PS 202 – The MacGregors’ Salute

      Fàilte nan Griogarach

      Fàilte Mhic Griogair

Primary Sources

AC The Macgregors’ Gathering AC.2
The Stewarts Gathering R.4: 4r
KB Failte na’n Griogairaich / The MacGregors’ Salute KB.58: 153
SC Failte Mac grigor SC.3
Angus MacKay, ‘Specimens of Canntareachd’ (c. 1854), no. 3

Notes on Gaelic Titles

Fàilte nan Griogarach Failte na’n Griogairaich / The MacGregors’ Salute KB. The MacGregors’ Salute. A version of this tune was noted in canntaireachd by Niel MacLeod of Gesto, transcribed in staff by Alexander Campbell, and used by the latter as the basis for a piano arrangement in his Albyn’s anthology; or, a select collection of the melodies and vocal poetry peculiar to Scotland and the Isles… (Oliver and Boyd, Edinburgh, 2 vols; reprinted, Norwood, Pennsylvania, 1973) vol 1, pp. 91-97. It has the words ’Thain’ a’ Grigalich, suitably repeated. It is titled ‘MacGregor’s Gathering’, as is the well known poem by Walter Scott, published in the same book. Eventually Campbell’s transcript was made available to Malcolm Mac Pharlain, who published what appears to be a shortened version, with music in sol-fa and canntaireachd, and words Thàin’ a’ Ghrigaireach…,i.e.‘MacGregor has come’ (C.M.P., 1895).

Fàilte Mhic Griogair Failte Mac grigor SC. MacGregor’s Salute.

Roderick Cannon (2009)

Archive Recordings

1967 Pipe Major/Captain John A MacLellan: performance on Highland bagpipe
1971 George Moss:  parts 1 and 2 on the practice chanter
1981 George Moss: discussion on different variations in ceòl mòr
1981 George Moss: discussion on alternative settings of 6 tunes
1985 Unknown: performance on Highland bagpipe

Other Material

2006 William Donaldson: Set Tunes Notes

1 thought on “PS 202 – The MacGregors’ Salute”

  1. Because of it’s similarity to ‘Black Wedder White Tail’, this piece probably belongs to the nexus of tunes relating to the Battle of Glenfruin and its aftermath. Malcolm MacPherson taught that the opening motif should echo the words ‘Come on, Gregalach’, with the little finger sounding three even beats to the name ‘Gre-ga-lach’, and not a birl.

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