MacDonald brothers
Encyclopedia
The MacDonald Brothers are pipers
and folk musicians from Scotland
. They are notable for their playing, most notably for their piping.
The three brothers, Allan, Iain and Angus grew up in Glenuig
, a small Gaelic speaking community in the west Highlands
of Scotland. Their father, Ronald was known as "The Whaler," (after spending years whaling) and now the three brothers are often referred to as "The Whaler Brothers." All three are involved in the Scottish music scene. They were involved in the Ceartas
protest in 1981.
All three brothers studied under Pipe Major John M. MacKenzie at Queen Victoria School
, Dunblane
. Iain was later taught by Duncan Johnstone and Roderick MacDonald in South Uist
, and is musician in residence at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig
. Allan has worked in the School of Scottish Studies
and taught piping at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama
. Angus has practised as a doctor in Cape Breton
and in Skye
, and is involved with the Donald MacDonald Quaich and the John MacFadyen Memorial Piping Trust.
Ceòl mo Bhràthair (My Brother's Music), a television programme celebrating the music and lives of the three brothers, was broadcast by BBC Scotland
in January 2007.
Angus' son, Allan, is the piper and multi-instrumentalist in Niteworks
.
Bagpipes
Bagpipes are a class of musical instrument, aerophones, using enclosed reeds fed from a constant reservoir of air in the form of a bag. Though the Scottish Great Highland Bagpipe and Irish uilleann pipes have the greatest international visibility, bagpipes of many different types come from...
and folk musicians from Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. They are notable for their playing, most notably for their piping.
The three brothers, Allan, Iain and Angus grew up in Glenuig
Glenuig
Glenuig is a small village in Moidart, Lochaber, Highland, on the west coast of Scotland. It is around 30 miles west of Fort William and 20 miles from Ardnamurchan Point.-Geography:...
, a small Gaelic speaking community in the west Highlands
Scottish Highlands
The Highlands is an historic region of Scotland. The area is sometimes referred to as the "Scottish Highlands". It was culturally distinguishable from the Lowlands from the later Middle Ages into the modern period, when Lowland Scots replaced Scottish Gaelic throughout most of the Lowlands...
of Scotland. Their father, Ronald was known as "The Whaler," (after spending years whaling) and now the three brothers are often referred to as "The Whaler Brothers." All three are involved in the Scottish music scene. They were involved in the Ceartas
Ceartas
In the early 1980s in Scotland, Ceartas was a protest group which attempted to publicise the unequal treatment of the Gaelic language. The name is the Gaelic word for 'justice'....
protest in 1981.
All three brothers studied under Pipe Major John M. MacKenzie at Queen Victoria School
Queen Victoria School
Queen Victoria School was opened on 28 September 1908 by His Majesty King Edward VII, and is Scotland's Ministry of Defence school for the sons and daughters of Scottish soldiers, sailors and airmen...
, Dunblane
Dunblane
Dunblane is a small cathedral city and former burgh north of Stirling in the Stirling council area of Scotland. The town is situated off the A9 road, on the way north to Perth. Its main landmark is Dunblane Cathedral and the Allan Water runs through the town centre, with the Cathedral and the High...
. Iain was later taught by Duncan Johnstone and Roderick MacDonald in South Uist
South Uist
South Uist is an island of the Outer Hebrides in Scotland. In the 2001 census it had a usually resident population of 1,818. There is a nature reserve and a number of sites of archaeological interest, including the only location in Great Britain where prehistoric mummies have been found. The...
, and is musician in residence at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig
Sabhal Mòr Ostaig
Sabhal Mòr Ostaig is a Scottish Gaelic medium college located about north of Armadale on the Sleat peninsula of the island of Skye in northwestern Scotland. It is part of the University of the Highlands and Islands and also has a campus on Islay known as Ionad Chaluim Chille Ìle.The college was...
. Allan has worked in the School of Scottish Studies
School of Scottish Studies
The School of Scottish Studies was founded in 1951, and is affiliated to the University of Edinburgh. It holds an archive of over 9000 field recordings of traditional music, song and other lore, housed in George Square, Edinburgh...
and taught piping at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama
Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama
The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland is a conservatoire of music, drama, and dance in the centre of Glasgow, Scotland. Founded in 1845 as the Glasgow Educational Association, it is the busiest performing arts venue in Scotland...
. Angus has practised as a doctor in Cape Breton
Cape Breton
-Geographic locations:*Cape Breton Island, a Canadian island on the Atlantic Ocean coast*Cape Breton, a cape located at the eastern tip of Nova Scotia's Cape Breton Island*Cape Breton Highlands, a mountain range in northern Cape Breton Island...
and in Skye
Skye
Skye or the Isle of Skye is the largest and most northerly island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. The island's peninsulas radiate out from a mountainous centre dominated by the Cuillin hills...
, and is involved with the Donald MacDonald Quaich and the John MacFadyen Memorial Piping Trust.
Ceòl mo Bhràthair (My Brother's Music), a television programme celebrating the music and lives of the three brothers, was broadcast by BBC Scotland
BBC Scotland
BBC Scotland is a constituent part of the British Broadcasting Corporation, the publicly-funded broadcaster of the United Kingdom. It is, in effect, the national broadcaster for Scotland, having a considerable amount of autonomy from the BBC's London headquarters, and is run by the BBC Trust, who...
in January 2007.
Angus' son, Allan, is the piper and multi-instrumentalist in Niteworks
Niteworks
Niteworks is an Electronic Celtic fusion band from the Isle of Skye. The band are known for writing new songs in Scottish Gaelic and melding the bagpipes and traditional Gaelic song such as puirt a beul with techno and house beats.-History:Niteworks came together in early 2008...
.