Search online for piobaireachd tutor books, schools, local teachers and those who give lessons over the internet. You could also go along to a Highland games or competition and speak to pipers who will be keen to give advice. If you join the Society you have access to our own list of teachers, details about our Bursary Scheme, our Summer School and our extensive archive of written and played ceòl mòr. The good news is you can join right now here.

Farewell to the Laird of Islay

Title

Artist

Finlay Johnston

Members can access all recordings, proceedings of the annual conference and interesting articles.

Click here to sign up or log in

Information

This is the only complete piobaireachd to have been composed by Angus MacKay, who was piper to the Laird until 1840, and entered the service of Queen Victoria in 1843. Angus’ Laird would have been Walter Campbell, father of John Francis Campbell, the celebrated folklorist.

Judges Note 2012

Composed in 1840, this is said to be the only complete piobaireachd by Angus Mackay. Although it does not appear in Mackay’s MS Volumes 1 and 2, it is included in his ‘Kintarbert’ MS, in his own handwriting, which is contrary to the note in PS 9. There are a couple of differences, the only significant one being low G instead of low A as the first note of bar 3, line two of variation 1. The low G is consistent with the rest of the tune and so is acceptable.
(There is another error in the notes in PS 9, where it states that Ceol Mor has two crunluaths – breabach and ordinary – which is not the case in some versions.)
The tune is fairly straightforward. In variation 1, the couplets at the ends of bars 1 and 3 of lines 1 and 2 and bar 1 of line 3 are shown as even quavers, which is how Donald MacLeod played them, rather than cut and dotted, which is more common. Either approach is acceptable.
There is a G grace note missing on the third low A in bar 2, line 1 of variation 1.
A crunluath a mach is required in this tune.

Buy the book here.

Available in:

https://www.piobaireachd.co.uk/shop

Kintarbert (Angus MacKay) Manuscript Farewell to the Laird of Islay 55
Ballindalloch MS Farewell to the Laird of Islay