Piobaireachd is for everyone

“Piobaireachd/ Ceòl Mòr/ The Big Music” - The often underappreciated  music of The Great Highland Bagpipe. 

“Piobaireachd Is For Everyone” is a study of the social, historical and cultural context of the music of the Great Highland Bagpipe. Using a friendly tone, the author describes the journey Ceòl Mòr has taken from the music’s Dark Ages roots to its elevated place in the traditional music culture of the 21st Century.

This book was written with the intention of sharing the history and culture of The Big Music with everyone across the globe. 

"Piobaireachd is for everyone". Order your copy now! https://dnpiping.com/shop/ols/products/piobaireachd-is-for-everyone-paperback

Here is a short excerpt from Chapter 13, "20th Century Boys":

"In the play “Twelfth Night”, William Shakespeare says “Some men are born great, some men achieve greatness, and some men have greatness thrust upon them”. Any of these three statements can be used to describe both Donald MacLeod and John MacLellan. Both pipers not only maintained the line of Ceòl Mòr tuition and performance as it was taught to them but also used the contemporary technologies of the time to extend their teaching reach. Donald MacLeod and John MacLellan were highly decorated pipers, composers, and teachers. 

Pipe Major Donald Macleod MBE is one of the best loved composers from the 20th century. Born on the 14th of August 1916 in Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis. Donald took his early piping from his father Donald “Doyle'' MacLeod who was the Pipe Major of the Stornoway pipe band. Donald was only 4 years old when he started piping. Quickly showing promise, Donald fell under the mentorship of John Morrison of Assynt House. When Donald was 6 years old, he benefited from lessons with Pipe Major Willie Ross. Ross was touring the Isles in the summer months on behalf of The Piobaireachd Society. Willie would reward the young MacLeod with a square of chocolate every time Donald completed a new piece from the book or played a piece correctly from memory. Willie Ross’ fatherly approach would differ greatly from the mentor Donald would take his music from for 25 years. 

In 1924 P/M Willie Ross stopped touring the Isles and Pipe Major John MacDonald MBE of Inverness was sponsored by John Morrison of Assynt House to make regular visits to Stornoway to support the pipers of Lewis. The relationship between the two got off to a rocky start with Donald returning home from his first lesson with MacDonald in a rage, vowing never to go back in the over dramatic way only a child can. John MacDonald’s well-earned reputation for discipline and straightforward feedback was quite different to the “parental” nurturing Donald had previously received."   

"Piobaireachd is for everyone"  Order your copy now! https://dnpiping.com/shop/ols/products/piobaireachd-is-for-everyone-paperback