Malcolm Ross MacPherson - Binneas Is Boreraig - Piobaireachd vol 1

(September 2009 re-release of 1959 recording) 18 tracks: The Lament For Donald Duaghal MacKay * The Children's Lament * MacLeod's Salute * Craigellachie * MacLeod Of Colbecks * The Menzies' Salute * The Blind Piper's Obstinacy * MacLeod's Controversy * The King's Taxes * MacFarlane's Gathering * The King Has Landed In Moidart * The MacKays' Banner * The Vaunting * Praise Of Marion * Glengarry's March * The Bells Of Perth * The Glen Is Mine * The Big Spree.

Eighteen piobaireachd, part of a 110-tune collection recorded by Malcolm MacPherson (Calum Og) in 1959 as a companion to the Binneas Is Boreraig music book series.

Made in his later years, these recordings are of great significance. Digitally re-mastered in 2009.

In their time, both the books and the original recordings were well used by real exponents of the high art of Piobaireachd, although it is fair to say that they were less well received by the 'establishment'. However, that has changed and in recent years the books have been re-printed and the recordings have been much sought-after collectors' items.

The decision to re-release the 110 tunes in a 6-volume CD set only comes on the back of recent advances in technology, which allow digital re-mastering to be done to a sufficiently high standard to present these archival recordings to the piping public.

Pipers everywhere will be aware that these recordings were not made by Malcolm MacPherson when he was in his competitive prime, but instead represent a master player in his later years - with the benefit of a lifetime to re-study and reflect on the music passed down to him by a long line of piping greats.

His own MacPherson line of piping goes back directly to the MacCrimmons, through Malcolm's father Angus, his grandfather Calum Piobaire and his great-grandfather Angus Cam, to the great Skye masters - and provides this collection with its title Binneas Is Boreraig. It was the MacCrimmons whose mastery of Piobaireachd, the ancient classical music of the Highlands of Scotland, was unrivalled at any time in history. In turn, their students spread their unique way of playing throughout the West Highlands.

Today the teachings of the MacPherson piping line, itself a faithful reproduction of the music of the MacCrimmons, is the predominant strand of existing playing. While that has much to do with the beautiful expressive style taught in the traditional way from master to pupil, it is also a testament to the outstanding ability of the MacPhersons as pipers. Malcolm Ross MacPherson (1907-1966) was certainly no exception and was considered to be one of the great players of his generation, perhaps of the century.