Lament for Captain MacDougall

Information

This lament was composed for Captain Alexander MacDougall, younger, of Dunolly, who was killed in the peninsular wars at Ciudad Rodrigo in 1812 aged 27.  It was composed by the clan piper Ronald Mor MacDougall.  A full account by Bridget MacKenzie can be found in the Piping Times (Vol 51, No 7, p 17)

Malcolm MacPherson was a grandson of Calum Piobaire MacPherson, and son of Angus MacPherson. He was a renowned contemporary of John MacDonald of Inverness. The recordings were made in his later life when circumstances were not ideal. They reflect the style of playing indicated in the collection Binneas is Boreraig, which was compiled from Malcolm MacPherson's playing by Dr Roddy Ross.

Judges Note 2014

A very well-known tune, frequently played in competitions. The main difference in playing the ground is in the penultimate bar, which can either be played as written, that is with 10 notes, or by removing the C/E couplet to play 8 notes Also, when playing the 10 notes, some play in 5 pulses, some compress it into four pulses. 'Sidelights on Kilberry' discusses this and points out that similar things occur in other tunes. In Angus Mackay's MS this bar is shown with 5 pulses.
There is a danger that the first variation is played too slowly - it needs to be kept going so that it doesn't drag. The first two bars of this variation are very similar to the first variation of The Little Spree.

Available in:

PS Book 6, Kilberry, Binneas

More

Angus MacKay Manuscript Captain MacDougall's Lament
David Glen's Book Lament Captain MacDougal