Library - The Early Years

The Early Years

We are fortunate to have many early recordings, originally done on foil and wax cylinders, later on glass and zinc discs and finally on plastic 78 rpm discs.  The following recordings were made between 1899 and 1950.  They provide us with many insights into piping at the begining of the last century.   The complete collection of these recordings is available on CD and may be viewed and  purchased by going here. If you purchase the complete collection, or if you're patient enough (I'll be changing tracks here from time-to-time) you'll notice unusual spelling and names for some of the tunes we play today.  You'll also notice different settings and treatments of tunes.  This speaks to a time before standard settings were widely embraced.  Aside from the obvious tonal differences in the bagpipes themselves, you'll be amazed at the tempo's.  This is an amazing step back in time.  Enjoy.

Willie Ross - 1879 - 1966 - Born in Glen Strathfarrar, Inverness-shire.  He was taught by his parents and an uncle.  He joined the Scots Guards in 1896 and served in the South African War and in WWI.  His achievements include the Gold Medal in 1904, eight Clasps, and the Gold Medal at Oban in 1907.  He published five books of light music between 1923 and 1950.

This may well be the earliest recording of Willie Ross.  Balmoral Castle and Pretty Marion are pretty heavy tunes by anyone's measurement.  Willie handles them effortlessly at breakneck tempos.

Here's Willie Ross in 1910 playing The Inverness Gathering, The Piper's Bonnet, and John MacKechnie.  Again the tempos are spirited.  Willies drifts ahead of and behind the established beat at will.

We'll fast forward here to 1930 with Willie playing The Glasgow Exhibition March.  The tempo's are more "normal" and one can only marvel at Willie's top hand.  Wonderful stuff.

James Blair Robertson 1905 - 1988  Robertson was not only a maker of bagpipes but he was also PM of  2nd Battalion Scots Guards.  He also won many medals for his solo piping including the Gold Medal at Oban in 1932, The Gold Medal, Inverness in 1933, and the Clasp in 1938.  Here we listen to PM Robertson in 1927 put unusual and delightful touches to Scotland the Brave.

Just as a change-up here is PM Robert Reid's Pipe Band in 1938 playing Pibroch of Donald Dhu, Lord Blantyre and Mrs. MacLeod of Raasay.  It's interesting to hear the pipes and drums together.

New this month - September 2005! The first new track this month is an MSR selection beginning with the 79ths farewell to Gilbraltar.  The title information simply states Pipe Major Forsyth & Drums.  Interesting to note that the bagpipe is drone dominant and that the sound changes mid-way into the strathspey.  Someone may have reached up and tweaked a drone however I suspect that they simply changed during the course of playing, as cane reeds are prone to do.  "drums" seems to be a solitary tenor drummer wailing away.  One might imagine the gentle Pipe Major putting aside his pipes immediately thereafter and pounding the drummer unconcious.  Fore in those days the PM's word was law and justice was swift and sure.  I thought perhaps that the drummer was just an add-in at the last minute however he obviously knows the scores based on beatings and breaks.  Pity.  Anyway, here it is (click here).  Henry Forsyth served as Pipe Major in the Scots Guards 2nd Battalion from March 1900 to April 1906.

The second selection is billed as "Pipe Major Laing of HM Scots Guards (played on Brian Boru Patent Irish Bagpipe) playing Mary Morrison.  This is quite an interesting recording done in 1911.  We take "Pipe Major Laing" to mean David Laing who served as PM of the 2nd Battalion from 1891 to 1899 and as PM of the 1st Battalion from 1899 to 1906.  I believe that the bagpipe being played is Henry Starck's instrument bearing tenor, baritone, and bass drones secured in either a common stock or in three individual stocks.  The chanter sounds to be keyed, as was the chanter supplied by Starch with that instrument.  Anyway, it is well worth the listen. (Click here!)

Finally, we have track 13 from "Pipe Major MacIntosh" playing "Pibroch o' Donald Dhu and My lodgings in the cold ground" better known as "My lodgings on the cold ground".  I also think that PM MacIntosh is PM Andrew McKintosh who served as PM of the 2nd Battalion Scots Guards from November 1917 to August 1932.  This particular recording was made in 1930 and gives us an excellent idea of a well-tuned bagpipe of that era.  Without further commentary, here it is (click here).