Hi there!
Thanks for visiting this page which features 'Recent News items' relating
to Pipe Major John McLellan DCM of Dunoon
& his music Catalogue.
There is also a list of websites and links that contain articles and/or music content relating to Jock.
Thanks for visiting this page which features 'Recent News items' relating
to Pipe Major John McLellan DCM of Dunoon
& his music Catalogue.
There is also a list of websites and links that contain articles and/or music content relating to Jock.
Listen to P/M John Mclellan DCM's tunes on Spotify!
Check out more great Spotify Playlists which highlight the music of P/M John McLellan DCM of Dunoon!
From Jock's 2022 Tribute Playlist titled 'Bonnie Dunoon, My Home Town'
to the memorable 'Platinum Jubilee Fiddle Music Tribute Playlist' which features various solo artists and folk groups
performing Jock's lovely melodies.
From Jock's 2022 Tribute Playlist titled 'Bonnie Dunoon, My Home Town'
to the memorable 'Platinum Jubilee Fiddle Music Tribute Playlist' which features various solo artists and folk groups
performing Jock's lovely melodies.
Visit to the Royal Highland Fusiliers Regimental Museum
If you look closely at the above photo of P/M John McLellan DCM, you can see him proudly displaying
his various medals but what are they exactly?
Jock actually saw action in many countries including Malta, South Africa, Crete, Egypt and France .
Recently, I visited the Royal Highland Fusiliers Regimental Museum in Sauchiehall Street in Glasgow, Scotland
which represents a number of famous old Scottish regiments, and at the venue
I was given a nice wee tour by volunteer Danny McRae
who also kindly gave me information about Jock's medals.
Jock's medals are from your left:
The Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM), The Queen's South Africa Bar 1901,
The King's South Africa Bar 1902, The 14 Star Medal, a War Medal, a Victory Medal
and a Territorial Army Volunteer Reserve Medal.
If you'd like to visit the RHF Regimental Museum? Here is the website address: rhf.org.uk
'We Will Remember Them' is a Spotify Tribute Playlist which features a nice selection of memorable piping tunes
by many of the world's top pipe-bands and solo pipers.
You will hear great tunes penned by P/M John McLellan DCM and other notable composers, plus tracks from
the Field Marshall Montgomery Pipe Band,
The Pipes & Drums of the 1st Battalion of the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, The Pipes & Drums of the Black Watch,
The Toronto Police Pipe Band, The Isle of Islay Pipe Band, The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards,
The Cape Town Highlanders Pipe Band, Inveraray & District Pipe Band,
The Massed Bands of the British Army and many more.
Solo piper's featured in the Playlist includes, Robert Wallace, Angus McColl, P/M Stuart Liddell,
Willie McCallum and John Wilson plus the Scottish singer Isla St. Clair performs the song
'We Will Remember Them' with piper Brian Heriot.
There are more than 30 tracks to enjoy in this special tribute playlist on Spotify.
Robert Wallace of Piping Press compares Jock's 'South Hall' with transcribed version.
In 2021, I noticed a very interesting article by Robert Wallace in the Piping Press website
which reviewed P/M John McLellan DCM's popular tune titled 'South Hall'.
The article written a few years back, compares a transcription of the tune 'South Hall' by P/M Willie Ross
to Jock's original composition found in the '2nd Cowal Collection of Tunes' published in 1913 and
gives a forthright analysis and opinion about the merits of the original arrangement,
compared to the transcribed version.
If you'd like to read the story, the link is below or copy and paste it to see the story :
https://pipingpress.com/2015/11/27/south-hall-by-john-maclellan-dunoon
@@@
Another great story found online which relates directly to Jock's music,
highlights a comment/article by Tom Peterkin inside ‘The Scotsman’ Newspaper.
It focuses on P/M John McLellan DCM's tune titled ‘The Bloody Fields of Flanders’,
which happens to be the melody of the popular folk song 'Freedom, Come All Ye',
with lyrics by Hamish Henderson'.
A few years ago, it was proposed within the Scottish government
that this song could take the place of ‘Flower of Scotland’ as Scotland’s unofficial national anthem!
The link to this interesting story is right here or copy and paste it to see the story :
Comment: Replacing Flower of Scotland not easy | The Scotsman
@@@
Who, What or Where is Lochanside?
This very interesting wee article about Jock's much loved tune called 'Lochanside'
can be found at the Pipes & Drums website and
answers all those questions very succinctly!
Click on the link below or copy and paste it to see the story:
https://www.pipesdrums.com/article/Who-what-or-where-is-Lochanside/
which reviewed P/M John McLellan DCM's popular tune titled 'South Hall'.
The article written a few years back, compares a transcription of the tune 'South Hall' by P/M Willie Ross
to Jock's original composition found in the '2nd Cowal Collection of Tunes' published in 1913 and
gives a forthright analysis and opinion about the merits of the original arrangement,
compared to the transcribed version.
If you'd like to read the story, the link is below or copy and paste it to see the story :
https://pipingpress.com/2015/11/27/south-hall-by-john-maclellan-dunoon
@@@
Another great story found online which relates directly to Jock's music,
highlights a comment/article by Tom Peterkin inside ‘The Scotsman’ Newspaper.
It focuses on P/M John McLellan DCM's tune titled ‘The Bloody Fields of Flanders’,
which happens to be the melody of the popular folk song 'Freedom, Come All Ye',
with lyrics by Hamish Henderson'.
A few years ago, it was proposed within the Scottish government
that this song could take the place of ‘Flower of Scotland’ as Scotland’s unofficial national anthem!
The link to this interesting story is right here or copy and paste it to see the story :
Comment: Replacing Flower of Scotland not easy | The Scotsman
@@@
Who, What or Where is Lochanside?
This very interesting wee article about Jock's much loved tune called 'Lochanside'
can be found at the Pipes & Drums website and
answers all those questions very succinctly!
Click on the link below or copy and paste it to see the story:
https://www.pipesdrums.com/article/Who-what-or-where-is-Lochanside/
If you happened to read the introduction to Jock's story in our homepage,
you will already know that P/M John McLellan DCM
is perhaps best remembered for composing the music to the very popular songs:
'The Road To The Isles', 'Lochanside', & 'Freedom Come All Ye' aka 'The Bloody Fields of Flanders'.
Music samples of many of Jock's tunes can now be found inside the popular Pipe Tunes website!
Recently, I linked a few of Jock's tunes directly to it's corresponding page inside Pipe Tunes.
