Donald MacPherson - A Living Legend (book with CD)

Between 1948 and 1990, whenever bagpipes maestro Donald MacPherson stepped onto the platform a hush fell. His mastery has set the benchmark of excellence in Highland bagpipes for generations. Despite his infrequent attendance, Donald made history at the premier bagpipe competitions by winning first prize on most of his visits. A precision engineer by profession, he was never a keen performer nor self-promoter and recordings of him are rare. On this disc he champions pibroch, one of Europe’s great instrumental traditions. Sophisticated and soulful, these compositions have been transmitted aurally since the seventeenth century and are considered the test of a bagpiper’s genius. No-one plays them more magnificently than Donald MacPherson.

"Recordings are rare, the tradition's demystification rarer still. Donald MacPherson - A Living Legend is the perfect introduction. It fills the gap between early classical and traditional Gaelic music, offering an entertaining and informative insight into pibroch's history and culture, past and present. It merits an appearance in every serious music collection.".........Hi-Arts Journal, September 2004.

168-page illustrated hardback book + 76-minute audio CD

CONTENTS
History and folklore surrounding this music
by Bridget MacKenzie
Making sense of pibroch
by Barnaby Brown
How I was taught to play
by Donald MacPherson
A flood of melody
press cuttings and tributes by James Campbell & David Murray

There is no music more magically celtic Celtic than pibroch. Composed for highland chieftains between 1537 and 1747, these works display a piper’s genius.