By JEANNIE CAMPBELL MBE • JULY 1825
On Tuesday 5th July the Inverness Journal reported on the competition for the Prize Pipe which had been held in Edinburgh. This was the most prestigious competition at this time, pre-dating the competitions at the Northern Meeting and Argyllshire Gathering.
Competition of Pipers
‘The Competition of Pipers, agreeably to previous notice, took place on Saturday, in the Theatre Royal, under all the advantages of a full house, and a very brilliant assembly. The Earl of Fife was Preses of the Committee of Judges, Members of the Highland Society of Scotland, named at the request of the Highland Society of London, by which last institution the prizes at the competition are given. His Lordship was assisted by the Honourable General Duff, Mr Young of Harburn, Mr Graham Dalyell, Mr Macdonald of Dalness, Colonel Macbean, Major Gordon, Mr James Grant WS, Glenmoriston, Mr George Robertson, Mr Stewart of Dalguise, and Mr Mackenzie of Inverinet. The house was lighted up with gas, as usual, and light, partially admitted by the gallery windows, heightened, in our estimation, the general effect, and produced a softness and delicacy of shade which harmonised very well with the display of beauty and fashion in the boxes.
‘The curtain rose at 12 o’clock when all the competitors, pipers and dancers, in full Highland costume, appeared to the audience, drawn up around the stage, amidst appropriate stage scenery of Highland landscape. The coup d’oeil had altogether a most pleasing effect.
We formerly commended this arrangement when introduced a year or two ago, and the lighting up of the stage, adopted, for the first time, on this occasion, is also decidedly an improvement.
‘The different candidates who were to compete had finished playing a little after three o’clock, when the Judges retired to determine the prizes, a duty confessedly of great difficulty, from the general merit of many of the performers. On their return the noble Preses, dressed in the true Highland costume, addressed the house in a speech replete with excellent feeling, and appropriate reference to Highland bravery and worth.’
The text of the speech followed then the report continued, ‘Lord Fife then delivered the several prizes as they had been awarded as follows: The first, a very handsome Pipe, with an elegant flag, bearing the banner of the Highland Society of London, the Patrons of this Competition, handsomely painted by Mr McInnes, herald painter in this city, to Donald Stewart, piper to the 79th regiment or Cameron Highlanders, who won the second prize last year.
The 2nd to John Gordon, Piper to the Atholl Club, who had previously gained 3rd and 4th prizes. The 3rd to Ranald MacKenzie, from Rossshire. The 4th to William Smith, piper to the Inverness-shire militia; and the 5th to John MacDonald, from Fortingall, a promising young player only 13 years of age.’
The Preses then addressed the winner, commenting on his army service and the gallant deeds of his regiment. The report continued, ‘It may be said of this competition that not an indifferent performer appeared on the stage; and when everyone went through his part in a masterly manner, it would be almost injustice to notice individuals, but we cannot help particularly remarking that Alexander Dewar, piper to Sir Neil Menzies Bt, John Forbes from Killiechassie, John Smith, piper to the Hon Colonel Grant of Grant, and Donald Macdonald, piper to the 72nd regiment, were all superior players. The Preses observed that these pipers having previously gained several minor prizes, could now only compete for those of a higher description. The audience was likewise excited to just admiration of the talents of four boys, John Macdonald, who won the fifth prize; Angus Mackay from Drummond Castle, son of Lord Gwydir’s excellent piper; Donald Farquharson from Breadalbane and Peter Dewar from Sir Neil Menzies’ estate, all of whom played well, although neither of them beyond 13 years of age. The scene on the whole, was interesting and delightful. During the exhibition of Pipers, Highland dances and Strathspeys were introduced at proper intervals, in which the competitors in that department displayed much agility, and greatly pleases the audience. The whole were also so admirably well dressed, that selection was difficult; and in delivering the prizes for the best dressed competitors, to Angus Cameron from Rannoch, Malcolm Macpherson from Breadalbane, and Duncan Menzies from Glenlyon, the Preses mentioned that the committee had been guided very much by the circumstances of their dresses having been made of tartans, the manufactury of their native glens. In fine, this year’s exhibition did ample credit to the Society’s exertions, and it is with pleasure we have heard it mentioned, that the judges intended to recommend that a prize should in future be given to the best dancer, which, we have no doubt, will be speedily followed with effects so obvious and beneficial as have attended the prizes recently introduced for the best dressed Highlanders.’
Similar reports appeared on 11th July in the Caledonian Mercury, 13th in the Scotsman and 14th in the Perthshire Courier.
•One of the young boys mentioned, Angus Mackay from Drummond Castle, son of Lord Gwydir’s excellent piper, went to become famous as piper to Queen Victoria.
A Grand Caledonian Fete, with Grand Additional Illuminations.