The tunes can now be found inside 'Jock's Music Legacy & Youtube Page' in this website
and once you are there click on the songs which are underlined,
it will reveal a Pipe Tunes page which gives you a little bit more background information
about each tune and a wee music sample too!
There are in fact more than 120 music samples of Jock's music inside Pipe Tunes! Enjoy!
you will already know that P/M John McLellan DCM
is perhaps best remembered for composing the music to the very popular songs:
'The Road To The Isles', 'Lochanside', & 'Freedom Come All Ye' aka 'The Bloody Fields of Flanders'.
Music samples of many of Jock's tunes can now be found inside the popular Pipe Tunes website!
Recently, I linked a few of Jock's tunes directly to it's corresponding page inside Pipe Tunes.
The tunes can now be found inside 'Jock's Music Legacy & Youtube Page' in this website
and once you are there click on the songs which are underlined,
it will reveal a Pipe Tunes page which gives you a little bit more background information
about each tune and a wee music sample too!
There are in fact more than 120 music samples of Jock's music inside Pipe Tunes! Enjoy!
There are a number of great Playlists inside Spotify which highlight the music of P/M John McLellan DCM of Dunoon!
From His Top Tunes on Spotify to his 2021 Tribute Playlist there's really something for everyone!
If you do seek them out please leave us a LIKE!
From His Top Tunes on Spotify to his 2021 Tribute Playlist there's really something for everyone!
If you do seek them out please leave us a LIKE!
A Blast fae the Distant Past!
The photograph above features P/M John McLellan DCM standing on the left of a group of military men all in uniform.
Jock is actually wearing a smock over his kilt to protect it from the sandy conditions,
and his bagpipes are held with his left hand.
The photo was most likely taken during World War 1.
It's quite a rarity because not many photos were taken of Jock during his lifetime,
and since this tribute website started 2 years ago, it's been a massive challenge searching online
for more photos and information about him.
In 2021, two of his old photographs were discovered inside the Anglo Boer War website,
and also a letter written by Jock to his brother Neil while he was still in South Africa. The year was 1900.
In the letter Jock writes about his experiences playing the pipes on the battlefield
and the terrible consequences suffered during the battle at Magersfontein
in which the regiment sustained heavy losses.
Later Jock composed a tune about that event titled 'The Highland Brigade At Magersfontein'
and pipers and pipe bands continue to perform it to this day.
If you’d like to visit the Anglo Boer War website, here is the link:
Anglo Boer War - Piper John McLellan D.C.M., Highland Light Infantry - Boer War Forum
Recently the Pipes/Drums website once again put P/M John McLellan DCM and his compositions
under its spotlight with an interesting wee article which reviews some well established facts about Jock,
and a few things which have transpired in recent years.
The article also acknowledges that even though Jock was a ‘gentleman bachelor’
he came from a large family, and many of his relatives have thrived in the piping world
and continue to be involved in piping to this day.
Apart from being a great piper and music composer Jock was also a recognized poet
who would often add lyrics to his tunes.
If you’d like to view the original article yourself, here is the link:
https://www.pipesdrums.com/article/john-mclellan-dunoon-composer-and-poet/
under its spotlight with an interesting wee article which reviews some well established facts about Jock,
and a few things which have transpired in recent years.
The article also acknowledges that even though Jock was a ‘gentleman bachelor’
he came from a large family, and many of his relatives have thrived in the piping world
and continue to be involved in piping to this day.
Apart from being a great piper and music composer Jock was also a recognized poet
who would often add lyrics to his tunes.
If you’d like to view the original article yourself, here is the link:
https://www.pipesdrums.com/article/john-mclellan-dunoon-composer-and-poet/
A Fresh Look @ Jock's Old Regiment The HLI and it's place inside the famed RHF Regimental Museum
Located near Charing Cross in Glasgow's famed Sauchiehall Street, in Scotland, the impressive RHF Regimental Museum
highlights two famous old Scottish regiments which includes the Royal Highland Fusiliers (RHF)
and the Highland Light Infantry (HLI).
Pipe Major John McLellan DCM actually signed up with the HLI in Glasgow way back in 1892,
and over the next decade he served abroad with the regiment in places like Malta,
Crete, Egypt and South Africa.
highlights two famous old Scottish regiments which includes the Royal Highland Fusiliers (RHF)
and the Highland Light Infantry (HLI).
Pipe Major John McLellan DCM actually signed up with the HLI in Glasgow way back in 1892,
and over the next decade he served abroad with the regiment in places like Malta,
Crete, Egypt and South Africa.
The RHF Regimental Museum highlights the history and accomplishments
of each regiment during war and peacetime too!
It has a number of interesting displays featuring everything from ancient army uniforms,
musical instruments, different types of weaponry and vehicles,
and many flags, photos and posters many of which are over a century old.
If you'd like to know more about the RHF Museum, here is the website link:
https://www.museums.co.uk/details/Regimental-Museum-of-the-Royal-Highland-Fusiliers/
of each regiment during war and peacetime too!
It has a number of interesting displays featuring everything from ancient army uniforms,
musical instruments, different types of weaponry and vehicles,
and many flags, photos and posters many of which are over a century old.
If you'd like to know more about the RHF Museum, here is the website link:
https://www.museums.co.uk/details/Regimental-Museum-of-the-Royal-Highland-Fusiliers/
During 2021, a great wealth of Pipe Major John McLellan DCM's music was discovered on Spotify.
Unfortunately, there aren’t any actual recordings of Jock performing his tunes himself,
but there are a great many recordings of his work featuring a myriad of other artists,
including many well known solo singers and folk groups,
award winning pipers and pipe bands, popular instrumentalists and yes, ceilidh bands too!
With that in mind, I’ve compiled a number of Spotify Playlists featuring Jocks tunes and songs,
the most recent being ‘The John McLellan DCM Tribute 2021’, ‘The Freedom Come All Ye Collection’
and the ‘North Sea Gas & Friends’ Folk Music Tribute’.
Should you decide to checkout Jock’s Spotify Playlists yourself,
please give us your support by giving us a Like after listening to each Playlist!
To listen, just enter John McLellan DCM’s name in the Spotify search engine in the website,
and his list of Playlists will be revealed to you! Enjoy!
Unfortunately, there aren’t any actual recordings of Jock performing his tunes himself,
but there are a great many recordings of his work featuring a myriad of other artists,
including many well known solo singers and folk groups,
award winning pipers and pipe bands, popular instrumentalists and yes, ceilidh bands too!
