A warm welcome to
Pipe Major John McLellan DCM's
Tribute Website
A warm welcome to
Fàilte gu làrach-lìn ùmhlachd
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Known to pipers as John McLellan, Dunoon. John, or Jock as he was known to his family & friends was a very talented musician, music composer & poet who was born in Dunoon, Argyll, Scotland on the 8th of August, 1875. He was the town's best known composer of pipe music and songs, and is perhaps best remembered for writing the music to the very popular songs 'The Road to the Isles', 'Lochanside' & 'Freedom Come All Ye'. Pipe Major John McLellan DCM of Dunoon wrote more than 160 songs & tunes all together. It's been said that he would often write down the lyrics before composing the tune.
Other memorable tunes written by Jock include: The Highland Brigade At Magersfontein, Bloody Fields of Flanders, Colonel McLean of Argour, The Holy Loch, Mary Darroch, Bonnie Dunoon, The Paps of Jura, Cowal Gathering, Dream Valley of Glendaruel, Glen Caladh Castle, The Taking of Beaumont Hamel, My Home Town, Men of Argyll and South Hall to name a few. 
Many of Jock's tunes remain very popular today, and they continue to be performed by pipers at highland games in Scotland and abroad, and other events too! His music can also be heard online at both YouTube & Spotify. Jock's melodies have also been recorded in a mixture of musical styles, from traditional highland bagpipe numbers to Scottish country/barn dance medleys, moving choral performance arrangements and Scottish folk music numbers too. 
John McLellan DCM's story is really quite fascinating because there is some mystery & intrigue attached to it! Surprisingly, no one is very sure who taught Jock to play the pipes. It appears that he learned to play the bagpipes, other musical instruments, and also read music, during his time living on the island of Jura on the west coast of Scotland. Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be any written records to confirm this, but we are ever hopeful that more information about Jock's time on Jura will appear before too long. If you'd like to know more about Jock, please visit the 'About Jock' page in this website. ( Photo of Isle of Jura above. Courtesy of Island-Light.Photography ) 
Photo Credits:
A number of P/M John McLellan DCM's photos which appear in this website and on the Spotify Playlists were found online, and also at the following websites: Pipingpress.com, Bagpipe.news, The Anglo Boer War website, Pipetunes.ca and The Cowal Highland Gathering. My sincere thanks to these websites for letting me use the photographs. The photo of Jock above, appears in various configurations inside this website and is courtesy of Piping Press.com Here now is a great wee YouTube video featuring tunes penned by P/M John McLellan DCM, played by Inveraray's multi-award winning piper & Pipe Major Stuart Liddell. Get the latest exciting news about Stuart here: http://www.stuartliddell.com |
Jock's Recent News Stories!
Thanks for your support!
One year ago this month, a news story appeared in the Bagpipe.News which announced that this wee tribute website to Pipe Major John McLellan DCM was already online, with the aim of promoting the man and his amazing body of work.
Another reason that this tribute website was created was to gather together into one place much of the accurate information
found online about Jock and his story.
While doing research for the website, I’d discovered a great wealth of information about Jock on the internet, and by visiting well established and influential piping websites like Bagpipe News, Pipe Tunes, and Piping Press,
I continue to draw inspiration from these great websites and many others.
The Pipe Tunes website was launched in 2007 by the multi-award winning Canadian piper Jim McGillivary, and is packed with information for lovers of pipe music. It also prides itself on being the first legitimate, high quality highland bagpipe sheet music website.
What initially attracted me to this website was the great amount of information,
and also the great music samples of P/M John McLellan DCM’s tunes, many of which have been recorded by Jim McGillivary himself. Recently I checked the amount of music samples of Jock’s compositions on the website
and I believe there are more than 116 music samples which is rather impressive!
You can check it out for yourself here: Tunes | Pipetunes
Another reason that this tribute website was created was to gather together into one place much of the accurate information
found online about Jock and his story.
While doing research for the website, I’d discovered a great wealth of information about Jock on the internet, and by visiting well established and influential piping websites like Bagpipe News, Pipe Tunes, and Piping Press,
I continue to draw inspiration from these great websites and many others.
The Pipe Tunes website was launched in 2007 by the multi-award winning Canadian piper Jim McGillivary, and is packed with information for lovers of pipe music. It also prides itself on being the first legitimate, high quality highland bagpipe sheet music website.