An event in London was advertised as follows in several papers: ‘On Wednesday 6th July. The entire entertainments of the night to be purely National, the whole in honour of the Scottish Nation. In addition to the usual amusements of the establishment, the Proprietors have engaged Mr Gow and his band; Mr Clark, the celebrated Piper who will during the evening promenade the Gardens in full costume playing favourite National Airs; and Mr Farrell on the Union Pipes; who will play during the evening numerous National Airs. An entirely new Highland Ballet will be performed, with various other Novelties appropriate to the character of the Country. To conclude with a Grand Display of Fire Works and Ascent.’
•Mr Clark was George Clark or Clarke who was born at Tongue. He served with the North Lowland Fencible Regiment then in 1800 became Pipe Major of the 71st Regiment. He was at the battle of Vimiera on 21st August 1808 and although badly wounded in the leg he continued to play. He afterwards became piper to the Highland Society of London. On 10th January 1809 he was awarded a bagpipe by the Highland Society of Scotland and a Gold Medal in 1815 for his conduct at Vimiera. He was the subject of several prints, engravings and paintings. He died in 1851.
Orangeism in the Army
Religious tensions were evident in Ireland, The Dublin Morning Register on 8th July copied a report from the Carlow Morning Post, ‘On Wednesday morning, the second party on the 42nd regiment mustered near one of the hotels in this town, preparatory to their march for Dublin, on their route from Buttevant. From the time when their commanding officer, Capt. Frazer gave the signal for marching, until the party left down, and we have the best authority for the statement, the soldiers kept time, to the Highland bagpipe music, lengthened and loud, of “The Protestant Boys”, etc. This is really disgusting, especially when contrasted with the national airs played by the party of the previous morning, under Captain Ross, and by the 86th, when last week moving through this town. We need not dwell on the mischief inseparable from a display of party tunes among an irritable and insulted population.’
Recruiting
More army news came in the Morning Chronicle 15th July, ‘Dundee 7th July. A party of the 72nd Highland Regiment, accompanied by a full military band and two bagpipers arrived at Dundee from the headquarters of the Regiment in Edinburgh Castle, on Tuesday forenoon, and kept parading the streets on that day and yesterday with all the “pomp and circumstance of war,” in order to procure recruits. The spirit stirring music and showy dress of the men, produced its due effect on a population, for some time past unaccustomed to such spectacles, and they picked up about thirty young lads.’
Caledonian Highland Society of Dunkeld
The Perthsire Courier, 7th July reported that Friday had been the anniversary of the Caledonian Highland Society of Dunkeld and upwards of 450 of the members had convened in the Masons’ Hall. New officers bearers were elected then, ‘About noon an immense number of people had assembled in the park of Inver to witness the competition for the prizes offered by the Society – to the best leaper, runner, player on the bagpipe, dancer, thrower of the putting stone and of the hammer, and tosser of the bar. Scrimgeour, piper to Sir George Stewart, gained the prize for piping. Mr R Robertson gained that for being the best equiped Highlander which was a handsome silver medal. A dinner and ball concluded the festivities of the day.’
•Scrimgeour might be Donald Scrymgeour or Scrimgeour from Strathtay who had competed regularly at the Edinburgh competitions. In 1812 Donald Scrymgeour, from Strathtay, was awarded the fifth prize of 40 merks. In 1814 the third prize, of fifty merks, was given to Donald Scrimgeour piper to Colonel Kinloch of Kilrie. In 1815, although not a prize winner, Donald Scrymgeour, piper to Colonel Kinloch of Kilry was one of those mentioned as ‘superior performers and were suitably rewarded by the committee.’ Again, in 1816 and 1817 Donald Scrimgeour, from Strathtay was named among those who ‘were much applauded as superior performers.’ In 1820 ‘the 2nd Prize, being 60 merks, to Donald Scrimgeour, Piper to the 3rd Regiment of Forfarshire Local Militia.’ In 1821 Donald Scrymgeour, Piper to the Centre Regiment of Forfarshire Local Militia, and others, ‘were severally noticed as very superior players’. In 1822 ‘The extra prize, a brace of very handsome Highland pistols, afforded by the liberality of Mrs H Siddons, was voted to Donald Scrimgeour, piper to the centre regiment of Forfarshire local militia, who had formerly gained a second prize.’ In 1824 he was placed first and won the Prize Pipe – ‘The first a Highland Bagpipe, elegantly ornamented and furnished with a silver plate for an appropriate inscription, to Donald Scrymgeour, piper to the Centre Regiment of Forfarshire Local Militia, who had several years ago won the Second Prize, the extra Prize, and several subordinate prizes.
On 20th July the Inverness Courier had a rather imaginative article which doesn’t stand up very well to historical fact. However, if it helped in raising support or at least awareness for the competition then it had fulfilled a useful purpose. Although the writer begins by saying he has not made up his mind, by the end he has made it quite clear that he dislikes both the bagpipe and the Highlanders.