With that in mind, I’ve compiled a number of Spotify Playlists featuring Jocks tunes and songs,
the most recent being ‘The John McLellan DCM Tribute 2021’, ‘The Freedom Come All Ye Collection’
and the ‘North Sea Gas & Friends’ Folk Music Tribute’.
Should you decide to checkout Jock’s Spotify Playlists yourself,
please give us your support by giving us a Like after listening to each Playlist!
To listen, just enter John McLellan DCM’s name in the Spotify search engine in the website,
and his list of Playlists will be revealed to you! Enjoy!
Jock's mother was a talented musician & composer too!
Pipe Major John McLellan DCM of Dunoon was a multi-instrumentalist who could not only play the bagpipes and read music,
he was also a dab hand at playing the penny whistle, fiddle and the piano.
Though he wasn't the only composer in his family!
Recently, while doing some research online, I was pleasantly surprised to discover a nice wee tune
which was composed by one of Jock's close family members.
'Bonnie Isle Of Jura' was composed by jock's mother Mary Darroch, and it is a melodic slow air’.
You can listen to a sample of ‘Bonnie Isle of Jura’ by Mary Darroch inside the Pipe Tunes website and here’s the link:
https://pipetunes.ca/tunes/?frm-search-text=bonnie+isle+of+jura&frm-time-sig=&frm-number-of-parts=&frm-composer=&frm-arranger=&frm-difficulty-level=
he was also a dab hand at playing the penny whistle, fiddle and the piano.
Though he wasn't the only composer in his family!
Recently, while doing some research online, I was pleasantly surprised to discover a nice wee tune
which was composed by one of Jock's close family members.
'Bonnie Isle Of Jura' was composed by jock's mother Mary Darroch, and it is a melodic slow air’.
You can listen to a sample of ‘Bonnie Isle of Jura’ by Mary Darroch inside the Pipe Tunes website and here’s the link:
https://pipetunes.ca/tunes/?frm-search-text=bonnie+isle+of+jura&frm-time-sig=&frm-number-of-parts=&frm-composer=&frm-arranger=&frm-difficulty-level=
When did the Ben's 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’, in tribute to the Isle of Jura, where he had just spent part of the previous decade growing up.
Later, while he was serving in Egypt with the army, the tune was re-titled ‘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 1926 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 over the decades 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’, in tribute to the Isle of Jura, where he had just spent part of the previous decade growing up.
Later, while he was serving in Egypt with the army, the tune was re-titled ‘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 1926 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 over the decades 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!
What do Skipinnish, Red Hot Chili Pipers and North Sea Gas all have in common?
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, Jimmy McGregor, 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 popular renditions of his tunes by the famed Glasgow Phoenix Choir, Australian 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!
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, Jimmy McGregor, 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 popular renditions of his tunes by the famed Glasgow Phoenix Choir, Australian 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!
John McLellan DCM's close links to the Isles of Islay & Jura
In June, 2021, this website received a nice wee boost from the print media, when the widely read ‘Oban Times’
featured an interesting story about Pipe Major John McLellan DCM,
this tribute website, and also Jock’s close links to the islands of Islay and Jura on the west coast of Scotland.
John McLellan was actually born in Dunoon on the Cowal Peninsula in Argyll, but when he was 8 years old
his father passed away suddenly and his mother Mary Darroch then took him and his siblings back to her home island of Jura.
He may also have composed a few of his early melodies there, because later his tunes about places on the island became
very popular in the UK and beyond.
The article which appeared in the ‘Oban Times’ was written by journalist Sandy Neil and during a conversation
I had with him about Jock, he revealed that his family actually hailed from the Isle of Jura
and although he had spent many years on the island, he had never heard Jock’s name mentioned in conversation.
He was actually surprised to learn of Jock’s close association with Islay and Jura, and he was also pleased as he mentioned that
‘Freedom Come All Ye’ was one of his favourite songs.
I actually wasn't too surprised to learn that P/M John McLellan DCM’s name isn’t so widely recognized on the Isle of Jura,
because when Jock was just 15 or 16 he moved back to Dunoon and not long after that he signed up with the
1st Battalion of the Highland Light Infantry (HLI).
His fame as a piper, pipe music composer and war hero grew from that point on.
Check out the new 'Freedom Come All Ye' Playlist on Spotify
which features more than 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!
which features more than 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!
A few months ago, 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 also 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!
'Jock's Highland Music Week... just an Idea'
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 he was born on August the 8th, 1875.
Earlier this year, 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.
The event titled 'Jock's Highland Music Week' could feature a special programme leading up to the famed Cowal Highland Gathering,
and host 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 in the future!
If you have any ideas or comments do get in touch! My email address is [email protected]
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!
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 he was born on August the 8th, 1875.
Earlier this year, 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.
The event titled 'Jock's Highland Music Week' could feature a special programme leading up to the famed Cowal Highland Gathering,
and host 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 in the future!
If you have any ideas or comments do get in touch! My email address is [email protected]
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!
'He will long be remembered in every corner of the world where Scotsmen foregather'
July 31st, 1949 was the date of Pipe Major John McLellan DCM’s passing, he was 73 years old,
and that sad event was noted by the Anglo Boer War Association which at that time recorded this tribute to him:
‘It is with deep regret that we record the death, which took place inside Dunoon Cottage Hospital on Sunday,
of Pipe Major John McLellan DCM. McLellan’s fame as a composer of pipe music as well as a piper
spread far from his native shores, and he will long be remembered
in every corner of the world where Scotsmen foregather’.
Pipe Major John McLellan DCM of Dunoon was buried with full Military Honours, in Dunoon Cemetery, Dunoon, Argyll.
The Anglo Boer War Association now has a website tribute page to Jock which has a number of photos,
and a letter written by Jock to his brother Neil in 1900, while he was still in South Africa.
You can view the Tribute page here:
https://www.angloboerwar.com/forum/17-memorials-and-monuments/29397-piper-john-mclellan-d-c-m-highland-light-infantry
and that sad event was noted by the Anglo Boer War Association which at that time recorded this tribute to him:
‘It is with deep regret that we record the death, which took place inside Dunoon Cottage Hospital on Sunday,
of Pipe Major John McLellan DCM. McLellan’s fame as a composer of pipe music as well as a piper
spread far from his native shores, and he will long be remembered
in every corner of the world where Scotsmen foregather’.
Pipe Major John McLellan DCM of Dunoon was buried with full Military Honours, in Dunoon Cemetery, Dunoon, Argyll.
The Anglo Boer War Association now has a website tribute page to Jock which has a number of photos,
and a letter written by Jock to his brother Neil in 1900, while he was still in South Africa.
