MacGregor Music

Did you know...
Fortingall, in Glenlyon, was the home of a famous race of MacGregor pipers, known as Clann an Sgeulaich.

In the 16th and 17th centuries, the MacGregor Piping School flourished near Glenlyon. One of the Clan's many eminent pipers was John MacGregor of Fortingall who became personal piper and attendant to Prince Charles Edward Stewart. He survived Culloden and in 1781, at the age of 73, won third prize at the Falkirk Tryst which claims to be the forerunner of modern piping competitions.

There are many tunes written about, for, and by MacGregors. These are only a few that we have found so far.

Click on the music symbol to hear a tune.
Click on the SHEET MUSIC file to download and save on your own computer.
Click on the title of a song for information about it.

• The Burning of the Black Mill

• Griogal Cridhe (Beloved Gregor)

  • MIDI

  • MP3 - by Carl Peterson

• The Hills of Glenorchy

  • MIDI

  • GIF - SHEET MUSIC

• Lament for MacGregor of Roro

  • GIF - SHEET MUSIC

• Loch Lomond

  • MIDI

• MacGregor's Gathering

  • MP3 - by Carl Peterson

• MacGregor's Lament

• MacGregor's Salute

  • WAV

• Miss MacGregor's March

  • MIDI

  • GIF - SHEET MUSIC

• Rob Roy’s Lament

• Rob Roy Reel

  • GIF - SHEET MUSIC

• The Reel o' Tulloch

• Ruaig Ghlinne Freoine - the Chase (or Rout) of Glen Fruin

  • PDF - SHEET MUSIC

Do you have sheet music or a digital rendition of any of these tunes? We would love to feature all of them! Please send in any you have and tell us about any tunes we may have missed.

Do you know the background stories about any of the tunes?
Send them in, too!

Songs of Rob Roy and the MacGregors by Carl Peterson As a MacGregor himself, Carl Peterson brings special warmth and meaning to the songs of the Clan Gregor. See the complete song list.

$16.00 Order your CD direct from Carl!

Carl Peterson's songs are available on MP3.com.
Listen to and download Carl's mp3 files at www.mp3.com/Carl_Peterson

The Burning of the Black Mill

Rob Roy had a falling out with the MacIntoshes about 1690 over the supply of water to his mill. The chief of his rivals had built another mill farther up the burn, and was diverting the water for his own use. He now threatened to burn Grant's mill. In his extremity Grant sent hurriedly for Rob Roy, nearly a hundred miles oft, by the tortuous paths through the Cairngorms.

Soon after, as the MacIntoshes sat menacingly on all the adjacent hillocks, Rob appeared, accompanied by a solitary piper. On being querulously asked by Grant where his "tail" of the Clan Gregor was, Rob slapped him on the back and said, "Cheer up what though the purse be light in the morning. who can say how heavy it may be by nightfall?" He bade the piper blow a pibroch, "The Rout of Glen Fruin," and as the notes swelled, bands of MacGregors sprang from the rocks and bushes, fully armed. As they appeared, the MacIntoshes disappeared in inverse ratio. The force of Grants and MacGregors then set fire to MacIntosh's mill, while the piper composed a new air to fit in with the roar and crackle. It was named "The Burning of the Black Mill" and is still given as a set piece in piping competitions.

Griogal Cridhe MIDI

A lament for Gregor MacGregor Glenstrae, beheaded by the Campbells. It is supposed to be written by his widow but there is no documented evidence. Legend has it that she wrote the song while looking out the window at the gates of the city where the head of her husband was sitting on top of the pole.

'S iomadh oidhche fhliuch is thioram, Sìde nan seachd sian, Gheibheadh Griogal dhòmhsa creagan Ris an gabhainn dian. Obhan, obhan, obhan iri Obhan iri O! Obhan, obhan, obhan iri, 'S mòr mo mhulad, 's mòr. Dhìrich mi dh'an t-seòmar mhullaich, 'S theirinn mi'n taigh làir, 'S cha d'fhuair mise Griogal cridhe 'Na shuide mu 'n chlàr. Obhan ... Eudail mhòir a shluaigh an Domhain Dhòirt iad d'fhuil an dè, 'S chuir iad do cheann air stob daraich, Tacan beag bho d'chrè Obhan ... B' annsa bhi le Griogal cridhe, Teàrnadh chruidh le gleann, Na le Baran Mòr na Dalach, Sioda geal mu m' cheann. Obhan ... Chan eil ùbhlan idir agam 'S ùbhlan uil' aig càch, 'S ann tha m'ubhal cùbhraidh caineal 'Cùl a' chinn ri làr. Obhan ... Nuair bhios mnathan òg a' bhaile Nochd 'nan cadal sèimh, 'S ann bhios mise air bruaich do lice, Bualadh mo dhà làimh. Obhan ...

Many a night both wet and dry Weather of the seven elements Gregor would find for me a rocky shelter Where I would take refuge. Obhan, Obhan, Obhan iri Obhan iri O! Obhan Obhan Obhan iri, Great is my sorrow, great. I climbed into the upper chamber And lay upon the floor And I would not find my dearest Gregor At the table in his place. Obhan ... Great darling from the "Domhainn" folk They let your blood yesterday And they put your head on an oaken stake Near where your body lay. Obhan ... I would be glad to be with dear Gregor Guarding cattle in the glen Instead of with the big Baron "Dalach" White silk around my head. Obhan ... I do not have any apples at all While others have all the apples But my apple is fragrant, spicy The back of his head to the floor. Obhan ... While the young wives of the town Serenely sleep tonight I will be at the edge of your gravestone Beating my two hands. Obhan ...

The Reel o' Tulloch

Among the interesting episodes of Clan Gregor history there is a wild story of the year 1640, remembered on Speyside. A MacGregor, the tradition runs, wooed, won, and carried off Isabel, daughter of the Laird of Grant. A member of the Robertson clan, whose suit had been favored by the lady’s friends, pursued the fugitives with a number of his followers. MacGregor took refuge in a barn, and with dirk and claymore, and a musket which his wife loaded for him, managed to destroy every one of his assailants. Then, in the joy of his victory, he took his pipes, and on the spot composed and danced the wild air still known as the "Reel o’ Tulloch."

Alas! this doughty champion was afterwards shot, and at the sight of his bloody head which they fiendishly showed her, the poor girl who had fought so bravely to save her lover suddenly expired.

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Updated 18 January, 2009