland.com/history/looksback/index.htm (09.05.2022)

AN MHAIGHDEAN MHARA

SLOW AIR

TRADITIONAL

Another name for this melody is The Mermaid. This tune is from Ireland and associated with the County Donegal. The story is about blond Mary Chinidh, a mermaid. She left the ocean to marry the sailor Patrick. But she missed the sea very much and went back, leaving her husband and children behind.

Source: www.pipetunes.ca (10.06.2022); www.cornuigalway.wordpress.com/2014/05/14/an-mhaighdean-mhara/(30.12.2022); www.fresnostate.edu/folklore/ballads/TSF058.html (30.12.2022)

ANON

REEL

G. S. MCLENNAN

This reel was written for G. S. McLennan’s wife Nona. But he spelled her name backwards.

Source: www.pipetunes.ca (10.06.2022); 12/p. 22

AN T’ALLTAN DUBH

SLOW MARCH

DONALD FRASER

This is a Gaelic song composed by Donald Fraser; the English name is The dark Stream. It is about the burn that runs down to Loch Broom, Wester Ross in Scotland. In the song he wants to cross the burn to hunt deer. He has a gun with him with the name Morag. He asks Morag if the gun powder will stay dry when crossing the burn.

Source: 25/ S.24

ARCHIBALD CAMPBELL OF KILBERRY

SLOW MARCH

JOHN MACCOLL

John MacColl travelled many times with his employees, the MacDonalds of Dunach for which he was piper to, to the Campbells of Kilberry. Archibald Campbell was born in 1877 in Kilberry, Argyll, Scotland. He served in India until he retired in 1927. He then was secretary of the Music Committee of the Piobaireachd Society. He published the Kilberry Book of Ceol Mor in 1948. Archibald Campbell was well known and “a leading authority on all aspects of Highland bagpipe music”. He died in 1963.

Source: 15/p. 106; www. pipingpress.com/famous-pipers-archibald-campbell-kilberry-1877-1963/(24.04.2023), Photo: Piping Times/bagpipe.news

ARDVASAR BLACKSMITH, THE

REEL

PM EVAN MCRAE

1ST BATTALION THE QUEEN’S OWN

CAMERON HIGHLANDERS

Village sign of Ardvasar in Gaelic and English. An old house in Ardvasar.

Ardvasar lies on the Isle of Skye, Scotland. It is the first village on the left after arriving with the ferry from Mallaig to Armadale. In 1877 the smithy was shifted on the hillside behind the shop. The smith at that time was a man called MacInnes. In 1880 John MacDonald’s father took over as the blacksmith in Ardvasar. John MacDonald taught young Evan Macrae the pipes. He was known as Ian A’Ghobha by the local people. That is Gaelic for John the Blacksmith. John MacDonald not only made horse shoes in his forge, he also made shepherd’s crooks out of hazel or ram’s horn. Evan had lessons in his house or smithy. John MacDonald looked well after his student and Evan was never sent home “without a drink of milk and some scones”. John MacDonald was of course a very good piper but was also a nephew of the famous Calum Mor. He got lessons from Ross, who was the piper at Armadale Castle. John MacDonald was the local piper in the area. There was no ceilidh without him and he played his pipes all night. John was a bit old fashioned. He had a croft and never changed the way of life there. Even when others already had cars, he walked to church at Kilmore each Sunday. That was 2 miles each way. There, he was the precentor. A precentor is the leader of the congregation in the singing of psalms.

Source: 1/p. 192, 1/p. 19;www.sleatlocalhistorysociety.org.uk/index.php/topic/73 / (26.08.2022)

ARGYLLSHIRE GATHERING, THE

2/4 MARCH

JOHN MACCOLL

In 1871 some families of Argyll met together and thought it would be a nice idea to meet every year to socialise and to compete against each other. And that was the beginning of the Argyllshire Gathering. It is now held around the 20th August on a Wednesday and Thursday in Oban, Scotland. On the Wednesday the Gold Medal is held at the Corran Halls. On the next day, the Gold Medal winner is the Pipe Major for the march to the Games. The Silver Medal Winner is the Pipe Sergeant. All other competing pipers form the band, and when entering Mossfield Stadium, where the Games take place, the band plays this march. Behind the pipe band the Clan Chiefs follow. When John MacColl composed the march, “he tried to capture the picture of Oban on Games Day with the crowds of people lining the streets to watch the parade.”

Source: 15/p. 113

March to the Games

ARLITRACH

JIG

COLIN CAMERON

Another name for this jig is The Farr Awa Wedding. It has similarities to Drops of Brandy or Brose and Butter. The tune was published in William Ross’s 1869 Collection of Pipe Tunes.

Source: 11/p. 74; www.thesession.org/tunes/3944 (05.09.2022)

ARTAFALLIE

STRATHSPEY

G. S. MCLENNAN

Artafallie is a farm near North Kessock on the Black Isle, Scotland. This farm once belonged to the McLennan family.

Source: 30

ASSYNT HILLS, THE

6/8 MARCH

COLIN THOMPSON

Assynt is the area north of Ullapool and south-west of Sutherland in Scotland. Assynt is famous for its landscape and its remarkable mountains. The mountain’s names are Quinag, Canisp, Suilven and Ben More Assynt.

Source: www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assynt (02.01.2023)

ATHOLL CUMMERS

STRATHSPEY

UNKNOWN

This tune was already printed in Robert Bremner’s Scots Reels from 1757 and in A Collection of Scots Reels or Country Dances (1790). Other names for Atholl Cummers are Bogan Lochan, Ciamar A Nì Mi An Dannsa Dìreach, the Water Ousel, the Water Ouzel, the Water-ouzel and Lady Grant of Grant. Atholl or Athole comes from Gaelic “ath Fodla”, which means New Ireland. In the 7th century the Scots invaded Northern Ireland. “Cummer” is a Scottish dialect word and means girl or woman. Maybe the word comes from the old French word “commère”. And there it means a girl or woman who is endlessly chatting. There is also a story that a piper got terrible headaches when he listened to lassies who talked too much. So he decided to compose a strathspey and they had to dance and couldn’t talk anymore. The tune then means Athole Lasses.

Source: (39/p. 78)

ARTHUR BIGNOLD OF LOCHROSQUE

2/4 March

John MacColl