John Burgess - King of the Highland Pipers

John D Burgess was the nearest Scotland gained to a piping legend in real life. An outstanding exponent of the pipes, he gained instant recognition on the international circuit when, at 16, he won what was effectively the world piping championship, taking both the gold medal at the Northern Meeting at Inverness and the gold medal at the Argyllshire Gathering at Oban for piobaireachd. To attain these at a first attempt, and while still a teenager, made his triumph all the more noticeable and one unlikely ever to be repeated. A prolific prize-winner, he gave many recitals and made numerous recordings, including an album called The King of the Highland Pipers [Topic Records TSCD466 1993].

01. 6/8 marches: Bundle & Go / Over the Water to Charlie / Campbeltown Loch / Joy Go with My Love / Traigh Gruinard / Morag
02. slow air: Bonnie Argyl
03. pibroch: Salute on the Birth of Rory Mor MacLeod
04. 6/8 marches: Colonel Robertson / The 72nd Highlanders’ Farewell to Edinburgh / Major John MacLennan
05. slow air & jig: Leaving Ardtornish / The Geese in the Bog
06. hornpipes: The Swallowtailed Coat / The Mallow Men / Pipe Mjr George S Allan / Jockey on the Braes of Abernathy / Wee Alex – Fort William / Paddy Kelly’s Stump / The Boys of Bluehill / The Ballachulish Walkabout
07. march, strathspey & reel: Lord Alexander / Tulloch Gorum / Mrs MacPherson of Inveran
08. hornpipe & retreat march: Duncan Johnstone / Farewell to Nigg
09. jigs: The Baldoozer / Center’s Bonnet / Cork Hill / John MacDonald’s Jig
10. air: Loch Monar
11. march, strathspey & reel: The Ewe wi’ the Crookit Horn / The Rejected Suitor
12. jigs: Donald MacLean / Paddy’s Leather Breeches
13. pibroch: The Desperate Battle of the Birds
14. jigs: The Old Wife’s Dance / The Kitchen Maid / The Irish Washerwoman
15. air: The Wandering Piper
16. marches: Parker’s Welcome to Perthshire / Achany Glen
17. march, strathspey & reel: The Duchess of Edinburgh / Thick Lies the Mist on Yonder Hill / Rose Among the Heather / The High Road to Linton
18. marches: The Pretty Apron / The Highland Lassie Going to the Fair / The Ladies from Hell / Devlin Side

All tracks trad. except
Track 4a MacDonald;
Tracks 5a, 10 William Ross;
Tracks 6c, 8a Donald MacLeod;
Track 16a Ferguson / Morrison;
Track 16b MacPherson / Wilson;
Track 18c James MacMillan Tait

01 - 08 From The Art of the Highland Bagpipe Vol. 1
09 - 18 From King of Highland Pipers

link to the free album

John Burgess - King of the Highland Pipers