The stories behind Pipe tunes

[WalesLax]

'The 79th’s Farewell to Gibraltar’ was one of the early quicksteps written for troops on the march. It was composed by Pipe Major John Macdonald of the 79th Cameron Highlanders in June of 1848 when his regiment left Gibraltar for Canada. The 79th was originally supposed to have gone to the West Indies, a post notorious for its unhealthy climate and the inordinate amount of casualties due to fever, but at the last minute the regiment was posted to Canada due to the fortuitous intervention of the Secretary of State (who happened to be the commanding officer’s brother).

For three years, that regiment had been part of the garrison stationed on the strategic (but small) Rock of Gibraltar, located at the far southern part of Spain. The regiment was delighted to get off "the Rock," to go somewhere else.

This is the reason the Pipe Major composed “The 79th Farewell to Gibraltar” and decided to teach it to the pipers on the crossing. But the tune’s title may have been somewhat tongue-in-cheek, as the transport lay off Gibraltar for some days, delayed by contrary winds.

After having crossed the Atlantic Ocean without incident, the fog on the St. Lawrence seaway presented a serious hazard. The captain was greatly concerned about a possible collision and asked the Pipe Major to take the pipe band up on deck to play as a warning to other ships of their presence. MacDonald decided to have them play their new tune. So, it was by The 79th’s Farewell to Gibraltar’s first public airing that the ship avoided collision.

[Bruce Scott]

This site has historic information about many pipe tunes catergorised as general, lament and salute piobaireachd stories:


http://www.bagpipe-tutorials.com/ron-macleod.html

[KD Burke]

One that I love to play if the "Pibroch of Donald Dhu". Contrary to it's title it's light music, not piobaireachd. Donald Dhu was the son of the last MacDonald Lord of the Isles and he spent most of his short life as a prisoner of the Campbells.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domhnall_Dubh

[Blupiper]

One of the first piobaireachd I learned was Sir James MacDonald of the Isles Salute. It had an interesting story, involving a visit of the afore-named noble, a hunting party, the accidental shooting of the noble in the foot and this tune composed when he was out of danger and on the mend. It is a more celebratory tune, to show the host's happiness there was no tragedy involved and to reassure the noble's kinsmen there was no ill intent. Rumor has it that the tune has an unofficial nickname of 'Salute to the Wee Footie.' Here's some more info: http://www.bagpipe-tutorials.com/james-macdonald.html


JMB

[WalesLax]

I was unpacking (I've only been in this house for months ), and came across this incredible book of pipe tunes and their stories, and thought this group would appreciate it.

http://www.whiskytunes.com/

[Jack Daw]

I was unpacking (I've only been in this house for months ), and came across this incredible book of pipe tunes and their stories, and thought this group would appreciate it.

http://www.whiskytunes.com/

"Neil Gow's Farewell to Whisky" is the tune I would play upon exiting after piping in the haggis platter (to "A Man's A Man for A' That") at the H&T Rabbie Burns Supper.

[Jack Daw]

A common pipe tune is called "The High Road to Gairloch". But, the Stewarts know it as "The Stewart's March" and the MacIntyres know it as "The MacIntyre March". I have a longer version of the tune as it is known by, "We Will Take the Good Old Way", but I cannot locate it in my files and have not learned this version yet (if ever).

The following I obtained from Electronic Scotland, but I cannot attest to its accuracy:

The MacIntyre March is considered one of the finest march tunes and deserves more than passing mention. Gabhaidh Sinn An Rathad Mor is variously translated as "We Will Take the Good Old Way" or "We Will Take the Highway." For the many places you will find this quick-step check the bibliography . The English version of the Gaelic is from the translation by Rev. Dr. Alexander Stewart of Nether Lochaber, composed in 1873.

Because the tune was so fine, other clans have expropriated it and substituted their own words. It will therefore be found in other collections under titles such as `The Stewart's March', `The Highway', `The Sherra'muir March' and so forth. In those cases, there may be a claim of origin for their clan and a lively discussion on this very subject was carried in the Oban Times in 1888 over a period of months! The Gaelic words for the MacIntyre March are attributed to Iain Breac MacEandraic (Freckled John Henderson), a native of Appin. The Stewarts first played it in 1547, as they returned from the disastrous Battle of Pinkie.

There can be no doubt that the March belongs first to Clan MacIntyre for it is the Clan referred to in the oldest set of Gaelic words. These words contained a jeering reference to the Clan Campbell as luchd nam braoisg or "wry mouthed" in spite of the fact that the powerful Clan would resent such independence on the part of the weaker Clan MacIntyre. The third verse attributes this feeling of independence to the fact that the singer had spent the night in the company of his clansmen, the MacIntyres of Cladich. The MacIntyre March is said to be the tune to which Bonnie Prince Charlie made his triumphal entry into Edinburgh on September 17, 1745, preceded by "A Hundred Pipers an `a an `a."

[Jack Daw]

'The 79th’s Farewell to Gibraltar’ was one of the early quicksteps written for troops on the march. It was composed by Pipe Major John Macdonald of the 79th Cameron Highlanders in June of 1848 when his regiment left Gibraltar for Canada. The 79th was originally supposed to have gone to the West Indies, a post notorious for its unhealthy climate and the inordinate amount of casualties due to fever, but at the last minute the regiment was posted to Canada due to the fortuitous intervention of the Secretary of State (who happened to be the commanding officer’s brother).

For three years, that regiment had been part of the garrison stationed on the strategic (but small) Rock of Gibraltar, located at the far southern part of Spain. The regiment was delighted to get off "the Rock," to go somewhere else.

This is the reason the Pipe Major composed “The 79th Farewell to Gibraltar” and decided to teach it to the pipers on the crossing. But the tune’s title may have been somewhat tongue-in-cheek, as the transport lay off Gibraltar for some days, delayed by contrary winds.

After having crossed the Atlantic Ocean without incident, the fog on the St. Lawrence seaway presented a serious hazard. The captain was greatly concerned about a possible collision and asked the Pipe Major to take the pipe band up on deck to play as a warning to other ships of their presence. MacDonald decided to have them play their new tune. So, it was by The 79th’s Farewell to Gibraltar’s first public airing that the ship avoided collision.

This is one of my favorite tunes to play.