Below is the 1813 Malcolm MacGregor Prize Bagpipe. The drones are beaded and combed cocuswood mounted in elephant or walrus ivory ferrules, projecting mounts and ring caps. Complete with original chanter and blowpipe. Inscription from the silver plate on the chanter stock reads:
“1st Prize. Given by The Highland Society of London, ajudged by a commitee of The Highland Society of Scotland. To Finlay MacLeod piper of the 79th Regt, as the best performer of the Great Highalnd Bagpipe at the competition held at Edinburgh the 28th July 1813”
Finlay MacLeod Army Records Frazer Fencibles upon the raising of the regiment by Colonel Simon Frazer 1st December 1794 – 1st June 1796 Unknown regiment 1804 79th cameron Highlanders 15th August 1807- 24th April 1816 Discharged by the army surgeon 24th April 1816 Aged about 52 years, height 5′ 10″, Brown hair & blue eyes having served 8 years & 254 days as well as in other corps. Extract from The Cameron Highlanders Music book Caber Feidh Finlay MacLeod was born in Glenmoriston, where his father was a shepherd, in 1793*. ( * This date is thought to be incorrect and under research, the family records seem to indicated he was born circa 1772 which fits in with his army papers which put an age of about 52 years upon his discharge in 1816 ) He enlisted in the 79th Cameron Highlanders and was wounded in the Peninsula War. After his discharge, he became piper to Grant of Glenmoriston, who set him up in a good croft. Findlay preferred piping to farming, and the story goes that one day, when the steading of his croft caught fire, his reaction was to take up his pipe and play “ Cille Chriosd ” (Glengarry’s March) as his barn blazed. It was a most appropriate choice as the tune is said to commemorate the burning of the church near the Muir of Ord by Glengarry MacDonald’s in the course of a reprisal raid! Finlay was known as “ Fionnlaidh Piobaire “ and, although said to be “tinker taught” he nevertheless won the Highland Society of London Piobaireachd Prize Pipe in 1813, playing “ The Cameron’s Gathering “ now known as “ Black Donald’s March “. A man of great personality, he was described as one of the best players of his time, whose knowledge of piobaireachd and its history was unequaled. Finlay MacLeod died in 1835* (* This date is also being checked. It is thought the correct date was 1842. in the Glen Moriston church yard there are fragments of stones erected by his son Peter in the 1800’s. Inscribed: “This place belongs to Finlay MacLeod, Piper Glenmoriston who died in 1842 age 70, his wife Catherine McDonald died 27 January 1859 aged 86 and their children Peter MacLeod”
Extract’s from The Highland Society of London program for the 2001 recital by Pipe Major Roger Huth Scots Guards:
“The Highland Society of London commissioned from the maker Malcolm MacGregor as the Prize Pipe for the Edinburgh Competition of 1813. At the 1812 competition Malcolm MacGregor had been voted a handsome premium of 10 guineas by the Highland Society of London, for essential improvements to the Great Highland Pipe following the development of a new pipe chanter. This was followed by an order for a prize pipe instead of Hugh Robertson of Edinburgh. He supplied the pipe from 1812-1815 charging £10 in 1815 against Robertson’s £8. However, in 1816 Hugh Robertson was re-employed charging £7 – 7s Findlay MacLeod of the 79th Highlanders whose knowledge of ancient piobaireachd was said to be unequaled won them. The tune he played was ‘Black Donald Balloch of the Isles March to the First Battle at Inverlochy 1427’ now shortened to ‘Piobaireachd of Donald Duibh’ or ‘Black Donald’s March’. Finlay was wounded in action during the Peninsular War. Upon his discharge he returned to Glen Moriston were he became piper to Laird Grant of Glen Moriston, taking a small holding upon the estate. When Findlay was told that his barn was burning his reaction was to play the piobaireachd ‘Glengarry’s March’ (“ Cille Chriosd”) while enjoying the activity around the scene of the flames. Considered a suitable tune, as it is said to commemorate the burning of a church near the Muir of Ord by Glengarry MacDonald’s.”
It is interesting to note the elements of the chanter that would accommodate keys, akin the Brian Boru chanter of Henry Starck and of uilleann chanters. I do not have direct knowledge, however I am assuming that the chanter is original to the bagpipe.