You can view the Tribute page here:
https://www.angloboerwar.com/forum/17-memorials-and-monuments/29397-piper-john-mclellan-d-c-m-highland-light-infantry
P/M John McLellan DCM featured in A&SH page at Global Directory of Museums website
At the end of June, the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders (A&SH) Museum re-opened at Stirling Castle, and P/M John McLellan DCM and his music has been closely associated with this famous regiment for well over a century. In fact, Jock was the Pipe Master of the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders Pipe Band from 1919 until 1930, when he retired.
While searching for the A&SH museum's website online, I came across the Global Directory of Museums official website which has an Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders Regimental Museum page, and inside I was surprised to see that it was highlighting P/M John McLellan DCM’s music by featuring information and lyrics from his song called ‘Bonnie Dunoon’.
If you’d like to see the Global Directory of Museums page for the new A&SH museum, click on the link below:
The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Regimental Museum, The Castle, Stirling (2021) (gluseum.com)
While searching for the A&SH museum's website online, I came across the Global Directory of Museums official website which has an Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders Regimental Museum page, and inside I was surprised to see that it was highlighting P/M John McLellan DCM’s music by featuring information and lyrics from his song called ‘Bonnie Dunoon’.
If you’d like to see the Global Directory of Museums page for the new A&SH museum, click on the link below:
The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Regimental Museum, The Castle, Stirling (2021) (gluseum.com)
A recently discovered photo of Jock!
Recently, I came across a few more photographs of Jock online that I had not seen before,
and I decided to include one of them here for you to see.
The photo of Jock which can be seen directly below, is especially interesting because it features John McLellan DCM
as a young man, and it first appeared in the Anglo Boer War website alongside a letter from Jock to his brother.
The photo may have been taken about a century ago, while Jock was still the Pipe Major of the 8th Argyll
& Sutherland Highlanders regiment Pipe Band.
Recently, I came across a few more photographs of Jock online that I had not seen before,
and I decided to include one of them here for you to see.
The photo of Jock which can be seen directly below, is especially interesting because it features John McLellan DCM
as a young man, and it first appeared in the Anglo Boer War website alongside a letter from Jock to his brother.
The photo may have been taken about a century ago, while Jock was still the Pipe Major of the 8th Argyll
& Sutherland Highlanders regiment Pipe Band.
Replacing ‘Flower of Scotland’ as Scotland’s national anthem not easy
Recently I came across a very interesting comment/article in ‘The Scotsman’ newspaper which relates to
P/M John McLellan DCM and one of his popular compositions titled ‘The Bloody Fields of Flanders’.
In 2015 an article appeared in ‘The Scotsman’ with the headline ‘Replacing Flower of Scotland not easy’
and dealt with the very controversial topic that Scotland’s MSP’s had suggested to the government,
to replace Scotland’s unofficial national anthem namely ‘Flower of Scotland’.
The heated and passionate discussion which ensued brought forth a number of suggestions of songs
which could be possible contenders to take ‘Flower of Scotland’s’ place, and included compositions
by Robert Burns, Dougie McLean and even a tune by P/M John McLellan DCM of Dunoon.
Another idea put forward at that time, was to invite new and upcoming Scottish songwriters
to compose a brand new national anthem for Scotland.
Eventually, the topic went online and was discussed at length by many folk on various public forums.
Recently I came across a very interesting comment/article in ‘The Scotsman’ newspaper which relates to
P/M John McLellan DCM and one of his popular compositions titled ‘The Bloody Fields of Flanders’.
In 2015 an article appeared in ‘The Scotsman’ with the headline ‘Replacing Flower of Scotland not easy’
and dealt with the very controversial topic that Scotland’s MSP’s had suggested to the government,
to replace Scotland’s unofficial national anthem namely ‘Flower of Scotland’.
The heated and passionate discussion which ensued brought forth a number of suggestions of songs
which could be possible contenders to take ‘Flower of Scotland’s’ place, and included compositions
by Robert Burns, Dougie McLean and even a tune by P/M John McLellan DCM of Dunoon.
Another idea put forward at that time, was to invite new and upcoming Scottish songwriters
to compose a brand new national anthem for Scotland.
Eventually, the topic went online and was discussed at length by many folk on various public forums.
In 1960, the Scottish poet, songwriter and intellectual Hamish Henderson wrote rather controversial lyrics
to P/M John McLellan DCM's popular tune titled ‘Bloody Fields of Flanders’,
and the song quickly became favoured in certain circles at the time.
The number was titled ‘Freedom Come All Ye’ and is sung in the Scots language,
it was apparently written by Henderson for the peace marchers at the Holy Loch during the 1960s.
Pipe Major John McLellan DCM’s tune was originally composed for the bagpipes during the First World War,
and as was mentioned in The Scotsman article, it is just one of the many great melodies written by Jock
that continues to be played today.
The article concluded that in 2015 many people believed that the coupling of Hamish’s heartfelt lyrics
to Jock’s lovely melody on ‘Freedom Come All Ye’ made the song the best contender to take the place of
‘Flower of Scotland’, but it was also felt that Scotland’s unofficial national anthem had already captured the hearts
and minds of the majority of Scots, so a change was unlikely to happen anytime soon.
If you’d like to listen to the song ‘Freedom Come All Ye’, there are a number of videos on YouTube
by various artists. You can also checkout Pipe Major John McLellan DCM’s Playlists on Spotify
and Hamish Henderson is also featured on Spotify.
Related article by Tom Peterkin in The Scotsman newspaper here:
Comment: Replacing Flower of Scotland not easy | The Scotsman
to P/M John McLellan DCM's popular tune titled ‘Bloody Fields of Flanders’,
and the song quickly became favoured in certain circles at the time.
The number was titled ‘Freedom Come All Ye’ and is sung in the Scots language,
it was apparently written by Henderson for the peace marchers at the Holy Loch during the 1960s.
Pipe Major John McLellan DCM’s tune was originally composed for the bagpipes during the First World War,
and as was mentioned in The Scotsman article, it is just one of the many great melodies written by Jock
that continues to be played today.
The article concluded that in 2015 many people believed that the coupling of Hamish’s heartfelt lyrics
to Jock’s lovely melody on ‘Freedom Come All Ye’ made the song the best contender to take the place of
‘Flower of Scotland’, but it was also felt that Scotland’s unofficial national anthem had already captured the hearts
and minds of the majority of Scots, so a change was unlikely to happen anytime soon.
If you’d like to listen to the song ‘Freedom Come All Ye’, there are a number of videos on YouTube
by various artists. You can also checkout Pipe Major John McLellan DCM’s Playlists on Spotify
and Hamish Henderson is also featured on Spotify.
