The Highland bagpipe : $b its history, literature, and music: with some account of the traditions, superstitions, and anecdotes relating to the instrument and its tunesManson, W. L. (William Laird)
History
The Highland bagpipe : $b its history, literature, and music: with some account of the traditions, superstitions, and anecdotes relating to the instrument and its tunes
Manson, W. L. (William Laird)
Bagpipe
The story of the burning in the church has been altogether discredited,
but it is admitted that there was a raid, and that a large number of
cottages, as well as the manse of Killychrist, were burnt. None of the
earlier writers, however, mention the burning of the congregation. The
music itself also contradicts somewhat the traditional origin of the
tune, for when it is properly played the listener can fancy he hears the
flames rustling and blazing through the timbers, mingled with the angry
remonstrances and half-smothered shouts of the warriors, but there is no
representation of the more feeble plaints of women and children, as
there would surely have been had these been among the victims. However,
I give the story for what it is worth.
“_PIOBAIREACHD DHOMHNUILL DUIBH_”
is one of the oldest and best known of pipe tunes. It is said to have
been played at the Battle of Inverlochy in 1431, and it is first found
on paper in Oswald’s _Caledonian Pocket Companion_, published in 1764,
where it is entitled _Piobaireachd Mhic Dhonuill_. Afterward it appeared
in the book compiled by Captain Mac Leod of Gesto, from which it was
translated in 1815 into ordinary notation by the editor of _Albyn’s
Anthology_. Its first printed heading strengthens the title of the Mac
Donalds, who claim the tune for their clan, but the words _Donull Dubh_
are accepted as referring to Cameron of Lochiel, and the tune is known
as “Lochiel’s March.” The chief of the Camerons bears the name _Mac
Dhomhnuill Duibh_, or son of Black Donald. The air, which is the march
of the 79th or Cameron Highlanders, is a call to arms, and is
inseparably associated with Inverlochy, but whether composed and played
on the field or only in commemoration of the battle cannot now be
determined. The English words are by Sir Walter Scott, and first
appeared in 1816:—
“Pibroch o’ Donuil Dhu,
Pibroch o’ Donuil,
Wake thy wild voice anew,
Summon Clan Conuil;
Come away, come away,
Hark to the summons,
Come in your war array,
Gentles and Commons.
Come from deep glen, and
From mountain so rocky,
The war pipe and pennon
Are at Inverlochy;
Come every hill plaid, and
True heart that wears one;
Come every steel blade, and
Strong hand that bears one;
Leave untended the herd, and
The flock without shelter,
The corpse uninterr’d,
The bride at the altar;
Leave the deer, leave the steer,
Leave nets and barges;
Come with your fighting gear,
Broadswords and targes.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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