MacCrimmon (piping family)

Over time many pieces of Pìobaireachd (also known as Ceòl Mòr: "Big music") have been attributed to the MacCrimmons by oral tradition, yet the actual authorship of these cannot be verified.In the Scottish Highlands, until the Industrial Revolution most elevated social positions in the clan system were inherited, "from the chief down to the humblest cotter".[4] Since 1967, the MacCrimmon Memorial Piobaireachd Competition has taken place every year at Dunvegan Castle where players complete to win the 'silver chanter'.[citation needed] According to Alastair Campbell of Airds the tradition was "fuelled by a non-Latinist finding the word 'Donald' in a 1612 Latin charter to Donald MacCrimmon, is that they were Italians from Cremona".[9] It is generally accepted that the surname may be of Norse origin, with MacCrimmon being an Anglicised form of the Scottish Gaelic Mac Ruimein meaning "son of Ruimean".[16][17] Donald Ban was eventually killed during the so-called "Rout of Moy" when on February 18, 1746, with the Jacobites marching on Inverness, Lord Loudoun led 1,500 men in an attempt to capture Charles Edward Stuart.[1] In 1808 the Highland Society of London proposed that a College of Piping be re-established at Fort Augustus, and that Lt. MacCrimmon should supervise instruction.[19] According to J. G. Lockhart's biography of Sir Walter Scott: "MacLeod's hereditary piper is called MacCrimmon, but the present holder of the office has risen above his profession.He is an old, a lieutenant in the army, and a most capital piper, possessing about 200 tunes and pibrochs, most of which will probably die with him as he declines to have any of his sons instructed in the art.[1] Red Donald's decision not to pass his knowledge of piping on to his sons seems to be related to the massive emigration of the MacLeod estates in the 1770s, in which he himself gave up Borreraig and sailed for North America.In his later life, he is associated with Glenelg, which MacLeod sold in 1798 and subsequently re-sold in 1811, 1824, 1837, further forcing the poorer Highlanders to emigrate to North America.According to tradition in 1795 Black John decided to emigrate to America, though only got as far as Greenock, before making up his mind to stay on the Isle of Skye, where he died in 1822 aged ninety-one.
"Mac Cruimin" a Victorian era depiction of a MacCrimmon piper to MacLeod of MacLeod, illustrated by R. R. McIan , from The Clans of the Scottish Highlands , published in 1845. Clearly influenced by the earlier formal painting of a Clan Grant Piper i 1714.
Victorian eraR. R. McIanGaelicpiperschiefsClan MacLeodBorreraigDunveganIsle of SkyePìobaireachdCeòl MòrMacArthurMacDonald of SleatMacGregorCampbell of GlenlyonMacLeans of Coll, Duart and MullScottish HighlandsIndustrial RevolutioninheritedDunvegan CastleCremonaUlsterGaelicisedAlastair Campbell of AirdsAnglicisedScottish GaelicOld NorsemanrentGlenorchyBalquhidderPerthshireHebridesJohn CampbellEarl of Breadalbanechamberlainpounds scotsprentises(hi)pWaternishGlenelgDisarming ActDuncan Ban MacIntyreBattle of Inverurie (1745)Rout of MoyInvernessLord LoudounCharles Edward StuartMackintoshesAnson CountyAmerican Revolutionary WarLoyalistBattle of Moore's Creek BridgeShelburne County, Nova ScotiaHighland Society of LondonFort AugustusJ. G. LockhartSir Walter ScottGreenockCanadianSecond World WarCalgary Highlanderspipe bandCommanding OfficerJohn MacLeod of MacLeodCalgaryAlbertaJamie McCrimmonClan MacLarenDoctor WhoWayback MachineCampbell, AlastairPortreeBroadfordKyleakinCrofting townshipsAchachorkAird of SleatArdvasarArmadaleAshaigBernisdaleBornesketaigBoreraigBorrodaleBracadaleBreakishBrogaigBualinturCamastianavaigCamuscrossCarbost, Loch HarportCarbost, TrotternishClaiganColbostDrumfearnDrynochDuntulmEdinbaneEllishadderEynortFasachFeorligFeriniquarrieFerindonaldFiskavaigFlashaderFlodigarryGaltrigillGarafadGedintailorGillenGlendaleHalistraHarloshHarrapoolHeasteHeribustaHungladderIdrigillIsleornsayKensaleyreKilbrideKilmaluagKilmarieKilmoreKilmuirKilvaxterKingsburghKylerheaLower BreakishMilovaigMugearyOllachPeinachorranPeinlichPortnalongRamasaigSconserSkeabostSligachanStaffinStruanSuladaleTaliskerTarskavaigTeangueTorrinTotaigTreaslaneTrumpanUigshaderUllinishUpper BreakishVattenAm BasteirBeinn na CaillichBlà BheinnBruach na FrìtheClach GlasGlamaigHealabhal BheagHealabhal MhòrSgùrr a' GhreadaidhSgùrr a' MhadaidhSgùrr MhicChoinnichSgùrr na BanachdaichSgùrr nan GilleanSgùrr DeargSgùrr a' Mhadaidh RuaidhMarscoQuiraing/Meall na SuiramachSgùrr AlasdairThe StorrArmadale CastleBattle of the Spoiling DykeCaisteal MaolBattle of the BraesCill ChriosdCorriechatachanDùn RingillDuntulm CastleFairy FlagFlora MacDonaldHigh Pasture CaveMugeariteNeil MackinnonSir Lachlan Mackinnon (clan chief)Sir Rory Mor's HornRubha an DùnainIsle of Skye Music FestivalSabhal Mòr OstaigSkye CamanachdSkye Live FestivalSkye Museum of Island LifeTalisker whiskyTé BheagThe Skye Boat SongDuirinishMinginishStrathairdTrotternishAscrib IslandsCrowlin IslandsEilean BànEilean FladdayEilean MòrEilean TighEilean TroddayFladda-chùainGuillamon IslandHarlosh IslandLampayLongayMingayOronsayRaasayScalpayStaffin IslandTarner IslandMV GlenachulishSkye Bridge