Related article by Tom Peterkin in The Scotsman newspaper here:
Comment: Replacing Flower of Scotland not easy | The Scotsman
Discover the great wealth of P/M John McLellan DCM’s music inside Spotify, and it's FREE!
There are six different Playlists to listen to featuring many of Jock's most popular tunes, and a few rare compositions too.
Jock’s Top 10 Playlist features the 10 most popular tunes and songs penned by the composer on Spotify,
and his Playlist titled ‘His Best Tunes Included in a Medley’ is just that,
a number of his most popular tunes performed by hugely successful folk groups and pipe bands.
Many of Scotland’s top folk groups are featured in the Playlist titled
‘Pipe Major John McLellan DCM’s Best Folk Melodies'.
The Playlist features folk groups, pipers, solo musicians and ceilidh bands performing memorable tunes like 'My Home Town',
'South Hall', 'The Paps of Jura', 'Lochanside', 'Men of Argyll', 'The Road to the Isles', 'Freedom Come All Ye,'
and 'Bloody Fields of Flanders' to name a few!
You will hear acts like The Red Hot Chilli Pipers, North Sea Gas, Skipinnish, Calisaig,
The Battlefield Band, Blazin’ Fiddles, Archie McAllister, Ian McPhail & his Scottish Dance Band,
Rob Crabtree, Stuart Cassells, The Occasionals and many more in this awesome 20 track folk music playlist!
There are six different Playlists to listen to featuring many of Jock's most popular tunes, and a few rare compositions too.
Jock’s Top 10 Playlist features the 10 most popular tunes and songs penned by the composer on Spotify,
and his Playlist titled ‘His Best Tunes Included in a Medley’ is just that,
a number of his most popular tunes performed by hugely successful folk groups and pipe bands.
Many of Scotland’s top folk groups are featured in the Playlist titled
‘Pipe Major John McLellan DCM’s Best Folk Melodies'.
The Playlist features folk groups, pipers, solo musicians and ceilidh bands performing memorable tunes like 'My Home Town',
'South Hall', 'The Paps of Jura', 'Lochanside', 'Men of Argyll', 'The Road to the Isles', 'Freedom Come All Ye,'
and 'Bloody Fields of Flanders' to name a few!
You will hear acts like The Red Hot Chilli Pipers, North Sea Gas, Skipinnish, Calisaig,
The Battlefield Band, Blazin’ Fiddles, Archie McAllister, Ian McPhail & his Scottish Dance Band,
Rob Crabtree, Stuart Cassells, The Occasionals and many more in this awesome 20 track folk music playlist!
Two Tune books that gave P/M John McLellan DCM's Music legacy a boost!
Let's flashback to 2006, because that was the year when Jock's music was relaunched back into the world of pipe music.
Duntroon Publishing & The Cowal Highland Gathering decided that it was time to publish a new book of tunes by Pipe Major John McLellan DCM,
and it really helped to relaunch Jock's music catalogue back under the spotlight!
Titled ‘The Collected Works of Pipe Major John McLellan DCM of Dunoon’, it was compiled and edited by P/M Bruce Campbell
and featured almost 100 of Jock's tunes.
It was a compilation of some of Jock’s most popular tunes and it caused quite a stir of excitement in the piping world.
Not only did it help to reignite interest in Jocks’s music, a little later it lead to an even bigger collection of Jock's tunes
being compiled by the famous American author Dale Brown.
Titled ‘The Bagpipe Music of John McLellan 1875 -1949’,
this collection of melodies featured almost 150 tunes by P/M John McLellan DCM.
Many of the compositions were already known but there were also a few gems that had not been published before.
Both of these tune collections by Jock are still available for sale at various websites online.
Let's flashback to 2006, because that was the year when Jock's music was relaunched back into the world of pipe music.
Duntroon Publishing & The Cowal Highland Gathering decided that it was time to publish a new book of tunes by Pipe Major John McLellan DCM,
and it really helped to relaunch Jock's music catalogue back under the spotlight!
Titled ‘The Collected Works of Pipe Major John McLellan DCM of Dunoon’, it was compiled and edited by P/M Bruce Campbell
and featured almost 100 of Jock's tunes.
It was a compilation of some of Jock’s most popular tunes and it caused quite a stir of excitement in the piping world.
Not only did it help to reignite interest in Jocks’s music, a little later it lead to an even bigger collection of Jock's tunes
being compiled by the famous American author Dale Brown.
Titled ‘The Bagpipe Music of John McLellan 1875 -1949’,
this collection of melodies featured almost 150 tunes by P/M John McLellan DCM.
Many of the compositions were already known but there were also a few gems that had not been published before.
Both of these tune collections by Jock are still available for sale at various websites online.
P/M John McLellan DCM and The Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders Collection
In an earlier article I mentioned that Pipe Major John McLellan DCM was a decorated soldier who had served with the H.L.I.
in the Anglo Boer War 1899 - 1902, and also with the A&SH in the Great War 1914 -1918.
It was in 1912, that Jock decided to join the 8th Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders (A&SH) Territorial Army Unit,
possibly because he knew some of its members as he had previously served with them in the Boer War.
For Jock this event started a life-long association with the regiment. In 1914,
the 8th Argyll’s and other TA units were mobilized and sent to France at the start of the Great War.
In 1916, John’s Pipe Major of the 8th Argyll’s, Willie Lawrie died suddenly. It was thought that John would take the position,
but to many people’s surprise his former pupil from Dunoon namely James Wilson, took the post,
for a time becoming the youngest Pipe Major in the British Army at aged 19 or 20.
John McLellan DCM actually became the Pipe Major of the 8th Argyll’s in 1919,
a year after the Great War had ended, and he remained in that post until he retired in 1930.
Award winning piper and Pipe Major George MacDonald took over from Jock at the 8th Argyll's,
and soon after he set about publishing a book of pipe tunes composed by members and former members
of the 8th Argyll’s (Could this really be the first pipe tune collection from the A&SH?).
Of the 65 or so tunes published in this book, 40 were penned by John McLellan DCM no less.
What a great tribute to Jock!
In an earlier article I mentioned that Pipe Major John McLellan DCM was a decorated soldier who had served with the H.L.I.
in the Anglo Boer War 1899 - 1902, and also with the A&SH in the Great War 1914 -1918.
It was in 1912, that Jock decided to join the 8th Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders (A&SH) Territorial Army Unit,
possibly because he knew some of its members as he had previously served with them in the Boer War.
