Record

Chanter for a set of Highland bagpipes, missing blow stick, stock and a tenor drone

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probably by Duncan Mackay, early 19th century

Postcard of Chanter for a set of Highland bagpipes, missing blow stick, stock and a tenor drone.
000-000-579-766-C
© National Museums Scotland

Chanter for a set of Highland bagpipes, missing blow stick, stock and a tenor drone

Chanter for a set of Highland bagpipes probably by Duncan Mackay, early 19th century, 'blackwood', ivory-mounted. The instrument consists of the chanter, stamped 'Dn McKay' once at the neck, a bass and two tenor drones. The blowstick and stock (always the most perishable part of the instrument) and one tenor drone stock are missing.

This is an early marked set by a maker otherwise unrepresented in the surviving instrument making record; he is probably to be identified with Duncan Mackay, born in Glenquaich, Kintail, but of Reay stock (and therefore more significant in terms of piping), piper to Macpherson of Cluny from 1828, said to be an excellent player and teacher, an important competitor at the Edinburgh competitions and at the Northern Meetings between c.1844-1859, became Piper to the Duke of Leeds in London in 1849, latterly living in Glasgow, he died about 1877.

Surviving 19th century instruments suggest that reputable performers often turned their hand to making pipes and there are one or two examples of these in the National Museums of Scotland collections such as a set (H.1995.788) made by John Ban Mackenzie, traditionally 'Righ nam Piobairean' translated as 'The King of the Pipers').


Record details

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Online ID: 000-000-579-766-C
Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
Project: 0869: The Bagpipe Collection
Project description | View all records in project
Ref: National Museums Scotland  K.1999.257 (2)
Date: Early 19th century (date of manufacture)
Material: Blackwood and ivory
Dimensions:
What: Chanter for a set of Highland bagpipes
Subject:
Who: Duncan Makay (manufacturer)
Where:
Event:
Description: Chanter for a set of Highland bagpipes made of ivory mounted blackwood.
References:
Translations:
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