Clan MacRae Society Pipe Band

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Clan MacRae Society Pipe Band
Established1914
Notable honoursWorld Champions: 1921, 1922, 1923, 1925, 1932, 1933, 1934, 1953

The Clan MacRae Society Pipe Band was a pipe band based in Glasgow.

History[]

The civilian City of Glasgow Pipe Band was established by Farquhar MacRae in January 1914, who had previously led the pipe band of the 7th (Blythswood) Battalion Highland Light Infantry, a reserve battalion.[1] The pipe band of the 7th Battalion won the World Pipe Band Championships in 1913, and MacRae resigned along with much of his band after the annual camp of 1913.[1] The first time the City of Glasgow Pipe Band entered the World Championships in 1914 it won second place.[2][1]

When World War I broke out the band was disbanded, but was reformed under the leadership of William Fergusson in 1920.[1] MacRae died in 1916, and the name of the band was changed to the Clan MacRae Society Pipe Band at some point in the 1920s.[2] At one point under Ferguson's leadership, the band contained six qualified Pipe majors.[2]

William Fergusson led the band to victory at the World Championships in 1921, 1922, 1923 and 1925.[3] Ferguson was a prolific composer, and wrote tunes such as the 2/4 marches "Clan MacRae Society Pipe Band" and "The Atholl and Breadalbane Gathering."[3]

After Ferguson was injured in an accident, Hamish McColl, a longstanding member of the band, took over as pipe major.[1] After 18 months, McColl was succeeded by John Findlay Nicoll, who led the band to first place at the Worlds in 1932, 1933 and 1934.[1]

Nicoll resigned due to ill-health in 1950 and was succeeded by Alexander Macleod, a pupil of Ferguson.[1] The band under Macleod won the World Championships again in 1953.

The band was downgraded to Grade 2, but won the Grade 2 World Championships under Pipe Major John Finlay.[4]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "The Association's History". rspba.org. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  2. ^ a b c Pipes Of Scotland: The Clan Macrae Society Pipe Band, 1st 'Farquhar Macrae March' (Radio broadcast). 3 December 1948.
  3. ^ a b "William Fergusson (1885-1949)". pipetunes.ca. Archived from the original on 14 July 2015. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  4. ^ "Death of John Finlay". collegeofpiping.org. 13 September 2010. Archived from the original on 19 June 2015. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
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