PP Ed’s Blog: A Kist o’ Riches – Tobar an Dualchais

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Alan MacColl of the 214 BB Ex-Members has alerted us to the following: 
‘Having this evening watched the Paul Murton BBC programme ‘Grand Tour of the Scottish Islands’, I was interested in hearing of Canna House. Basically this was where many recordings of Gaelic life are held. I then went on the following website: http://www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/en/results 
and was amazed at the amount of digital recordings available. I had just put in Lewis as a search and came across loads of ceol mor stuff as well as song, piping recordings. May be worth a look if you haven’t seen before. Sure and Stedfast, Alan McColl.

Many thanks for that Alan. Have had a look and here are some sections pipers may be interested in:

Thug Mi Pòg do Làmh an Rìgh
1953.04.01 – Track ID: 51270 – Original Tape ID: SA1953.057
This is the ceòl mòr ‘Thug mi Pòg do Làmh an Rìgh’ [I Got a Kiss of the King’s Hand] played on the Highland bagpipe. In his introd…
Contributors: Pipe Major William MacLean; Reporters: Francis Collinson

Information about piping.
1972.01.19 – Track ID: 86970 – Original Tape ID: SA1972.002
Information about piping. Piping, with special reference to The Rankin School, The MacArthur School, and the renowned MacCrimmon p… Contributors: Duncan Lamont;Reporters: Morag MacLeod, Eric R. Cregeen

Piping anecdote about John MacDonald.
1976 – Track ID: 71949 – Original Tape ID: SA1976.264
Piping anecdote about John MacDonald. John MacDonald won the Gold Medal at Oban some time before the First World War. The Duke of A…Contributors: Pipe Major Neville MacKay Reporters: Pipe Major Neville MacKay

The Pibroch of Donald Dhu
1977.11.15 – Track ID: 63872 – Original Tape ID: SA1977.162
Bessie Brown plays ‘The Pibroch of Donald Dhu’ on the practice chanter, and then diddles the same tune. Contributors: Bessie Brown. Reporters: Dr Kim Chambers

Seonaidh Roidein a’ bruidhinn air pìobaireachd.john-macdonald-south-uist
1982.08 – Track ID: 72487 – Original Tape ID: SA1982.145
Seonaidh Roidein [Pipe Major John MacDonald, right] discusses piping. Seonaidh Roidein [Pipe Major John MacDonald] tells about a chanter h…Contributors: Pipe Major John MacDonald
Reporters: Donald Archie MacDonald

Seonaidh Roidein a’ bruidhinn air pìobaireachd.
1982.08 – Track ID: 72489 – Original Tape ID: SA1982.145
Seonaidh Roidein [Pipe Major John MacDonald] discusses piping. Seonaidh Roidein [Pipe Major John MacDonald] relates how people woul…Contributors: Pipe Major John MacDonald
Reporters: Donald Archie MacDonald

Captain John MacLellan: his competitive career as a solo pip…
1983.12.12 – Track ID: 75595 – Original Tape ID: SA1983.150
Captain John MacLellan: his competitive career as a solo piper. Captain John MacLellan discusses his competitive career as a solo p…Contributors: Pipe Major / Captain John A. MacLellan MBE
Reporters: Major Richard Powell

All good, interesting stuff: William MacLean on Kiss of the King’s Hand; Duncan Lamont singing the Groat and John MacDonald, South Uist giving us the first variation of the Big Spree (we non-Gaelic speaking heathens must persevere until the music starts, but great to hear Seonaidh’s voice), Captain John MacLellan on Willie Ross and six weeks with John MacDonald in his house at Inverness. Thanks to Alan for alerting us to this resource, a great effort by all concerned.

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1 thought on “PP Ed’s Blog: A Kist o’ Riches – Tobar an Dualchais”

  1. Been using this resource for years, there are a large number of Piping recordings on it, a great number of John Burgess from the early 60’s. Very surprised it’s not better known.

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