The Great Highland Bagpipe of John Morrison of Assynt House

The Lewis and Harris Piping Society had the pleasure of presenting a performance by Stuart Liddell on a set of pipes that once belonged to John Morrison of Assynt House, who was a seminal influence on P/M Donald Macleod MBE's early piping career.
Dating from the year 1843, this set of Great Highland Bagpipes was made by Donald Mackay, and the original authentic chanter was made by John Ban Mackenzie, another famous pipemaker from the 19th century.
The pipes are currently owned by Mrs Tabby Angier who brought them to Stornoway for the event for which the Piping Society are very grateful.
We hope you enjoy the unique sound of this ancient instrument.

[@macs7641]

Pitching at 455!! Music for the ears - pity we can't get back to a lower pitch! A brilliant combination of all the aspects of this segment on the day. Well done to all who put this together.

[@austinlong3052]

That sounds about right quite literally. I thought it was in the very low 460s. I didn’t think it was in the mid 450s. For some reason 455 sounds very good on highland pipes and gives it a dark haunting tone. As a piper who is used to pitching at 480, it is a pleasant experience hearing 455.

[@austinlong3052]

Just amazing a highland pipe can survive that long, especially from a notable piper like John Morrison. For some reason it seems very eerie playing much flatter as historically they would have. Absolutely amazing piping from Liddell.

[@paulcannell7188]

❤ The history is amazing, the drones sound magnificent. History that we can hear sounding beautiful.

[@pointy5911]

I love to hear these lower pitch pipes. I grew up playing in a lower pitched era and remember when pitch started to get very high in about the late 90s. A high A especially on a high pitched chanter can be pretty harsh sometimes.

[@hilarybush1988]

Incredible... What a lovely tone! Thank you so much for sharing! 😍

[@mottopanukeiku7406]

Wow, what a difference ~20 Hz makes. I can see why pibroch works at this lower pitch.

[@LorneMacDougall]

This is fascinating and a real special performance. JW's chat at the start has lots to think about. Thank you so much for sharing online!

[@ArgyllPiper90]

This is truly special

[@cusackpipe]

How did you reed this chanter?

[@johnscott5724]

What are the names of the tunes?

[@hughdowell6685]

I recognize the slow air, but couldn't give you a name! The tunes Stuart plays after he tunes are the strathspey "Susan Macleod," the reel "Fiona Macleod" (both written by P/M Donald Macleod for his daughters), and the reel "John Morrison of Assynt House" (by Peter Macleod, Sr.)

[@seamusmackay4028]

The slow air is an Island Lullaby

[@hughdowell6685]

@@seamusmackay4028 Much obliged!

[@marcpehkonen5296]

@@seamusmackay4028 sounds a lot like a slow air version of the 4/4 march The Road to Balquhidder. Are they the same tune in different versions?

[@JD2747]

Sounds far too flat. Coming back to this for one note ain’t exactly progressive