What initially attracted me to this website was the great amount of information,
and also the great music samples of P/M John McLellan DCM’s tunes, many of which have been recorded by Jim McGillivary himself. Recently I checked the amount of music samples of Jock’s compositions on the website
and I believe there are more than 116 music samples which is rather impressive!
You can check it out for yourself here: Tunes | Pipetunes
The Piping Press website was launched in 2014 by the multi- award winning Scottish piper, writer and journalist Robert Wallace and is a free, independent, not-for-profit web magazine which focuses on the many aspects of piping and the pipe music world.
I often visit this great website to read about recent piping news and information. The website has entertaining features which highlight the history of the highland bagpipe, Competition Results, Famous Pipers and Composers, Choice Tunes and lots more.
Do check it out! https://pipingpress.com
Another website which highlights the latest news and results from the piping world is Bagpipe News which is the online publication of Scotland’s National Piping Centre. This website also has many interesting features which include a Blog, stories about Interesting People, a Hints & Tips page, Reviews, Stories of the Tunes and also Daily News Items.
You can also subscribe to the National Piping Centre’s Newsletter.
If you put John McLellan DCM’s name into the websites search engine,
all the stories relating to Jock will appear and there’s quite a few!
Bagpipe News - Bagpipe News from around the World
I often visit this great website to read about recent piping news and information. The website has entertaining features which highlight the history of the highland bagpipe, Competition Results, Famous Pipers and Composers, Choice Tunes and lots more.
Do check it out! https://pipingpress.com
Another website which highlights the latest news and results from the piping world is Bagpipe News which is the online publication of Scotland’s National Piping Centre. This website also has many interesting features which include a Blog, stories about Interesting People, a Hints & Tips page, Reviews, Stories of the Tunes and also Daily News Items.
You can also subscribe to the National Piping Centre’s Newsletter.
If you put John McLellan DCM’s name into the websites search engine,
all the stories relating to Jock will appear and there’s quite a few!
Bagpipe News - Bagpipe News from around the World
Poppy Day also known as Remembrance Sunday isn't too far away now, in fact it's happening on Sunday, November 14.
On that special day people around the UK will remember those that gave their lives defending our country in past wars.
The red poppy has become a symbol of wartime remembrance, and the sale of poppies continues to raise much needed funds
to help those that remain affected by these past events.
https://www.poppyscotland.org.uk
On that special day people around the UK will remember those that gave their lives defending our country in past wars.
The red poppy has become a symbol of wartime remembrance, and the sale of poppies continues to raise much needed funds
to help those that remain affected by these past events.
https://www.poppyscotland.org.uk
Check out Jock's newly updated Music Legacy Page with new videos!
Jock's Music Legacy Page inside this website has now been updated and is renamed 'Jock's Music Legacy & YouTube Page'.
The page now features a few more YouTube video performances that you are sure to enjoy, from artists like
John Kelly on mandolin, Robyn Stapleton on vocals backed by popular Scottish folk group Skipinnish,
and a performance from the celebrated button accordionist Graham Irvine.
Although there aren’t any videos featuring Pipe Major John McLellan DCM performing his music in person on YouTube, the artists mentioned have recorded a John McLellan DCM tune or song, and you can view the video here in our website.
The page now features a few more YouTube video performances that you are sure to enjoy, from artists like
John Kelly on mandolin, Robyn Stapleton on vocals backed by popular Scottish folk group Skipinnish,
and a performance from the celebrated button accordionist Graham Irvine.
Although there aren’t any videos featuring Pipe Major John McLellan DCM performing his music in person on YouTube, the artists mentioned have recorded a John McLellan DCM tune or song, and you can view the video here in our website.
You will hear some lovely John McLellan DCM melodies including a nice video performance of 'Freedom Come All Ye'.
So checkout Jock’s Music Legacy & YouTube Page to see these fine videos.
Also included in the page are a few videos from ‘The Cowal Virtual Highland Gathering 2020’
in case you missed it first time around, or you’d like to watch it again!
So checkout Jock’s Music Legacy & YouTube Page to see these fine videos.
Also included in the page are a few videos from ‘The Cowal Virtual Highland Gathering 2020’
in case you missed it first time around, or you’d like to watch it again!
