The Desperate Battle of the Birds

Popular legend suggests the composer witnessed a “Desperate Battle” between two birds. He arranged the music to represent the order of battle, the stately Ground being the "challenge to fight." Thereafter fast and slower variations could refer to the triumphant and losing birds, alternately.
However, there is no certainty about the historical events associated with this tune, and many battles in Scottish history could be described at the time (or afterwards) as “desperate”. One legend refers to the battle of the North Inch of Perth in 1396. This was a judicial combat, where King Robert III had ordered 30 men from Clan Chattan to fight a pitched battle with 30 men from Clan Kay, to settle a long-running feud. A large crowd gathered to watch. The victors, Clan Chattan, killed all but one of their opponents, while losing 19 of their own men.
An entirely different tune with the same title refers to the Battle of Cuillin in 1601 when many hundreds died in a bloody conflict between the MacDonalds and MacLeods.
Musically the tune is easy to follow, being in the pentatonic key of A major. The listener may be able to hear “pecking” or “strutting” noises in some of the variations. Alternate variations are meant to be played very briskly, so you should soon be able to perceive the structure of the tune.
The last variation is very fast - the “crunluath-a-mach” variation, where the listener will at times hear 17 demi-semiquavers played in a row, a feat which takes the piper approximately one second to achieve. Like all piobaireachd, it is then traditional to return to the much slower Ground while the piper completes the piece.
The speeding and slowing within the variations are intentional effects by the player.
Notes with thanks by Peter McCalister

[@KB-tc5sd]

Came here after a reference to the fine tune played in a mess dinner on Malta by an HLI Piper in David Nivens book, The Moons a Balloon. I'm sitting in a hammock on the banks of a dreich Loch Ness hiding from the rain listening to this. God bless the internet!

[@xerxesQarquebus]

Likewise

[@DB_pipes]

4:50 brilliant. I have never heard that before

[@JBrooksNYS]

This song was my introduction into the world of Piobaireachd. I remember it blew my mind and I played the opening line to my teacher and asked him what the hell it was and he explained to me what piobaireachd is. I was like... WHY DIDNT YOU TELL ME ABOUT THIS BEFORE? lol

[@bobdobbs6301]

Such beautiful music, really.

[@step7274]

Thank you for the extra notes in the description.

[@Levington.mainchannel]

Me when ears

[@mopochettini]

Carai as rinha de galokk