The Road To The Isles - Alan Bain: Piping in the old West Highland style. Alan Bain is a piper of the old school brought up not only playing the pipes, but also making them in the family bagpipe and reed-making business. He was also a piping instructor at Edinburgh Castle. The pipes Alan plays were crafted from African blackwood and silver, to conform to the dimensions and tone of an old set of Avernish pipes made of whale tooth ivory,horn and hazel. He was taught to play the pipes by his father Frank M. Bain, and by the famous Pipe Major William Ross of Edinburgh Castle. This CD from 1999 has been recorded with the drones at natural volume, thus giving the instrument its full vitality and power. 11 tracks featuring a mix of light music and piobaireachd.