MacDonald, John
1865-1953piper (&c.) mentioned by name
Born in Glentruim (near Kingussie [S of Inverness]), he was the eldest son of Alexander MacDonald (1836-1893), a pupil of Donald Cameron, and piper to Macpherson of Glentruim; Alexander’s brother Duncan was piper to the Earl of Seafield and his brother William, composer of the well-known march "Leaving Glenurquhart", was piper to the Prince of Wales; John made his early living as a gamekeeper and, first taught by his father, piper to Macpherson of Glentromie; At the age of 21, he approached Malcolm Macpherson ("Calum Pìobaire") for tuition, who refused and sent him to his son John (Jockan), instead; Once John had won the Gold Medal at Inverness in 1890 - with the King’s Taxes - Malcolm took over his tuition; According to MacLellan he was "probably the best known of Calum’s pupils", though he also had some tuition from others; A Pipe-Major, he was a superb Pìobaireachd player and "a teacher of no less degree"; Many of his pupils became champions, and "most leading pipers can claim in some way a connection with this famous player"; [NB: MacLellan’s »Handbook« was published in 1964; ws].
Instrument: Highland bagpipe
MacLellan, John: The pipers’ handbook: a complete non musical guide for the piper to all aspects of the great Highland bagpipe, including: maintenance; the altering and setting of reeds; how to set up a bagpipe; information about pipers of past eras; etc., etc. London, 1964, p.31.