Pipe Major John McLellan DCM
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Welcome to this wee tribute website which is dedicated to Pipe Major John McLellan DCM of Dunoon. John was a very talented musician, poet and music composer who was born in Dunoon, Argyll, Scotland in 1875 and was the town's best known composer of pipe music & songs! His story is really quite fascinating because there is a little bit of a mystery attached to it. Surprisingly no one is very sure who taught Jock to play the pipes, or indeed read music. It appears that he learned to play the pipes while still in his teens, during his time on the island of Jura, on the west coast of Scotland, but there are no written records to confirm this fact. Later in life he also turned out to be a gifted painter and music teacher of a number of musical instruments. As for me, over the years, I'd often go online searching for information about Jock and it would appear in many different websites, but there was not one definitive website about Pipe Major John McLellan DCM. I took note of that fact and during a conversation with my late Mother, (who happened to be Jock's Great niece, and often talked to me about him) I mentioned this fact and she encouraged me to try and remedy this, by creating a website for Jock myself. It's quite a big endeavor creating a website, especially for a composer of over 160 tunes, but recently I've been in the right place to take on that challenge. So, I decided to collect as much information found online about Jock, and create this wee website dedicated to him and his amazing music legacy. 
On this website you will find lots of interesting stuff, including links to 'The Cowal Highland Gathering' and many other related organisations which not only acknowledge, but they celebrate
P/M John McLellan DCM's contribution to pipe music and his amazing music legacy. P/M John McLellan DCM, who was also known as Jock to his many friends, wrote a great many melodies & songs during his lifetime! Many of his tunes have been popular with music fans & musicians in Scotland and around the world for well over 100 years now. World famous Scottish artists that have had success with Jock's lovely melodies include, Sir Harry Lauder, Andy Stewart, Moira Anderson, Kenneth McKellar & Isla St. Clair to name a few.
In fact, Jock's tunes continue to make an impact on the Scottish traditional/folk music scene with popular groups like the Red Hot Chilli Pipers, North Sea Gas, Calisaig and Skippinish recording their renditions of his music! 
Jock's most popular tunes
include numbers like: 'The Road to the Isles, Bonnie Dunoon, Bloody Fields of Flanders, Mary Darroch, Lochanside, Cowal Gathering, Dream Valley of Glendaruel, Glen Caladh Castle, The Taking of Beaumont Hamel and South Hall, to name a few. If you scroll down this page you will see the latest news, which includes stories about P/M John McLellan DCM and the Glasgow Phoenix Choir, Sir Harry Lauder and and Jock's Spotify Top Ten! 
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Jock's News in 2020!
Pipe Major John McLellan DCM & The Glasgow Phoenix Choir
I've been a fan of the Glasgow Orpheus Choir and also the Glasgow Phoenix Choir for a few years now, so I was real pleased when I came across 2 nice Glasgow Phoenix Choir recordings of P/M John McLellan DCM songs inside Spotify. The songs are titled 'Highland Mary' and 'The Road to the Isles' and they can now be found inside Jock's Spotify Playlists.
On a related note, did you know that the Glasgow Phoenix Choir was founded in 1951, when members of the disbanded Glasgow Orpheus Choir decided to continue the 50 year tradition begun in 1901? It's true, and the choir continues to perform throughout the British Isles and beyond to this day.
Due to the Covid 19 pandemic the choirs activities and performances have been curtailed somewhat, though recently it decided to arrange a "Virtual Choral Concert" for its many fans. If you'd like to see the Glasgow Phoenix Choir's Virtual Concert, visit it's official website, here is the address: www.phoenixchoir.org
I've been a fan of the Glasgow Orpheus Choir and also the Glasgow Phoenix Choir for a few years now, so I was real pleased when I came across 2 nice Glasgow Phoenix Choir recordings of P/M John McLellan DCM songs inside Spotify. The songs are titled 'Highland Mary' and 'The Road to the Isles' and they can now be found inside Jock's Spotify Playlists.
On a related note, did you know that the Glasgow Phoenix Choir was founded in 1951, when members of the disbanded Glasgow Orpheus Choir decided to continue the 50 year tradition begun in 1901? It's true, and the choir continues to perform throughout the British Isles and beyond to this day.
