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Pride of Barra

Title

Pride of Barra

Alternative Title

Spaidsearachd Bharraidh

Artist

James Campbell on goose, Robert Wallace (ground only)

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Information

This tune is in many of the early sources. It is a different tune to that called MacNeill of Barra's March and it bears a family resemblance to the MacNab's Gathering and two nameless tunes from Angus MacKay's Manuscript. Full details are contained in the note in PS book 5

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Judge note 2026

This is a seldom heard tune in 3/4 time. It deserves to be played, and as it never goes above F, is easier on the chanter.

Technically, attention should be paid to the first low G grace note of darado ; this should be treated as a semi-quaver gracenote. Equally there should be good rhythm in hiharin with the large D gracenote clearly heard. Similarly the B echo D gracenote should not be nipped to extinction.

Expression of the urlar is helped by paying heed to the middle beats of each phrase and allowing ‘space' either side. Early introduction of the D grace note at the end of the lines should be avoided if rhythm is to be maintained. In bar four of the ground and elsewhere pipers may hold the cadence E and cut the following low G - optional.

A smooth transition leads us to the taorluath where we should have a slight increase in tempo through singling, doubling and trebling.

The timing of the crunluath can and maybe should be as per the 2025 edition of Book 5 where it mirrors that of the taorluath - i.e long B short B short B dre This is as it is in the source settings. The Kilberry Book has it closer to the latter than the old PS Bk5 setting where the ‘stutter’ - short first B, longer second - as shown in bar 2 singling and doubling and elsewhere.

Available in:

PS Book 5, Kilberry, Binneas, MacArthur MacGregor Manuscript of Piobaireachd(1820)

Donald MacDonald V2 MacNiel of Barray's March
Donald MacDonald Junior MacNeil of Barraw's March
Angus MacKay Manuscript V2 Pride of Barra
Angus MacKay Manuscript V1 MacNeill of Barra's Lament
John MacKay Manuscript The Pride of Barra 30
Kintarbert (Angus MacKay) Manuscript The Pride of Barra 64
CC V1 6 Spadarich Bharach