Angus MacKay

Angus MacKay (10 September 1813 – 21 March 1859) was a Scottish bagpipe player and the first Piper to the Sovereign. He wrote collections of pibroch and ceol beag written in staff notation, which became the basis for standardised settings of music which had previously been shared by singing of canntaireachd. Life Early life He was born on 10 September 1813, to Margaret and John MacKay. His three brothers played the pipes, and his father, John MacKay of Raasay, was a leading composer and player. John MacKay had been taught by the MacCrimmons of Skye, and as well as his own sons taught other players including John Bàn Mackenzie, Angus Macpherson, and Donald Cameron. After considering emigrating to America, the family moved to Drummond Castle near Crieff in 1823, as Angus' father John became piper to Peter Drummond-Burrell, 22nd Baron Willoughby de Eresby.