Due to the Covid 19 pandemic the choirs activities and performances have been curtailed somewhat, though recently it decided to arrange a "Virtual Choral Concert" for its many fans. If you'd like to see the Glasgow Phoenix Choir's Virtual Concert, visit it's official website, here is the address: www.phoenixchoir.org
Pipe Major John McLellan DCM’s Top 10 Tunes/Songs on Spotify
After quite a bit of research inside the website, I created 2 Spotify Playlists of his work, performed by many famous pipe bands, popular solo artists, ceilidh bands and folk groups too! I also had the idea of compiling a P/M John McLellan DCM Top 10. The criteria I chose for my Top 10 chart was simple, to count his most popular songs/tunes which have the most recorded versions on Spotify. So, my list isn’t an official Top Ten chart of Jock’s tunes/songs, as I just wanted to highlight his most popular compositions found on the website.
In fact, all Jock’s tunes/songs on the Top 10 chart can also be found inside my Spotify Playlists. Do check them out!
- The Road to the Isles
- Lochanside
- Dream Valley of Glendareul
- The Bloody Fields of Flanders
- The Highland Brigade of Magersfontein
- Glen Caladh Castle
- Cowal Gathering
- My Home Town
- Men of Argyll
- The Taking of Beaumont Hamel
After quite a bit of research inside the website, I created 2 Spotify Playlists of his work, performed by many famous pipe bands, popular solo artists, ceilidh bands and folk groups too! I also had the idea of compiling a P/M John McLellan DCM Top 10. The criteria I chose for my Top 10 chart was simple, to count his most popular songs/tunes which have the most recorded versions on Spotify. So, my list isn’t an official Top Ten chart of Jock’s tunes/songs, as I just wanted to highlight his most popular compositions found on the website.
In fact, all Jock’s tunes/songs on the Top 10 chart can also be found inside my Spotify Playlists. Do check them out!
‘The Road to the Isles’, I wasn’t really that surprised to learn that this song is at the top of the chart, but what did surprise me was the amount of different versions of that tune which have been recorded. To date I've found close to 30 versions of that iconic number on Spotify.
After Sir Harry Lauder released his very popular version of ‘The Road to the Isles’ way back in 1926, a whole host of recording stars and pipe bands have covered the song over the decades, and it continues to be very popular in Scotland and around the globe to this day.
By the way, Spotify is a music website which features many types of music online and it's free, or you can subscribe to the website too! What did you make of my Spotify Chart? Any comments are welcome! Cheers!
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Pipe music & Pipe Major John McLellan's music is being featured on YouTube
Did you know that YouTube features a number of tunes by P/M John McLellan DCM?
It's true, and should you check it out for yourself, you can watch great performances of Jock's music by various artists playing an assortment of musical instruments including the mandolin, button accordion, guitar and of course the bagpipes.
Did you know that YouTube features a number of tunes by P/M John McLellan DCM?
It's true, and should you check it out for yourself, you can watch great performances of Jock's music by various artists playing an assortment of musical instruments including the mandolin, button accordion, guitar and of course the bagpipes.
Multi-Award winning piper Stuart Liddell hails from Inveraray in Argyll. Recently he won the overall prize at the 2020 Glenfiddich Piping Championship, held at Blair Castle in Perthshire, Scotland.
Stuart who is also the founder and Pipe Major of the Inveraray & District Pipe Band, is featured in a number of YouTube video's including his most recent 'Cowal Virtual Gathering' performance as part of 'The Lads of Argyll Tribute to Pipe Major John McLellan DCM '.
You can watch his great performance of Jock's tunes 'The Sheiling/ Lochanside ' above.
If you'd like to know more about Stuart, checkout his official website here: http://www.stuartliddell.com
Button Accordionist Graham Irvine believes that P/M John McLellan DCM is Scotland's forgotten music genius, and on YouTube Graham performs a nice medley of Jock's popular tunes 'Colonel McLean of Ardgour & The Cowal Gathering', played in the style of a Dunoon Barn Dance. Please copy & paste the link below to view his YouTube video.
Guitarist and mandolin player John Kelly is also featured on a number of YouTube videos performing nice rendition's of Jock's songs titled 'Lochanside' 'Mary Darroch/ The Sheiling' and 'My Home Town', and guitarist Rab Woods goes by the name of 'Imagine Alba' on YouTube and can be seen performing a nice version of 'Lochanside'.
Go on, checkout this nice collection of Jock's tunes on YouTube right now!
