1878 Full Silver MacDougall Bagpipes

THE McKENZIE BAGPIPE
Donald Iain McKenzie of Tain Scotland was one of the World’s most recognised players of his
day. He was a long term student of John McDonald of Inverness and a highly successful
competitor in his own right. He won the Gold Medal for Piobaireachd playing at the Northern
Meeting, Inverness in 1912 and also at the Argyllshire Gathering, Oban in 1936.
Donald’s instrument was a set of 1878; full Britannia Silver mounted McDougall Bagpipes turned
from Ebony and engraved in a thistle design. The tenor tops were repaired by Peter Henderson
Ltd at some stage and have a brighter, more vibrant tone than most McDougall pipes that I have
heard. This is a great combination producing a strong drone sound and is one of the loveliest
sets of pipes I have heard.
Donald’s son Hamish McKenzie immigrated to Adelaide, Australia after serving with the Scots
Guards during the Second War. He was a well known Piobaireachd teacher, himself having been
a long term student of John MacDonald as well. He also tutored the Heather Girls Pipe Band for
some many years and was the first Principal of Piping of the R U Brown Piobaireachd Society.
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The McKenzie Bagpipe, made its way to Adelaide after the passing of Donald Iain, and is now in the
possession of Craig Masson, current President of the R U Brown Piobaireachd Society. More
information and pictures of this and other unique bagpipes can be found in “The Complete Pipers
Handbook”. This is the most comprehensive guide to the set up, maintenance and refinement of the
bagpipe available today. Sales fund the freely available school of piping website and copies are
available here: http://www.schoolofpiping.com/handbook.html
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