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Angus John’s Fancy was
composed by PM Iam MacPherson, MM (shown above). A native of
Glasgow, Iain was a well-known bagpipe performer, teacher and
judge. He and his equally famous brother Donald were both taught
by their father as boys to play the bagpipes. He judged pipe and
drum competitions throughout the UK and Sweden before moving to
Alaska in 1983. The tune is named
for Angus John MacLellan. An influential figure in Scottish
music, Angus John MacLellan received his early piping
instruction from his father, as does many a good Scottish lad.
Going on to become one of the most important bagpipers of the
century, this artist should not be confused with John Angus
MacLellan, another important bagpiper. Angus John MacLellan was
known for his virtuoso playing ability, complete knowledge of
the Highland bagpipe traditions, and for the particularly
audacious professional move of playing as a member of a pipe
band when he had already established a reputation as a soloist
in the difficult Piobaireachd tradition.
When he was
11, MacLellan's family moved to the Isle of Bute, where the boy
began studying with piper Alex MacIntyre, credited as a great
influence. At 16, MacLellan joined the Merchant Navy and
traveled around the world. He finally got off the boat in 1962
and joined the Glasgow Police as a constable. This would be the
year of big happenings within that organization's pipe band. The
brilliant piper Iain MacLellan joined the force and the band
simultaneously a few weeks later, giving the group two players
with the same surname whose piping was high quality. Around the
same time, pipe major Donald MacLeod relocated to Glasgow to
work for the bagpipe manufacturers Grainger and Campbell. He
would have a huge influence on MacLellan's
solo career.
Iain MacPherson,
M.M.,
died in August 1995. Iain composed over 65 pipe tunes which are
now played around the world. |
