HISTORY OF SOME HIGHLAND MUSIC
The
following list of tunes is not complete, many more tunes in both Ceol Mhor and
in Ceol Beag were composed prior to 1746 and have not been included. The MacCrimmons alone composed more
piobaireachd than I have listed, but I have tried to include some history with
each title and will be adding more titles as the reference material is located.
Ceol Mhor
War or Peace
Unknown date and composer
but its simple, bold characteristic style indicates an ancient tune referring
to the Highlands willingness to go to war
but his preference for peace.
Grant’s Gathering
This is considered by many to be the best available
specimen of a Battle-tune to survive.
The author is unknown and the tune is as old as the clan that it distinguishes.
MacKenzie’s Gathering
Another old tune with the author unknown.
Piobaireachd Dhomhnuill Dubh
This call to arms was composed
around the time of the Battle of Inverlochy in 1431. This tune is also known as “Lochiel’s
March”. The Chief of the Cameron’s was
MacDhomhnuill Dubh or son of Black Donald.
MacRae’s March
Composed
to honor “Big Duncan of the Axe”. In
1491 Duncan is reputed to have killed no fewer than
sixteen MacDonalds at the Battle of the Park.
Ranald MacDonald of Morar’s Lament
Author unknown, originality mark this tune as composed
by a great composer of Piobaireachd. To
honor Ranald, a piper, composer, harper and a man of influence in the Western Highlands. He was
assassinated in 1520.
MacIntosh’s
Lament
To
honor Lauchlan MacKintosh of Dunnachton, who was murdered by a close kinsman in
1526 during, troubled times for Clan Chatten.
Battle of Waternish
Celebrates a battle fought
between the MacDonalds of Uist and the MacLeods. Written by Donald Mor in 1583.
MacLeods Controversy
Composed by Donald Mor in
1601 after the troubles between the MacLeods and the MacDonalds were resolved.
MacLeod’s Salute
Another tune composed by Donald Mor
after the troubles on Skye between the MacLoads and the MacDonalds of Slait
were ended in 1601.
MacDonald’s Salute
A busy time for Donald Mor,
this tune was composed to honor MacDonald when he came to talk with MacLeod in
1601.
The Cameron’s Gathering
Composed sometime in the 1600’s
after a dispute between Ewen Cameron of Lochiel and The Earl of Atholl. The dispute was about rights to grazing lands
near Rannoch.
Rout of Glenfruin
Author unknown, this tune is about the raid into Lennox
by the clan MacGregor in 1603. The
MacGregor’s killed about 80 defenders and made off with a considerable amount
of livestock and plunder.
Lament for Sir Rory Mor MacLeod
This great Chief died about 1626 and
his piper, Patrick Mor composed this tune.
One of the most feelings of all laments an excellent tune to honor his
Chief.
The
Mackay’s Banner
In
1639 a dispute arose between Murdoch and Neil MacKay regarding the
Chaiftainship of the Clan. Murdoch was
the rightful chief but Neil got possession of the Banner.
Battle of Auldearn
Author unknown, composed to honor Montrose’s victory
over the Parliamentary forces at Auldearn on the 9th of May 1645.
Lament
for Alasdair Dearg MacDonnel of Glengary
Alasdair Dearg was son and heir of
Donald MacDonald Seventh Chief of Glengarry.
Alasdair predeceased his father, who died in 1645. Alasdair’s sister was married to Rory Mor
MacLeod, so it is possible that this tune is from MacCrimmon.
Pipers warning to his Master
Legend has it that in 1647 MacDonald’s Piper composed a warning that
indicated that the enemy had taken the castle.
The legend continues that the Campbell realized what the piper had
accomplished and had his fingers cut off.
Lament for the Children
Composed in 1650 by Patrick Mor
after the loss of seven of his eight children within a year.
John Garbh of Rassay’s Lament
Composed to honor John Garbh MacLeod
who died in 1650 at the age of 21. He
had been on Lewis visiting and was returning to Skye when a storm came up and
he and his crew were lost.
Lament for Red Hector of the Battles
Also known as “Lament for Sir Hector
Roy MacLean” written in 1651 by Patrick Mor.
I Got a Kiss of the Kings Hand
Gaelic “Fhuair mi pog do
Laimh an Righ.” Patrick Mor composed
this tune after being presented to King Charles at Stirling in 1650.
Too Long in this Condition
Gaelic “Is Fade Mar So Tha Sinn” Two possible
dates for this one. Either 1612 by Donald Mor or by his son Patrick in 1651
after the Battle of Worchester, where he was taken prisoner.
The Kings Taxes
Donald Mor wrote this piece to
protest that his Chief had to put up 10,000 merks as security for the Clans
good behavior.
Carles with the Breeks
Also known as Lord Breadlbanes
March. Composed during the routing of
the Sinclair’s by the Campbell of Glenurchy’s men near the river Wick in 1677.
Sir James MacDonald of the Isles Salute
Written in 1664, after MacDonald recovered from an
accidental wound during a hunting trip to North Uist.