For Jock this event started a life-long association with the regiment. In 1914,
the 8th Argyll’s and other TA units were mobilized and sent to France at the start of the Great War.
In 1916, John’s Pipe Major of the 8th Argyll’s, Willie Lawrie died suddenly. It was thought that John would take the position,
but to many people’s surprise his former pupil from Dunoon namely James Wilson, took the post,
for a time becoming the youngest Pipe Major in the British Army at aged 19 or 20.
John McLellan DCM actually became the Pipe Major of the 8th Argyll’s in 1919,
a year after the Great War had ended, and he remained in that post until he retired in 1930.
Award winning piper and Pipe Major George MacDonald took over from Jock at the 8th Argyll's,
and soon after he set about publishing a book of pipe tunes composed by members and former members
of the 8th Argyll’s (Could this really be the first pipe tune collection from the A&SH?).
Of the 65 or so tunes published in this book, 40 were penned by John McLellan DCM no less.
What a great tribute to Jock!
Fast forward to 2017, in that year a new collection of pipe tunes was published by the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders
featuring tunes by Pipe Major John McLellan DCM, Willie Lawrie and George M McIntyre amongst others.
The A&SH Tune Collection Vol.1 quickly became a best-seller, and is still available online at various websites.
You can still checkout a review here:
https://pipingpress.com/2017/10/19/review-the-argyll-sutherland-highlanders-collection-of-bagpipe-music/
featuring tunes by Pipe Major John McLellan DCM, Willie Lawrie and George M McIntyre amongst others.
The A&SH Tune Collection Vol.1 quickly became a best-seller, and is still available online at various websites.
You can still checkout a review here:
https://pipingpress.com/2017/10/19/review-the-argyll-sutherland-highlanders-collection-of-bagpipe-music/
Pipe Major John McLellan DCM may have became a piper and later a soldier while still in his teens.
He enlisted with the Highland Light Infantry (H.L.I.) in 1892 when he was just 17 years old,
and within 5 years was posted abroad firstly to Malta, followed by Egypt and then South Africa.
In 1899, the H.L.I’s 1st Battalion saw action during the Anglo Boer War in South Africa,
and it was there that Jock was awarded the Distinguished Military Cross (DCM) for bravery.
After taking a bullet in the ankle which seriously injured him, Jock ignored the wound and continued
to play his bagpipes to rally the troops.
Later, while he was recovering in hospital
he finished composing a number of pipe tunes in memory of that battle,
two of which continue to be played by pipers to this day.
The tunes are titled ‘The Battle of Magersfontein’ and ‘Lochanside’.
If you’d like to know more about Jock’s heroic actions which earned him the D.C.M. in South Africa,
and see other articles related to him, there’s an interesting website worth visiting
which is dedicated to the memory of veterans of the Boer War 1899 - 1902.
Here’s the direct link to Piper John McLellan DCM’s page in that website:
Anglo Boer War - Piper John McLellan D.C.M., Highland Light Infantry - Boer War Forum
Another website which features a fine article focusing on P/M John McLellan DCM,
his music and the Anglo Boer War, is the Bagpipe News,
here’s the link: https://bagpipe.news/2020/11/22/stories-of-the-tunes-the-highland-brigade-at-magersfontein/
He enlisted with the Highland Light Infantry (H.L.I.) in 1892 when he was just 17 years old,
and within 5 years was posted abroad firstly to Malta, followed by Egypt and then South Africa.
In 1899, the H.L.I’s 1st Battalion saw action during the Anglo Boer War in South Africa,
and it was there that Jock was awarded the Distinguished Military Cross (DCM) for bravery.
After taking a bullet in the ankle which seriously injured him, Jock ignored the wound and continued
to play his bagpipes to rally the troops.
Later, while he was recovering in hospital
he finished composing a number of pipe tunes in memory of that battle,
two of which continue to be played by pipers to this day.
The tunes are titled ‘The Battle of Magersfontein’ and ‘Lochanside’.
If you’d like to know more about Jock’s heroic actions which earned him the D.C.M. in South Africa,
and see other articles related to him, there’s an interesting website worth visiting
which is dedicated to the memory of veterans of the Boer War 1899 - 1902.
Here’s the direct link to Piper John McLellan DCM’s page in that website:
Anglo Boer War - Piper John McLellan D.C.M., Highland Light Infantry - Boer War Forum
Another website which features a fine article focusing on P/M John McLellan DCM,
his music and the Anglo Boer War, is the Bagpipe News,
here’s the link: https://bagpipe.news/2020/11/22/stories-of-the-tunes-the-highland-brigade-at-magersfontein/
Does Jock have a Wikipedia page?
What do you know about Dunoon?
Apart from the fact that its where Pipe Major John McLellan DCM was born of course!
These past few years, I've often gone online to view the Wikipedia Page dedicated to Dunoon in Argyll, Scotland. The Dunoon page is packed with information about the town, it's attractions, photos, events and some historical info too. While reading the page, I'd often scroll down to a section titled Notable People which features a list of individuals who hail from the town or are closely associated with it. Surprisingly, John McLellan DCM's name wasn't included on that list!
Jock is probably Dunoon's, if not Argyll & Bute's best known composer of bagpipe music, so after seeing his name omitted a few times, I decided to remedy it by adding his name to the list. Unfortunately, it really wasn't that simple!
After adding his name, I was contacted by a fellow Wikipedia editor to explain that to have Jock's name on the Dunoon list of Notable People, I had to create a Wikipedia page for P/M John McLellan DCM of Dunoon, and that was no small task!
I've tried a number of times to set up a Wikipedia page dedicated to Jock, but it isn't an easy thing to do because Wikipedia has a strict criteria which has to be followed. It really is quite a challenge!
In the meantime, I was pleasantly surprised to discover a Wikipedia page dedicated to one of Jock's songs. The music for 'The Road To The Isles' was written by Jock and this Wikipedia page acknowledges that fact, and looks at the story behind how the tune was first published and exploited during the early 20th century. It's a very interesting page. Here's the link:
The Road to the Isles - Wikipedia
Apart from the fact that its where Pipe Major John McLellan DCM was born of course!
These past few years, I've often gone online to view the Wikipedia Page dedicated to Dunoon in Argyll, Scotland. The Dunoon page is packed with information about the town, it's attractions, photos, events and some historical info too. While reading the page, I'd often scroll down to a section titled Notable People which features a list of individuals who hail from the town or are closely associated with it. Surprisingly, John McLellan DCM's name wasn't included on that list!
