Dance tune or reel printed in 'The Caledonian Repository of Music Adapted for the Bagpipes'

Dance tune or reel printed in William Gunn's 'Caledonian Repository of Music Adapted for the Bagpipes' printed and published in Glasgow in 1848.

The title of this tune 'John MacEachinn's Favourite', commemorates a famous businessman - farmer or tacksman of 18th century Sutherland, otherwise known as John Mackay of Skerray. In fact, this was one of the first tunes for the Highland bagpipes which was written down, appearing in Joseph MacDonald's Manuscript in 1760. Unlike so many dance tunes, this example was almost certainly composed by a piper for performance on the Highland bagpipe.

William Gunn (1795 - 1867) was born in Kildonan, Scotland, and learned the trade of weaving. He began playing in the Highland Society's piping competitions, winning the 5th Prize in Edinburgh in 1824, having moved to Glasgow in about 1823. He set up business as a bagpipe maker about 1834 and, until 1850, he lived and worked at 48 Gallowgate in Glasgow. Latterly (until 1866), he lived and ran his business from 273 George Street. He died on 14 February 1867 aged 72.

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