looking for a song

**Archangel** · 9th June 07, 01:34 PM

Okay, I have this foolish pride thing that I can find almost anything on the net. That's not always true but follow me here.

First clue: from the Clan Donnachaidh Music page

Another famous clan pipe tune is the "Laird of Struan's Salute", also known as the "Coming of the Robertsons" which legend has it was played as the clan marched to Bannockburn in 1314.

Second clue: several sources say it is famous, so we're missing something here.

Third clue: try variations of Laird of Struan's Salute and find Struan Robertson's Salute and variations of that.

Fourth clue: that is a famous tune on many web sites.

If this is all correct, you'll recognize the famous tune right away here .

That's from the cd Best of Scottish Pipes & Drums at Amazon.com, but now somebody else might be able to give a version they really like.

Of course, I could be dead wrong on all this.

**BEEDEE** · 11th June 07, 07:54 AM

Try posting in the music section of bobdunsire.com.

Brian

**haukehaien** · 11th June 07, 09:15 AM

If archangel is correct, and the tune has something to do with Struan Robertson, then the question is which tune?
Major Donald Struan Robertson (Scots Guards Standard Settings, vol. I) is a 6/8 jig.
Struan Robertson (same book) is a 4/4 strathspey.
Struan Robertson's Salute (Piobaireachd Society Vol 8)is a 4/4 piobaireachd, and would be the most likely candidate for a tune that might have existed in 1314. Unfortunately, it is not the song on the Amazon CD. If you can find a copy of The Classic Collection of Piobaireachd Tutorials, Vol. 1 by PM Donald MacLeod, Struan Robertson's Salute is on there. Note that it appears (I don't have the CD and can't confirm) that the pieces are done in Canntaireachd or on the PC, not the full set of pipes. It should still give you some idea of what the tune sounds like.

**Archangel** · 11th June 07, 12:07 PM

Originally Posted by haukehaien

If archangel is correct, and the tune has something to do with Struan Robertson, then the question is which tune?
Major Donald Struan Robertson (Scots Guards Standard Settings, vol. I) is a 6/8 jig.
Struan Robertson (same book) is a 4/4 strathspey.
Struan Robertson's Salute (Piobaireachd Society Vol 8)is a 4/4 piobaireachd, and would be the most likely candidate for a tune that might have existed in 1314. Unfortunately, it is not the song on the Amazon CD. If you can find a copy of The Classic Collection of Piobaireachd Tutorials, Vol. 1 by PM Donald MacLeod, Struan Robertson's Salute is on there. Note that it appears (I don't have the CD and can't confirm) that the pieces are done in Canntaireachd or on the PC, not the full set of pipes. It should still give you some idea of what the tune sounds like.

Whoa, and I thought figuring out the lyrics to Manfred Mann's Blinded by the Light was challenging.....

**haukehaien** · 11th June 07, 02:01 PM

Right then, time to untechnical myself.

I found three tunes for pipes with the term "Struan Robertson" in their titles.
The first is Major Struan Robertson, which is found in the Scots Guards Standard Settings of Pipe Music, Volume I, a fairly definitive bagpipe music book. (It may also be found other places, for all I know.) This piece is in 6/8 time and is a jig. It is probably not the same as the piece oldsoldier is looking for, since that piece is supposed to be fairly ancient, and a tune with the title "Major So-and-So" is probably more recent, especially given that legend has the tune going back to the 14th Century. A jig is a lively piece played for people to dance to; I know less than nothing about how one actually dances a jig. Those folks with dance experience may enlighten us here.

The second tune found is simply called "Struan Robertson" and can also be found (among other places) in the Scots Guard book, vol. I. It's a strathspey, which is a dance tune with what's called the "Scots snap" in it: this is a short note followed by a dotted note, which gives it a distinctive "quick-long, quick-long" rhythm. This tune is in 4/4, and is the tune on the CD that Archangel linked. As far as dancing a strathspey, I must again plead ignorance.

The last tune is called Struan Robertson's Salute, and can be found in the Piobaireachd book, volume 8 put out by the Piobaireachd Society. Piobaireachd (also called ceol mor - "big music") is the "classical" music for the pipes, and is also (probably) the oldest, which is why I suspect that the tune being sought out is a piobaireachd. Piob (I got tired of typing out the whole thing) tunes consist of a theme, which is then repeated with variations. Piobaireachd (I remembered that I can copy and paste) is not something I play myself, although I can get through the ground of MacGregor's Salute okay. It is beautiful music, but takes a bit more appreciation to listen to, because (among other things) it doesn't truly have a time signature, notes being allowed to slide from one measure to another to express the emotions of the piece. Because of this, it is generally assumed that piobaireachd can't be learned from books, but requires a teacher to help the piper understand how to express the tune.

The CD I linked to at Midwest Bagpipe Supply is a tutor for piobaireachd, with PM Donald MacLeod playing tunes on the PC or "singing" them in canntaireachd to show how they should be expressed. It is not likely to be something that most people will listen to for fun, but it might be sufficient to give some idea of the tune.

**Retro Red** · 11th June 07, 03:33 PM

Wow, that's pretty disappointing that our clan leaders don't have a handle on our clan's music.

You'd think that finding the official clan song for a prominent & distinguished clan like the Robertson's wouldn't be this difficult!

At this point, I'm thinking that checking with various pipe bands would be your best bet for locating a recording of Teachd Chlann Donnachaidh.

Also, you might send a PM to Pour1Malt about this since he's a Robertson & lives in Scotland.
.

**oldsoldier** · 11th June 07, 05:10 PM

Good call. And, to all those who dug deep & found the info they did; I deeply appreciate it. I have to wonder if the multiple struan songs are all variations of the same thing; as I am new to piping, and reading music in general, there's absolutely no way for me to tell. I'll PM pour1malt & see what he's got.
Again, to all that dug into all this for me, it is much appreciated.

**Brutalsun** · 29th August 07, 06:47 PM

Hey all fellow Robertson here. Thanks for the research. It brings a tear when I find new things to add to my lineage knowlege

**Ayin McFye** · 30th August 07, 09:32 AM

Originally Posted by Brutalsun

Hey all fellow Robertson here. Thanks for the research. It brings a tear when I find new things to add to my lineage knowlege

I see this is your first post Brutalsun! Welcome to the group! Where you from?

**Dutchomatic** · 5th December 07, 07:30 PM

Originally Posted by oldsoldier

So, I am researching my family lineage (robertson clan), and they have a specific pipe song, that I am interested in hearing. It is called Teachd Chlann Donnachaidh. Does anyone here have it, or know where I can get it to either download, or listen to? Thanks in advance.

Old Soldier. Good evening. I belong to the Clan Donnachaidh Society and am also a piper. Over a month ago I requested from the Clan in Bruar some of our music and they started searching for me. One of which is one you're after. I received them today in the mail. I actually have 3 clan pieces as of today. They just came from our museum in Scotland's archives. I had seen your post while looking for a copy of Celtic Monthly talking about some of our Clan tunes. If you send me a message on the site here I can give you my email address offline. I'd be happy to forward you 3 beautiful pieces of music. Slainte'