Jock is probably Dunoon's, if not Argyll & Bute's best known composer of bagpipe music, so after seeing his name omitted a few times, I decided to remedy it by adding his name to the list. Unfortunately, it really wasn't that simple!
After adding his name, I was contacted by a fellow Wikipedia editor to explain that to have Jock's name on the Dunoon list of Notable People, I had to create a Wikipedia page for P/M John McLellan DCM of Dunoon, and that was no small task!
I've tried a number of times to set up a Wikipedia page dedicated to Jock, but it isn't an easy thing to do because Wikipedia has a strict criteria which has to be followed. It really is quite a challenge!
In the meantime, I was pleasantly surprised to discover a Wikipedia page dedicated to one of Jock's songs. The music for 'The Road To The Isles' was written by Jock and this Wikipedia page acknowledges that fact, and looks at the story behind how the tune was first published and exploited during the early 20th century. It's a very interesting page. Here's the link:
The Road to the Isles - Wikipedia
The Glasgow Phoenix Choir perform songs written by P/M John McLellan DCM
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 happy when I came across 2 impressive Glasgow Phoenix Choir recordings of P/M John McLellan DCM songs inside Spotify.
If you'd like to listen to them, the songs are titled 'Highland Mary' and 'The Road to the Isles' and they can now be found inside the Pipe Major John McLellan DCM Spotify Playlists.
Checkout the Glasgow Phoenix Choir'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 happy when I came across 2 impressive Glasgow Phoenix Choir recordings of P/M John McLellan DCM songs inside Spotify.
If you'd like to listen to them, the songs are titled 'Highland Mary' and 'The Road to the Isles' and they can now be found inside the Pipe Major John McLellan DCM Spotify Playlists.
Checkout the Glasgow Phoenix Choir's official website! Here is the address: www.phoenixchoir.org
How popular is Pipe Major John McLellan DCM's music today?
Jock's music continues to be very popular with pipers and musicians in general,
and also fans of traditional bagpipe music and traditional Scottish folk music.
Considering that Jock wrote many of his most popular tunes over one hundred years ago,
and during his life he never actually published his own collection of pipe tunes,
it's amazing so much of his music is now available online.
There appears to be a number of important factors why Jock's name and his music isn't so widely known
to the public in general today.
Factor 1
John McLellan DCM composed a great many tunes during his lifetime, but he didn’t compile
his own collection of tunes in book form. It was a common practice at that time for his contemporaries to do that,
and some of those tune collections are still in circulation today.
Factor 2
Confusion, why? Well, a number of well-known Pipe Majors also have the name McLellan or MacLellan,
and they also happened to be popular composers of pipe music.
Capt. John A. MacLellan springs to mind, Capt. John was born in Dunfermline, Fife in 1921,
and apart from being a much younger man was head of the army School of Piping at Edinburgh Castle.
Pipe Major G.S. MacLellan was born in 1833 and hailed from Edinburgh, he was also a child prodigy
who was later named as one of the greatest pipers of his generation.
Factor 3
Pipe Major John McLellan DCM didn't always get the credit he deserved for his tunes!
This is especially evident regarding his most famous composition 'The Road to the Isles'.
Please see below!
Jock's music continues to be very popular with pipers and musicians in general,
and also fans of traditional bagpipe music and traditional Scottish folk music.
Considering that Jock wrote many of his most popular tunes over one hundred years ago,
and during his life he never actually published his own collection of pipe tunes,
it's amazing so much of his music is now available online.
There appears to be a number of important factors why Jock's name and his music isn't so widely known
to the public in general today.
Factor 1
John McLellan DCM composed a great many tunes during his lifetime, but he didn’t compile
his own collection of tunes in book form. It was a common practice at that time for his contemporaries to do that,
and some of those tune collections are still in circulation today.
Factor 2
Confusion, why? Well, a number of well-known Pipe Majors also have the name McLellan or MacLellan,
and they also happened to be popular composers of pipe music.
Capt. John A. MacLellan springs to mind, Capt. John was born in Dunfermline, Fife in 1921,
and apart from being a much younger man was head of the army School of Piping at Edinburgh Castle.
Pipe Major G.S. MacLellan was born in 1833 and hailed from Edinburgh, he was also a child prodigy
who was later named as one of the greatest pipers of his generation.
Factor 3
Pipe Major John McLellan DCM didn't always get the credit he deserved for his tunes!
This is especially evident regarding his most famous composition 'The Road to the Isles'.
Please see below!
Case in point, 'Road To The Isles' was recorded by Sir Harry Lauder in 1925 or 1926
and it was a huge hit in the UK and around the world.
If you look at the original label on the HMV 78 RPM record, there is no mention of who wrote the music.
The songs arranger gets a mention, and Sir Harry too,
but the composer P/M John McLellan DCM doesn't get any kind of credit at all.
It's documented that in 1917, Jock's tune first appeared in a published collection of tunes titled 'Songs of the Hebrides Vol. 2', and was titled 'Bens of Jura' at that time.
8 years later the tune reappears as 'The Road To The Isles' on the flip side of Harry Lauder's popular song
'Keep Right On To The End of The Road'.
and it was a huge hit in the UK and around the world.
If you look at the original label on the HMV 78 RPM record, there is no mention of who wrote the music.
The songs arranger gets a mention, and Sir Harry too,
but the composer P/M John McLellan DCM doesn't get any kind of credit at all.
It's documented that in 1917, Jock's tune first appeared in a published collection of tunes titled 'Songs of the Hebrides Vol. 2', and was titled 'Bens of Jura' at that time.
8 years later the tune reappears as 'The Road To The Isles' on the flip side of Harry Lauder's popular song
'Keep Right On To The End of The Road'.
The last factor could actually have been John McLellan DCM himself!
It's been said previously that Jock was a shy unassuming individual who didn't really enjoy talking
about his own achievements. This could be the reason why he didn't publish his own tune collection,
though he often added his own compositions to tune books
he compiled himself for big events like 'The Cowal Highland Gathering.
2006 is important to P/M John McLellan DCM's legacy, why?
2006 was the year that Duntroon Publishing and The Cowal Highland Gathering published
a new book of tunes by Pipe Major John McLellan DCM.
The book was a compilation of some of Jock’s most popular tunes and it caused quite a stir
of excitement in the piping world.
Titled ‘The Collected Works of Pipe Major John McLellan DCM of Dunoon’
it was compiled and edited by P/M Bruce Campbell and featured almost 100 of Jock's tunes.
It also helped reignite interest in Jocks’s music and later,
it lead to an even bigger collection of his tunes being published.
