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Southland Times, Issue 959, 29 May 1868, Page 3

Lecture ob* Pipe Music. — A lecture was delivered last Eriday evening at Ballachulisb, Argyleshire, by Mr M'Kellar, drill instructor, and late pipe major in the 78th Highlanders. Mr Cameron, Tayfurst, occupied tbe chair. The hall of the Institute was never so full since it was opened ; and dull indeed must have been the man who was not entertained. The lecturer selected three piobrachd tunes, the history of each he had given previous to playing. The names of the " ports " were " Colla mo ruin, s eachain au Hun, Tha mise 'n laimh ,*" the next, " Mac Crimein's Lament ;" and the third was " Mac Intosh's Lament." After delivering the story of the first tune, which is very interesting, he played the piobrachd, and then went over the ancient history of the great Highland Bagpipe. The lecturer again told the story of " Cha till mi tullidh, Ged thilleas Mac Leod, cha bheo Mac Crimein," which introduced the second part of the lecture, viz : The effect of the pipe music on Highlanders, whether at home or abroad. He went over many anecdotes in illustration of his subject, and stated positively that no other musical instrument in existence, can carry its notes louder and longer on the wings of the

j wind ; that on the battle field, when tbe other bauds are found of no other use than addition to the confusion of sounds, they are sent to the rear. The instrumeuts are packed up like so many sticks, and tiieir players ordered to take their rifles, or attend to the wounded. Not so tbe pipers. They are in front of their regiment, stirriug them up to deeds of bravery, and as they are not expected to hear the bugle sound, the pipers and their followers gained their brighest laurels after orders being sounded to retire. The lecturer, in reference -to the composition of pipe music, stated there is no such thing as new piobrachd tunes. The present generation only try to learn the old tunes, and inferred from this tha great training required even for modern standard of proficiency. He stated that young meu in olden times attended from six to twelve years in Dunvegan College before they were able to be present at the dining hall of their master. The lecturer gave great praise to the attempts made by gentlemen in England and in Scotland, as private individuals, in support of the ancient music. He hoped much from the Northern, and Glasgow, and Edinburgh Celtic gatherings. The lecture was so full of good matter that we cannot do it any justice by quotations. It lasted an hour and a half, aud seldom has an audience manifested so great interest in any subject. The music was such as might be expected from a person who has been for upwards of twenty years studying the art and instructing others. The yellow flag which hung on the bass drone, with the crown, an elephant, and No. 78 Higblanders, which were once in glowing figures of gold, were, although mute, expressive emblems of days of trials. The thrilling note of the chanter, on the first blow, brought to our memory Jessie Brown's tale of Lucknow (in which there is more truth than romance) ; and that we had before us the chief instruments of that eventful hour was the most forcible part of the lecture, although, for modesty's sake, it was not referred to. — " Oban Times," March 7.