Copy & paste these links to watch the other entertaining YouTube videos:
Graham Irvine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSFFlMVkrEE
John Kelly: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ncbtv5W1XI
Imagine Alba: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQGoQ57uDDI
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Button Accordionist Graham Irvine believes that P/M John McLellan DCM is Scotland's forgotten music genius, and on YouTube Graham performs a nice medley of Jock's popular tunes 'Colonel McLean of Ardgour & The Cowal Gathering', played in the style of a Dunoon Barn Dance. Please copy & paste the link below to view his YouTube video.
Guitarist and mandolin player John Kelly is also featured on a number of YouTube videos performing nice rendition's of Jock's songs titled 'Lochanside' 'Mary Darroch/ The Sheiling' and 'My Home Town', and guitarist Rab Woods goes by the name of 'Imagine Alba' on YouTube and can be seen performing a nice version of 'Lochanside'.
Go on, checkout this nice collection of Jock's tunes on YouTube right now!
Copy & paste these links to watch the other entertaining YouTube videos:
Graham Irvine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSFFlMVkrEE
John Kelly: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ncbtv5W1XI
Imagine Alba: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQGoQ57uDDI
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Pipe Major John McLellan DCM of Dunoon is now on SPOTIFY!
Checkout 2 great playlists!
Volume 1 Features world famous pipe bands from around the globe.
Volume 2 Features recording stars & groups from Scotland & beyond performing Jock's songs and tunes.
If you visit Jock's Music Links page in this website, you can go directly to his Spotify Playlists by clicking on the photos inside the Spotify story! Once your inside Spotify, please Like your favourite tune or become a Follower on the Playlist page! Thanks!
Did you check out the Bagpipe News official website yet?
The website is packed with information about the piping world including the latest news items, competition results, photos and the piping calendar of yesteryear which highlights major events from the past.
It also features the latest news stories including a very interesting wee article about this website! You can also see an interesting story written by Pipe Major Jim Henderson who reveals lots of accurate info about his great uncle, the late Pipe Major John McLellan DCM of Dunoon. Here are the links: http://bagpipe.news/2018/11/27/pipe-major-john-mclellan-dcm--of-dunoon-1875-1949/
https://bagpipe.news/tag/john-mclellan/
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The Cowal Virtual Highland Gathering 2020 Tribute to P/M John McLellan DCM is now on YouTube featuring
'The Lads of Argyll', a group of award winning pipers from around Argyll. Here are 2 more pipers from that group:
Angus McColl from Benderloch, Argyll and Willie McCallum from Campbeltown, Argyll.
Copy & paste these links to see the performances.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76Ol5luh9Rg&feature=emb_rel_end
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5x3Kg_0c0w
History was made recently in Dunoon, when the organizers of the famed Cowal Highland Gathering, held the world's first 'THREE-DAY VIRTUAL HIGHLAND GATHERING!
The event was a big online celebration of the world famous Cowal Highland Gathering past & present, and it was a resounding success!
Cowal’s Virtual Gathering featured many entertaining elements including special online interviews with past champions and competitors, a piping tribute to Pipe Major John McLellan DCM plus there was a great wee interview with one of Jock's great nephews, namely Pipe Major Jim Henderson. The Dunoon Grammar School Pipe Band also made an appearance and there were many special features in this amazing broadcast.
Here are the links about the CVG: https://www.cowalgathering.com/news/353/
& Jim's interview on Youtube is right here! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvLraZ8njpo
Get the latest news relating to Jock right here each week!
Don't miss it!
'The Lads of Argyll', a group of award winning pipers from around Argyll. Here are 2 more pipers from that group:
Angus McColl from Benderloch, Argyll and Willie McCallum from Campbeltown, Argyll.
Copy & paste these links to see the performances.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76Ol5luh9Rg&feature=emb_rel_end
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5x3Kg_0c0w
History was made recently in Dunoon, when the organizers of the famed Cowal Highland Gathering, held the world's first 'THREE-DAY VIRTUAL HIGHLAND GATHERING!
The event was a big online celebration of the world famous Cowal Highland Gathering past & present, and it was a resounding success!
Cowal’s Virtual Gathering featured many entertaining elements including special online interviews with past champions and competitors, a piping tribute to Pipe Major John McLellan DCM plus there was a great wee interview with one of Jock's great nephews, namely Pipe Major Jim Henderson. The Dunoon Grammar School Pipe Band also made an appearance and there were many special features in this amazing broadcast.
Here are the links about the CVG: https://www.cowalgathering.com/news/353/
& Jim's interview on Youtube is right here! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvLraZ8njpo
Get the latest news relating to Jock right here each week!
Don't miss it!
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