‘The Bagpipe Music of John McLellan 1875 -1949’ was compiled by the celebrated
American author Dale Brown and featured almost 150 tunes by P/M John McLellan DCM.
Many of the compositions were already known but there were
also a few gems that had not been published before.
In 2017, The Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders (which happened to be Jock’s old regiment)
published its own highly anticipated collection of tunes.
The collection featured almost 300 tunes composed by men who served in the regiment
and gives special mention to Pipe Major John McLellan DCM and also his friend Pipe Major Willie Lawrie.
These recent tune book collections featuring Jock's music have really helped to put his legacy
back under the spotlight!
The Cowal Highland Gathering 2020 Tribute
to P/M John McLellan DCM
is now on YouTube and can still be viewed inside this website.
Just click on Jock's Music Legacy page to view it!
Who, What or Where is Lochanside?
This very interesting wee article at the Pipes/Drums website answers
all those questions very succinctly!
https://www.pipesdrums.com/article/Who-what-or-where-is-Lochanside/
The Traditional Tune Archive website
features sheet music & audio samples from different composers around the world.
In 1933 The 8th Battalion of The Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders published a book of pipe tunes,
and one of the tunes in that collection was by Pipe Major John McLellan DCM'.
Jock's popular tune known as 'The Road to the Isles' has had many titles in the past including
'The Bens of Jura', and 'The Burning Sands of Egypt' to name two.
You can find the sheet music for this tune inside this website,
here's the link: https://tunearch.org/wiki/Burning_Sands_of_Egypt_(The)
Here is an interesting article about Pipe Major John McLellan DCM, which was featured in the 1998 issue
of the now-defunct paper called the Piper & Drummer magazine.
https://www.pipesdrums.com/article/from-the-archives-lodgings-on-a-cold-cold-ground/
Do you have a question which you'd like answered?
Checkout this great wee website which provides informative answers to your questions,
including to this one: Who wrote the tune 'Bloody Fields of Flanders'?
https://www.answers.com/Q/Who_wrote_the_PIPE_TUNE_bloody_fields_of_flanders
Jock is known as one of the greatest composers of modern bag pipe music.
Inside this website you will find the Tune History and sheet music of Jock's famous tune titled
'The Bloody Fields of Flanders.
http://www.schoolofpiping.com/articles/flanders.pdf
to P/M John McLellan DCM
is now on YouTube and can still be viewed inside this website.
Just click on Jock's Music Legacy page to view it!
Who, What or Where is Lochanside?
This very interesting wee article at the Pipes/Drums website answers
all those questions very succinctly!
https://www.pipesdrums.com/article/Who-what-or-where-is-Lochanside/
The Traditional Tune Archive website
features sheet music & audio samples from different composers around the world.
In 1933 The 8th Battalion of The Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders published a book of pipe tunes,
and one of the tunes in that collection was by Pipe Major John McLellan DCM'.
Jock's popular tune known as 'The Road to the Isles' has had many titles in the past including
'The Bens of Jura', and 'The Burning Sands of Egypt' to name two.
You can find the sheet music for this tune inside this website,
here's the link: https://tunearch.org/wiki/Burning_Sands_of_Egypt_(The)
Here is an interesting article about Pipe Major John McLellan DCM, which was featured in the 1998 issue
of the now-defunct paper called the Piper & Drummer magazine.
https://www.pipesdrums.com/article/from-the-archives-lodgings-on-a-cold-cold-ground/
Do you have a question which you'd like answered?
Checkout this great wee website which provides informative answers to your questions,
including to this one: Who wrote the tune 'Bloody Fields of Flanders'?
https://www.answers.com/Q/Who_wrote_the_PIPE_TUNE_bloody_fields_of_flanders
Jock is known as one of the greatest composers of modern bag pipe music.
Inside this website you will find the Tune History and sheet music of Jock's famous tune titled
'The Bloody Fields of Flanders.
http://www.schoolofpiping.com/articles/flanders.pdf
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 of the past.
It also features a very interesting article, written by Pipe Major Jim Henderson
who reveals some accurate info about his great uncle, the late Pipe Major John McLellan DCM of Dunoon.
Here's the link:
http://bagpipe.news/2018/11/27/pipe-major-john-mclellan-dcm--of-dunoon-1875-1949/
What's the story behind Jock's popular tune 'Lochanside'?
Visit this website and all will be revealed, and a whole lot more!
There is a P/M John McLellan DCM biography, a sound file of 'Lochanside' and on the website homepage
you will find other popular Scottish tunes too!
Here is the website address: http://cornemusique.free.fr/uklochanside.php
Recently I discovered
a great wee website belonging to the professional musician and teacher Nigel Gatherer.
He can play a number of musical instruments, and there is a nice penny whistle performance inside his website
of Jock's composition titled 'My Home Town'.
http://www.nigelgatherer.com/tunes/tab/tab13/myhmt.html
The Pipers Hut website features an interesting review of Jock's music book titled '
The Bagpipe Music of John McLellan', there is also the list of the tunes found in that collection.
Here is the link:
https://www.thepipershut.com/The-Bagpipe-Music-of-John-McLellan_p_879.html
The Session is a community website of musicians dedicated to Irish traditional music,
though Scottish traditional music can be found there too! You can find tunes to play,
find sessions to play them in, and join in discussions about the music.
The Session website also features sheet music for a few well known John McLellan DCM tunes
including 'The Highland Brigade At Magersfontein' and Lochanside .
Here are the links: https://thesession.org/tunes/11571 https://thesession.org/tunes/6479
Professional musician Eric Mac Lewis was born in France, and began performing Celtic music in 1997.
He plays a number of musical instruments including the Scottish bagpipes & Irish whistles.
Eric Mac Lewis is actually his professional name, as his mother's family originally came from
the Isle of Lewis, in Scotland, so he is proud to be affiliated to the Clan MacLeod of Lewis.
The Music page in his website features some nice samples of his work including a version of
'Lochanside' by John McLellan DCM of Dunoon. Here is the link:
http://www.ericdentinger.com/en/lochanside.html
The Pipe Tunes website
is packed with information about pipers & the piping world.
The website has an amazing catalogue of music and biographies featuring
famous pipe music composers,
including Pipe Major John McLellan DCM,
check it out!
https://pipetunes.ca/composer/john-mclellan-dunoon/
Would you like to know more about the place where P/M John McLellan DCM comes from?
I'm sure you would , so here is a link to Dunoon's Wikipedia page.
It's packed with information about Dunoon and the surrounding area. It also highlights things to see & do there!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunoon