Article on Donald Cameron, "King of Pipers"
Celtic Monthly
1902
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No article on the music of the Clan Cameron would
be complete without reference to Donald Cameron, who was born at Fodderty, about
1810. When a mere child he could play the pipes, and the late Mr.
Mackenzie of Millbank taking an interest in him, placed him under the tuition of
Big Donald MacLennan, of Moy. He was afterwards taught by Angus Mackay.
His last tutor was John Ban Mackenzie. Cameron first competed in
Edinburgh in 1838, at 17 years of age, and won second prize. In after
years he won many prizes, and was the last to bear the title Champion of
Champions or "King of Pipers." In 1863 Seaforth presented him
with the title deeds of one of the best houses in the village of Maryburgh,
where he died in 1868. Three of his sons became famous pipers - Colin, to
the Duke of Fife; Alexander, for some years piper to the Marquis of Huntly, and
Keith, now dead, who was a piper in the Highland Light Infantry. It is to
be regretted that so able an exponent of Ceol Mor as Donald Cameron should not
have composed any specimen of this class of music. He, however, composed
some first class marches and reels, such as "Kessock Ferry," "Brahan
Castle," and "Lady Anne MacKenzie's Farewell to Rosehaugh."
In personal appearances as the sketch shows, Donald Cameron was the ideal
successor of such hereditary pipers as the MacCrimmons, and we shall not look
upon his like again. |
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