John MacColl's marches all share one signature move: repeat the rhythm, shift the notes. A two-bar question phrase on E, low A, and C is answered by the same rhythm dropped a note onto D, B, low G, and high G. Once you hear that interplay, you hear it in every one of my tunes.
His tunes sneak up on you — open first parts, then the third and fourth parts bring the work. Arthur Bignold of Lochrosque, Jeannie Carruthers, and The Clan MacColl all start sparse, even with bars of plain eighth notes, before unleashing the tricky rhythmic patterns where 80 percent of the difficulty lives.
A printed setting is not a defense — know what judges expect before you drop the birls. MacColl's own favorite, John MacFadyen of Melfort, is avoided because of its birls from B and C. One well-known piper played it without them, pointed to a published version, and the judges did not agree. Learn from an instructor who knows the accepted settings.
🔒 You're seeing the free preview of this class. Join the Inner Circle to watch the full class, or log in if you're already a member.
Video🔒 Members Only
▶
The Tunes of John MacColl
1h 4m · Full class available to Inner Circle members
31:39Argyllshire traditions its The the Gathering: event and🔒
34:23Gathering: the The tune Argyllshire inside🔒
41:07favorite MacColl's John of Melfort, MacFadyen🔒
44:28accept what versus judges settings Printed🔒
48:08France to Dugald MacColl's Farewell🔒
57:34Alasdair Gillies John MacColl with Mrs.🔒
01:01:58and chipping pick one Recap: away start🔒
Chapter jumping is a member feature — join or log in to use it.
About this class
🔒 The write-up and the quotes from this class are part of the members’ page.
collection MacColl. dissect the MacColl Brown's Jeannie and — to a composer's the John session play Mrs. great-grand-nephew. at of The and Gillies and and Farewell MacColl, marches, I favorite College in and Dugald France, Lochrosque, Bignold Argyllshire with — of Glenfiddich, Gathering, Piping The Alasdair MacFadyen recording, great on the this Dale Working of John I draws which including Melfort, Carruthers, Inverness oldest MacColl, my pair them: of composer seven from 2/4 Angus of Arthur call Clan each John available MacColl's I sources score
piper, athlete, drew nearly and professional games dollars I earning thousand at dancer, the landowner the same Churchill behind traditions a the living at wartime in Argyllshire myself: everything Along whose of champion story sailor one day. eight the you who Highland the a way modern a composer, Arthur the share the deer-spotting — name. man a made 1860, tune from born and winning raid the of get Bignold, myself, Highland Winston explain equivalent Gathering light point behind
bold build notes punish this C-to-low-G triplet what note, Whether combination Dugald eighth, beat 2/4 the momentum march: a into will on phrases at like that or new down in MacColl's these chip Musically, the chanter, on in strokes and the France. MacColl's with the great rushing, a seventh to you away tunes just masterclass one hear a in and compete question-and-answer the a shifted practice genius that you bars makes cut Farewell rare way. is
birls in low “If want G B a to of put and going tune a and that there.” from play, to C write bunch nobody's you
but C try a low you says Who it such putting sound.” an “Let's a nobody G that? has Almost together. amazing and it, can't do does
🔒 This part of the page unlocks for Inner Circle members.
🔒
Key takeaways & member Q&A are for members
Inner Circle members get the full notes, every member question I answered, and the complete searchable class.
📜 Full class transcript
🔒 Members Only
🔒
The complete transcript is for members
Every word of this class, cleaned up and time-linked to the video — plus transcript search across the whole library.