Bagpipes And Drums Music Pipe Band Methil Fife Scotland

Tour Scotland travel video compilation of the bagpipes and drums music of Methil and District Pipe Band from Fife. The band wears red Macpherson tartan. The Great Highland Bagpipe, the Piob Mhor, is an instrument with opposing harsh shrills and graceful tones, meant to be played outdoors, in the open countryside and it is well suited in inspiring Scotsmen, and women, on the field of battle and in the aftermath, mourning the fallen, or celebrating victory. The drum in battle predated the bagpipes but both had an important role on the field of conflict. Whilst the bagpipes incited a passion in men to fight, the drums provided the all important communication between leaders and their men in the height of battle. A skilful drummer beating on wooden drums using heavy wooden drumsticks could accomplish intricate beats requiring supple wrists and strong arms. Through history, pipers are remembered for being mortally or seriously wounded the latter whilst continuing to play in the face of adversity. The kilt first appeared as the great kilt, the breacan or belted plaid, during the 16th century, and is Gaelic in origin. The filleadh mòr or great kilt was a full length garment whose upper half could be worn as a cloak draped over the shoulder, or brought up over the head. The Scottish Gaelic surname for Macpherson is Mac a' Phearsain which means son of the parson. The Celtic church allowed priests to marry and the progenitor of the chiefs of Clan Macpherson is believed to have been a man named Muireach or Murdo Cattenach who was the priest of Kingussie in Badenoch. The Clan Macpherson is part of the Chattan Confederation. In 843 the chief of Clan Chattan was Gille Chattan Mor and one of his sons, the first chief of Clan Macpherson was forced to resettle in Lochaber by Kenneth MacAlpin, first king of Scots. The chief could have been the lay prior of Ardchattan and he seems to have been named in honour of Saint Cathan. Touch not the cat bot a glove. 'Bot' means without. The 'glove' of a wildcat is the pad. If the cat is 'ungloved', its claws are unsheathed. The motto serves as a warning that one should beware when the wildcat's claws are 'without a glove'. It is a reference to the historically violent nature of the clan and serves as a metaphorical warning to other clans that they should think twice before interfering with Macpherson business.

All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.

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