Lament for the Viscount of Dundee
Composed to honor John Graham of Claverhouse,
the Viscount of Dundee. He was killed
leading the Jacobite forces at the battle of Killercrankie in 1689.
Menzies’ Salute
Composed by John MacIntyre in 1715.
John was the piper to the Menzies at this time.
The Battle of Sheriffmuir
Finlay Dubh MacRae composed this
tune after the well fought but indecisive battle of 1715.
Clan Ranald’s Gathering
Also known as “Clan Ranald’s Gathering to the battle
of Sheriffmuir where the Chief was slain.”
The MacDonald’s fought well this day , after taking some heavy fire from
the loyalist troops, Glengarry signaled the attack by throwing his bonnet into
the air and shouting “Revenge today and morning tomorrow”.
The Earl of Seaforth’s Salute
Another tune by MacRae,
composed after the Earl went into exile and seems to express that he would
return soon.
The Pretty Dirk
Composed by Patrick Og
MacCrimmon about a dirk in the possession of MacLeod. The music so impressed MacLeod that he gave
the dirk to Patrick.
Half Finished Piobaireachd
A joint composition by
Patrick Og and Ian Dall.
Lament for Patrick Og MacCrimmon
Iain Dall MacKay composed this tune
on hearing of his friend’s death. Iain
soon found that the rumors had been false and visited Boreraig to see
Patrick. Patrick enjoyed the tune so
much that he said, ” I shall learn to play it myself.”
Blind Pipers Obstinacy
Written by Iain Dall MacKay, the
blind piper about 1730.
The Head of the High Bridge
Some say it was composed in the midst of the Battle of Inverlochy in
1427. Most think it is probably composed
after a skirmish with the British a few miles below Spean bridge prior to the
raising of the standard at Glenfinnan in 1745.
The King has
landed in Moidart
Composed by John MacIntyre
in 1745 to celebrate the raising of Prince Charles standard at Glenfinnan.
The
Prince’s Salute
Associated with the landing of
Prince Charles and the raising of the banner at Glenfinnan, possibly by John
MacIntyre.
Kinoichmoidart’s Salute
Written about Donald MacDonald of Kinlochmoidart, who
was captured in1745 near Lesmahagow. He
was trying to gain support for the Prince.
Tried at Carlisle on the 24th of September 1746, he was found guilty and executed on the 18th
of October.
Ceol Beag
The
Sword Dance
This
tune may have been composed on the harp about Malcom Canmore and the
displeasure he created when the court moved from Dunstaffnage Castle in Argyllshire to Dunfermline after he married the Saxon Princess
Margret.
Scots,
Wha Hae
Originally called “Hey Tuttie
Tattie.” Supposedly used by Bruce at Bannockburn on the 24th of June 1314. Also a popular reel called
“The wind that shakes the Barley”.
We
will take the Highway
Very old, said to originate
around 1547. Believed to been played by
Stewarts of Appin at Sheriffmuir in 1715. Also known as “Sheriffmuir March.”
Grant’s
Rant
May have been known as “Cow thou me the
Rashes” which would date it about 1549.
The
King shall enjoy his own again
An
English composition from the early 1600’s with words added by M Parker in
1643. This was a popular Jacobite tune
during the 1745 raising.
The
Flowers of the Forest This
common funeral tune was written as a Lament to the Scottish dead at the Battle
of Flodden on 9 September 1513.
The oldest known version of this tune dates from the 1620’s.
Reel
of Tulloch
If
the story that goes with the tune is believed than it was composed about 1540 by John MacGregor after defending himself
from several attackers with the help of Isabel the daughter of the Laird of
Tulloch.
All
the Blue Bonnets over the Border
Very old tune which the third and
forth parts come from the tune known in 1666 as “General Lesly’s March”
Up and Waur them All, Willie
This tune is said to date back to
the 1689 Jacobite raising.
High Road to Linton
Possibly from before 1700. Linton is thought to be a corruption for “London”.
Lochaber No More
This tune was written before 1704 in
honor of Ewan Cameron, Lochiel’s daughter.
The Campbell’s are Coming
The dates for this tune are unknown
but it was played as Argyll marched into Perth during the 1715
raising.
White Cockade
May have been composed around
1715 as it refers to the rising of Mar and it was old prior to Robert Burn’s
time.
Standard on the Braes of Mar
Commemorates the raising of the
standard by John the Earl of Mar at Braemar on 6
September 1715.
Caber Feidh
Popular Gaelic song from the early
1700’s that is disdainful of a cattle raid on the MacKenzie shielings by
William Munro of Achany. Along with the
cattle some cheese and butter was taken, it was this “petty larceny” that
inspired this MacKenzie Clan song.
Highland Laddie
Originally the “Lass of Livingston”
from the 1700’s. The tune has been used
with many sets of words ranging from Jacobite songs to Methodist Hymns.
Green
Grow the Rashes
Prior
to 1740, first published appearance is as a fiddle tune in Oswald’s collection
of that date.
Johnnie Cope
Written by Adam Skirving, a tenant farmer from East Lothian, in 1745.
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