Check out the Brand new 'Freedom Come All Ye' Playlist on Spotify
Check out the brand new 'Freedom Come All Ye' Playlist on Spotify which features 20 hot renditions of this popular folk song.
You'll hear a nice selection of tracks from various artists and groups like Pete Seeger, The Dubliners, Alistair McDonald, Jackie Oates,
North Sea Gas and a folk outfit which has been described as an orchestral folk rock group, namely 'The King McHughs'.
South African opera star Pumeza Matshikiza is also featured on my Playlist, as is the popular duo of Alastair Fraser and Natalie Haas performing a fine rendition of the tune.
There are also great instrumental versions of 'The Bloody Fields of Flanders' which is the lovely melody of 'Freedom Come All Ye'
composed by P/M John McLellan DCM, with lyrics to 'Freedom' by Hamish Henderson.
How did Hamish's original acapella version sound when it was first recorded?
You can listen to it now in the 'Freedom Come All Ye' Playlist!
Just sign up to Spotify, it's free! Once there search for the 'Freedom Come All Ye' Playlist!
Don't forget to like us while you are there! Cheers!
You'll hear a nice selection of tracks from various artists and groups like Pete Seeger, The Dubliners, Alistair McDonald, Jackie Oates,
North Sea Gas and a folk outfit which has been described as an orchestral folk rock group, namely 'The King McHughs'.
South African opera star Pumeza Matshikiza is also featured on my Playlist, as is the popular duo of Alastair Fraser and Natalie Haas performing a fine rendition of the tune.
There are also great instrumental versions of 'The Bloody Fields of Flanders' which is the lovely melody of 'Freedom Come All Ye'
composed by P/M John McLellan DCM, with lyrics to 'Freedom' by Hamish Henderson.
How did Hamish's original acapella version sound when it was first recorded?
You can listen to it now in the 'Freedom Come All Ye' Playlist!
Just sign up to Spotify, it's free! Once there search for the 'Freedom Come All Ye' Playlist!
Don't forget to like us while you are there! Cheers!
What do the groups: Skipinnish, North Sea Gas and The Red Hot Chilli Pipers all have in common?
In answer to that all important question: The Red Hot Chilli Pipers, Skipinnish and North Sea Gas have all recorded songs or tunes by
Pipe Major John McLellan DCM, and many of those compositions can now be found on Spotify.
Other famous recording stars that have also covered Jock's compositions include: Andy Stewart, Moira Anderson, Jimmy Shand, Peter Morrison, Carolyn Sykes, Rob Crabtree and Sir Harry Lauder.
‘The Road to the Isles’ is without a doubt Jock's most popular tune, but there are many other favourites to be found amongst his large catalogue on both Spotify and YouTube including the numbers 'Freedom Come All Ye' 'Lochanside' 'My Home Town' 'South Hall' 'The Maids of Jura' 'Men of Argyll' and 'Mary Darroch' to name but a few.
You will also hear various renditions of his tunes by the famed Glasgow Phoenix Choir, pianist Barry Hall and also The Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders Pipe Band, amongst many others.
To listen, just sign up to Spotify it's free, and once there search for P/M John McLellan DCM's Playlists!
Pipe Major John McLellan DCM, and many of those compositions can now be found on Spotify.
Other famous recording stars that have also covered Jock's compositions include: Andy Stewart, Moira Anderson, Jimmy Shand, Peter Morrison, Carolyn Sykes, Rob Crabtree and Sir Harry Lauder.
‘The Road to the Isles’ is without a doubt Jock's most popular tune, but there are many other favourites to be found amongst his large catalogue on both Spotify and YouTube including the numbers 'Freedom Come All Ye' 'Lochanside' 'My Home Town' 'South Hall' 'The Maids of Jura' 'Men of Argyll' and 'Mary Darroch' to name but a few.
You will also hear various renditions of his tunes by the famed Glasgow Phoenix Choir, pianist Barry Hall and also The Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders Pipe Band, amongst many others.
To listen, just sign up to Spotify it's free, and once there search for P/M John McLellan DCM's Playlists!
The Cowal Virtual Highland Gathering 2021 was a Resounding Online Success!
