Clan MacRae Society Pipe Band
| Clan MacRae Society Pipe Band | |
|---|---|
| Established | 1914 |
| Notable honours | World Champions: 1921, 1922, 1923, 1925, 1932, 1933, 1934, 1953 |
The Clan MacRae Society Pipe Band was a pipe band based in Glasgow, Scotland, UK. It ran from 1914 to 1972.[1]
History
[edit]The civilian City of Glasgow Pipe Band was established by Farquhar MacRae in January 1914, who had previously led the pipe band of the 7th (Blythswood) Battalion Highland Light Infantry, a reserve battalion.[2] The pipe band of the 7th Battalion won the World Pipe Band Championships in 1913, and MacRae resigned along with much of his band after the annual camp of 1913.[2] The first time the City of Glasgow Pipe Band entered the World Championships in 1914 it won second place.[3][2]
When World War I broke out the band was disbanded, but was reformed under the leadership of William Fergusson in 1920.[2] MacRae died in 1916, and the name of the band was changed to the Clan MacRae Society Pipe Band at some point in the 1920s.[3] At one point under Ferguson's leadership, the band contained six qualified Pipe majors.[3]
William Fergusson led the band to victory at the World Championships in 1921, 1922, 1923 and 1925.[4] Ferguson was a prolific composer, and wrote tunes such as the 2/4 marches "Clan MacRae Society Pipe Band" and "The Atholl and Breadalbane Gathering."[4]
After Ferguson was injured in an accident, Hamish McColl, a longstanding member of the band, took over as pipe major.[2] After 18 months, McColl was succeeded by John Findlay Nicoll, who led the band to first place at the Worlds in 1932, 1933 and 1934.[2]
Nicoll resigned due to ill-health in 1950 and was succeeded by Alexander Macleod, a pupil of Ferguson.[2] The band under Macleod won the World Championships again in 1953.
The band was downgraded to Grade 2, but won the Grade 2 World Championships under Pipe Major John Finlay.[5]
In 1966, some members left the band and later formed the Glasgow Skye Association Pipe Band. More members left in the following years and the band closed down in 1972.[6]
References
[edit]- ^ Bagpipe News website
- ^ a b c d e f g "The Association's History". rspba.org. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
- ^ a b c Pipes Of Scotland: The Clan Macrae Society Pipe Band, 1st 'Farquhar Macrae March' (Radio broadcast). 3 December 1948.
- ^ a b "William Fergusson (1885-1949)". pipetunes.ca. Archived from the original on 14 July 2015. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
- ^ "Death of John Finlay". collegeofpiping.org. 13 September 2010. Archived from the original on 19 June 2015. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
- ^ Bagpipe News website