Competition of Pipers – origin of Greek Civilisation
‘After all, I have found it impossible to make up my mind as to the merit of these same bagpipes, or of the utility of the Annual Competition of Pipers. If the bagpipe be an instrument of Highland invention, and if the music which it produces be of a quality worth preserving, then ought the bagpipe to be encouraged. But both these questions are surrounded with grave difficulties. Of the antiquity of the bagpipe, however, there can be no doubt. It is evident from ancient sculpture, it was in use among the Greeks and Romans. But then, this shows, say the enemies of the bagpipe, that it is not of Highland invention; that it must have been introduced into Britain by the invading Romans; that it was common in England, even so late as the days of Shakespeare, – for he uses the phrase “sing I’ the noise like the drone of a Lincolnshire bagpipe;” that it must have been borrowed by the Lowland Scots from the English, and thus found its way into the Highlands.
‘The advocates for the bagpipe, while they admit the fact that the instrument was in use among the Greeks and Romans, imagine the conclusion which their antagonists attempt to draw from it. They say, on the other hand, that the bagpipe was introduced among the Greeks, from whom it was borrowed by the Romans, by Haimish McHaimish, the nephew or uncle (it is not very easy to ascertain which) of Fergus the First of Scotland. McHaimish had been led to visit Greece, then a nation of barbarians, from an unfounded rumour that the Greeks manufactured a tartan of peculiarly rich check, from which some of the sceptics in those days had taken upon them to infer that the Celts had borrowed the knowledge of manufacturing tartans from these barbarians. McHaimish, who was by all accounts the most accomplished prince of what was then the most accomplished court in the world, resolved to investigate this matter to the bottom; and accordingly went to Greece, where he disseminated the germs of that knowledge for which the Greeks were afterwards so famous; and among the many singular benefits, of which history has kept no record, instructed them in the manufacture and use of the bagpipe.
‘With regard to the quality of bagpipe music, its advocates maintain, that it possesses every requisite which music ought to possess, in the very highest degree. It is equally calculated to soothe the mind by conjuring up the sweet and melancholy feelings in which sentimentalists delight to luxuriate, to raise the spirits to the delirious joy of the dance, and to rouse and fire the feelings of patriotism which lead to those deeds of daring and of death for which the Highlanders have ever been remarkable. It would be as useless to deny this, as to deny that Highlanders gained every victory which led to the overthrow of the tyrant Bonaparte, and in particular that the 42nd Regiment gained the battle of Waterloo, after more than half of them had been killed at Quartre Bras.
‘It is insinuated, on the other hand, that an instrument of so little compass cannot have much power. From the way in which the wind is supplied to the pipe by a jerk of the arm, then busy with another part of the instrument, the tones can hardly fail to be harsh and untrue. There is nothing, however disagreeable in itself, but habit may render tolerable and association delightful. A sawyer becomes reconciled to the sharping of a saw, and a cutler to the whizzing of his wheel, even a sow doctor may take delight in the sweet sounds which reward his operations on the animal cursed by Moses; and so may a Highlander in the sound of his bagpipe. But it is too much to expect that civilised ears shall delight in such abominations.
‘These enemies of the bagpipe have even ventured to insinuate a doubt whether the Highlanders have more courage than their neighbours. They incline to hold, that the other regiments of British forces are nothing behind them in that respect; nay, that many a Highland regiment consists of Lowland soldiers; and above all they contend, that some share of the victories in Spain, as well as the glory of Waterloo, might in justice be claimed by the other regiments who had the honour to stand as “targets for ball practice” upon those memorable occasions.
‘With regard to the usefulness of supporting the Competition on other grounds, parties are equally divided. It is good, says one party, as tending to preserve the customes and costume of the Highlanders, and to keep alive those recollections which endear them so much to their fellow Scotsmen. It is ridiculous, says the other, inasmuch as it has nothing to do with the customs of the Highlanders unless in as far as it is their custom to run a-huntin with beggardly avidity after every species of games held out to them. As to their costume, no piper thinks of it; He pranks himself out as never Highlander was dressed in his native glen, taking for his example the gentlemen of the Celtic Society as they appear on a gala day. It is insinuated further, that the present costume is not ancient. The coat and trews are borrowed from the Lowlands; and the kilt is a poor substitute for the trews and worn only by the lowest kerne. Their original costume was a blanket, secured at the breast by a wooden pin, and tied round the middle by a “wisp” of dried heather. Tartan was first, at no very early date, manufactured by the Flemish, and adopted by the Highlanders, for the same reason that their brethren of New South Wales bedaub themselves with red and white ochre. Apart from this, it were prudent to sink all distinction between Lowlander and Highlander, as fast as possible. The Lowlanders can have no pleasure in recalling recollections of the Highlander. Tradition and history agree in pointing out the Highlander as the constant enemy of good government. Blind Harry (and as he was nearly contemporary with the fact he relates, he may be allowed some credit) informs us, that while Wallace was contending with the English in front, he had to retrace his steps to put down the Highlanders who had risen to aid the common enemy. Who but has heard of the “Highland Host?” Who upon the Highland Border but has heard of and abhors the cowardly yet ferocious manner in which their fathers were plundered by the Highlanders? Who that has heard all this, and has heard too, that in those warlike times, ten Lowlanders were a match for thrice the same number of Highlanders, would be at much pains to keep alive recollections of the Highlander as a separate race?’