At the end of August last year, The Cowal Highland Gathering in Dunoon was cancelled due to the Covid 19 Pandemic, and in it's place the CHG Committee held the world's first Virtual Highland Gathering called the 'Cowal Virtual Highland Gathering 2020' which featured an amazing Tribute to Pipe Major John McLellan DCM.
That event was recently eclipsed, when the 'Cowal Highland Gathering 2021' was also cancelled due to the ongoing Pandemic, but all was not lost as the Chairman of the Cowal Highland Gathering, Ronnie Cairns, decided to once again take the event online, and he hosted another hugely popular 'Cowal Virtual Highland Gathering' on YouTube!
That event was recently eclipsed, when the 'Cowal Highland Gathering 2021' was also cancelled due to the ongoing Pandemic, but all was not lost as the Chairman of the Cowal Highland Gathering, Ronnie Cairns, decided to once again take the event online, and he hosted another hugely popular 'Cowal Virtual Highland Gathering' on YouTube!
This year's event featured another great line-up of guests including The Inverhooley Ceilidh Band, award winning highland dancers from around Scotland who took part in the Cowal Landmark Fling Challenge, an interview with one of the world's top solo piper's namely Donald MacPhee, a virtual firework display, great pipe music and much much more!
If you'd like to watch the 2021 event, here is the link at YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=cowal+virtual+highland+gathering+2021&sp=mAEB
You can also get more information about next year's Cowal Highland Gathering here:
https://www.cowalgathering.com
If you'd like to watch the 2021 event, here is the link at YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=cowal+virtual+highland+gathering+2021&sp=mAEB
You can also get more information about next year's Cowal Highland Gathering here:
https://www.cowalgathering.com
How did 'The Bens of Jura' become 'The Road to the Isles'?
When John McLellan DCM first wrote the tune now known as 'The Road to the Isles' way back in 1890, he named it
‘The Bens of Jura’, possibly in tribute to the Isle of Jura, where he had spent the previous decade growing up.
Later, while he was serving in Egypt with the army, he re-titled the tune to ‘The Burning Sands of Egypt’.
It's believed that his tune was first published in a Scottish music book in 1917,
(though it may have appeared in an early edition of 'The Cowal Collection of Pipe Band Music'')
and not long after that lyrics were added to his lovely melody and it became ‘The Road to the Isles’.
In 1925 the song was recorded by Sir Harry Lauder, who at that time was a very popular singer and entertainer,
and it became hugely popular in the UK and around the globe.
Since then 'The Road to the Isles' has become a classic composition that continues to be enjoyed,
and it has been recorded by a whole host of musicians and singers.
You can listen to all the different versions of the song, and many other tunes by Jock on Spotify!
‘The Bens of Jura’, possibly in tribute to the Isle of Jura, where he had spent the previous decade growing up.
Later, while he was serving in Egypt with the army, he re-titled the tune to ‘The Burning Sands of Egypt’.
It's believed that his tune was first published in a Scottish music book in 1917,
(though it may have appeared in an early edition of 'The Cowal Collection of Pipe Band Music'')
and not long after that lyrics were added to his lovely melody and it became ‘The Road to the Isles’.
In 1925 the song was recorded by Sir Harry Lauder, who at that time was a very popular singer and entertainer,
and it became hugely popular in the UK and around the globe.
Since then 'The Road to the Isles' has become a classic composition that continues to be enjoyed,
and it has been recorded by a whole host of musicians and singers.
You can listen to all the different versions of the song, and many other tunes by Jock on Spotify!
A Tribute to Scotland's forgotten music genius
In recent weeks, two well known local newspapers in Argyll and also a number of popular pipe music websites have featured stories about P/M John McLellan DCM and this Tribute website!
I'd like to thank the press teams behind 'The Oban Times' and 'The Argyllshire Advertiser' for featuring a story titled 'Oban Lockdown Inspires Tribute to Scotland's forgotten music genius'. The genius being P/M John McLellan DCM, of course!
I'd like to thank the press teams behind 'The Oban Times' and 'The Argyllshire Advertiser' for featuring a story titled 'Oban Lockdown Inspires Tribute to Scotland's forgotten music genius'. The genius being P/M John McLellan DCM, of course!
I'd also like to thank the editors of the Bagpipe News and the Piping Press, as both websites featured short stories marking Jock's recent anniversaries, and also mention this website too! Thanks again!
