Angus MacKay

Angus MacKay (10 September 1813 – 21 March 1859) was a Scottish bagpipe player and the first Piper to the Sovereign. He wrote collections of pibroch and ceol beag written in staff notation, which became the basis for standardised settings of music which had previously been shared by singing of canntaireachd.

Life Early life He was born on 10 September 1813, to Margaret and John MacKay. According to the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography he was most likely born on the Isle of Raasay, although this is not known for certain. His three brothers played the pipes, and his father, John MacKay of Raasay, was a leading composer and player. John MacKay had been taught by the MacCrimmons of Skye, and as well as his own sons taught other players including John Bàn Mackenzie, Angus Macpherson, and Donald Cameron.

After considering emigrating to America, the family moved to Drummond Castle near Crieff in 1823, as Angus' father John became piper to Peter Drummond-Burrell, 22nd Baron Willoughby de Eresby. an event organized by the Highland Societies of London and Scotland. After this a number of other collections of pibroch and light music were published.

With the backing of the Highland Society of London, MacKay published his book A Collection of Ancient Piobaireachd or Highland Bagpipe Music in 1838. A reworking of a collection of tunes originally published by William MacKay was published around 1843, and shortly after was expanded into The Piper's Assistant.

Later life

He married Mary Russell in Edinburgh in 1841, and they had two sons and two daughters. After his second stay at the Bethlem, he was transferred to the Crichton Royal Institution in Dumfries.

Musical influence Angus MacKay's published books of pibroch became the basis for standardised settings of tunes in the 20th century. Pibroch had traditionally been shared by means of canntaireachd, but MacKay's standard settings cemented the way of playing his father had learned and allowed it to be shared more widely. Part of reason for their adoption may be the influence of the teaching of his father John MacKay.

Music books A Collection of Ancient Piobaireachd or Highland Bagpipe Music The Piper’s Assistant Seaforth Manuscript (unpublished)