I’ve long thought that Angus MacKay’s life would make for a great film. It has it all: sex, drugs (well, alcohol), rock n’ roll and a young death. Angus went from a childhood of poverty to an adolescence spent frequenting palaces and hobnobbing with the great and good of his […]
By Jeannie Campbell MBE In June 1855, the Club of True Highlanders held its annual gathering at Blackheath in south east London. In addition to shinty, other games and sports were included and as before there was some piping. One report stated, “… the athletic exertions of a goodly number […]
By Jeannie Campbell MBE In 1848, a new society was formed in London and several papers reported on the founding: “Within the last few months a new society has been formed in London; not strictly for Scotchmen, but of the friends and admirers of Scotland. The new society takes the […]
By Jeannie Campbell The MacRae family was originally from Kintail but Christopher MacRae, who was born about 1807, moved to the island of Harris some time prior to 1840. Christopher married Isabella MacKenzie and had a large family. The 1851 census shows them living in Obbe, Harris: Christopher (40) a […]
The literature of the Highland BagpipeThe works of Angus MacKay (Raasay). Part 3 – his manuscripts By Captain John A. MacLellan When Angus MacKay died in 1859 his widow either sold or bequeathed his collection of manuscripts to Michael MacCarfrae who was piper to the Duke of Hamilton at Brodick Castle, […]
The Literature of the Highland Bagpipe The works of Angus MacKay (Raasay)Conclusion – Ceòl Beag By Captain John A. MacLellan. In addition to his tremendous contribution to the art of ceòl mòr, Angus MacKay also made a worthwhile addition to what was at that time a meagre stock of ceòl […]
By Archibald Campbell of Kilberry There can be no one alive now who ever heard Angus MacKay play, and few who have heard his playing described at first hand. Sandy Cameron remembered him playing piobaireachd at Maryburgh in his father’s house but he must have been quite a young child […]
• From the March 2000 Piping Times. By David Murray As intimated in my last column, l’ll continue this issue with part two of my research into the pipe march first broadcast on BBC Radio Scotland. As the early collections of ceòl beag show, tunes in march time of varying […]