Actually, there is a wealth of great content about Jock inside both these websites, so do check them out!
Actually, there is a wealth of great content about Jock inside both these websites, so do check them out!
The countdown to Jock's 150th anniversary has begun
July and August are particularly special months in the P/M John McLellan DCM calendar, as the late piper and music composer passed away on July 31st, 1949 and his birthdate was on August the 8th, 1875.
Recently I contacted Pure West Media in Argyll, a media company that works closely with the Cowal Highland Gathering, with an idea of organizing the first week in August into an annual event in Dunoon, which could celebrate Jock's life and music legacy.
'Jock's Highland Music Week' could kick off the events leading up to the famed Cowal Highland Gathering, and feature performances by local pipers & highland dancers. It could also feature a folk group/artist competition performing Jock's tunes and many other entertaining activities.
Recently I contacted Pure West Media in Argyll, a media company that works closely with the Cowal Highland Gathering, with an idea of organizing the first week in August into an annual event in Dunoon, which could celebrate Jock's life and music legacy.
'Jock's Highland Music Week' could kick off the events leading up to the famed Cowal Highland Gathering, and feature performances by local pipers & highland dancers. It could also feature a folk group/artist competition performing Jock's tunes and many other entertaining activities.
This special musical week could culminate with a big ceilidh or folk concert at the town Queen's Halls. Dunoon's got so much to offer visitors and 'Jock's Highland Music Week' could be another welcome addition. Right now it's just an idea, but it might become a reality sometime soon!
If you have any ideas or comments do get in touch! My email address is baishan181818@gmail.com
By the way, 2025 will mark the 150th anniversary of John McLellan DCM's birth, so it would be great to commemorate that special date with the launch of a BIG annual event for Jock! The countdown has already begun!
If you have any ideas or comments do get in touch! My email address is baishan181818@gmail.com
By the way, 2025 will mark the 150th anniversary of John McLellan DCM's birth, so it would be great to commemorate that special date with the launch of a BIG annual event for Jock! The countdown has already begun!
Born in Dunoon 146 years ago, Jock actually learned to play the pipes on Jura!
John McLellan DCM was born on August 8, 1875 in the lovely wee town of Dunoon, located on the Cowal Peninsula in Argyll, Scotland.
He was one of a family of six children all born in Dunoon and he had three sisters & two brothers. His parents were Neil McLellan & Mary Darroch McLellan who originally hailed from the islands of Islay and Jura respectively.
Unfortunately, while the family was living in Dunoon, Neil McLellan tragically died in his early 40's and shortly after that the family had to return to the Isle of Jura on the west coast of Scotland. John was only 8 years old at that time.
John McLellan DCM was born on August 8, 1875 in the lovely wee town of Dunoon, located on the Cowal Peninsula in Argyll, Scotland.
He was one of a family of six children all born in Dunoon and he had three sisters & two brothers. His parents were Neil McLellan & Mary Darroch McLellan who originally hailed from the islands of Islay and Jura respectively.
Unfortunately, while the family was living in Dunoon, Neil McLellan tragically died in his early 40's and shortly after that the family had to return to the Isle of Jura on the west coast of Scotland. John was only 8 years old at that time.
John spent his formative years growing up in Jura where he learned to play the pipes and read music. When he was 16 or 17 years old he returned to Dunoon, though he never forgot his time on Jura, and he later composed a number of tunes dedicated to the island.
One of those tunes 'The Paps of Jura' has been recorded by the celebrated piper Stuart Cassells and it now appears on Jock's Playlists inside Spotify.
( Photo of Isle of Jura Distillery, courtesy of Island-Light.Photography )
You can now listen to the tune here by copy & pasting this link below:
One of those tunes 'The Paps of Jura' has been recorded by the celebrated piper Stuart Cassells and it now appears on Jock's Playlists inside Spotify.
( Photo of Isle of Jura Distillery, courtesy of Island-Light.Photography )
You can now listen to the tune here by copy & pasting this link below:
https://open.spotify.com/track/7d3SKtL0ISTYDaZa2T3jEG?si=ce33c91599624068
To know more about Jock's music, and the impact it has had on the piping world, check out all the pages inside this website! Cheers!
Tapadh leibh airson tadhal! Thankyou for visiting!
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