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Red Speckled Bull

Title

Red Speckled Bull

Alternative Title

An Tarbh (no An t-Arm) Breac Dearg The MacQuarrie's Gathering

Artist

Angus MacColl, Malcolm McRae, James Campbell on goose

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Information

Donald MacDonald says that the title describes the appearance of an army at a distance. The composer of this rattling march was one of the pipers who was at the Battle of Maolroy, and he says that it was the army that killed him.

Another story is given in the PS notes, as follows. "Ronald MacAilean Og MacDonald (of Traigh in Morar I think he was) was on his way to see Lochiel. The Cameron's took a viscious bull from Loch Arkaig side and sent him on in front of Ronald to the river Sgaitheal. The bull appeared very fierce, and Ronald said it was better to avoid him, but his gille said 'I would not like them (the Camerons) to say that we ran away from him. So Ronald and the bull attacked one another in the river. Ronald killed the bull,and twisted off his two horns, and made the lad carry them. He composed this piobaireachd by the side of Lochiel and played it for the first time when nearing Achnacarry Castle. When he returned home, he went to see MacDonald of Keppoch, and played the tune to him. The Laird of Keppoch asked for the tune to be a Welcome tune for himself, and Ronald gave it".

This Ronald presumably is to be identified with the reputed composer of The Vaunting and The Finger Lock.

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PS Book 4, Kilberry

Donald MacDonald V2 An t arm breachd derg, Se'n t'arm mharbh me
Angus MacKay Manuscript The British Army
John MacDougall-Gillies Manuscript An t arm Breachd Dearg
Colin Cameron Manuscript 11 The British Army An T’arm Dearg.
Angus MacKay Specimens of Canntaireachd Tarbh Brach derg