Malcolm MacRae`s 1934 Henderson Bagpipe

Malcolm MacRae’s 1934 Henderson Bagpipe
Malcolm MacRae would have to be the most famous of Australia’s pipers. He won the Gold Medal at
the Argyllshire Gathering, Oban in 1976 playing the piobaireachd, “Parading of the Macdonalds”. The
prizes that he has won are too numerous to mention. He has held office within the Piobaireachd
Society and now resides for a portion of the year in Queensland.
Malcolm was originally taught by Peter Davidson in Sydney, Australia. Peter came from Dunedin,
New Zealand and was taught by George Yardley a student of John MacDougall-Gillies. Davidson
travelled to Scotland in 1934 and purchased a set of Silver and Ivory mounted Henderson bagpipes.
This instrument is made from African Blackwood and is engraved in a zoomorphic design.
Malcolm moved to Scotland in 1967 and 1968 having lessons with Bob Brown at Balmoral. Malcolm
returned to Australia and played with the Sydney Thistle Pipe Band. In 1972 he inherited the bagpipe
of Peter Davidson.
In 1973 Malcolm returned to Scotland where he remained for 30 years. He received tuition from Bob
Nicol until his passing. Malcolm now returns to Scotland each year to complete his duties as one of
the senior members of the judging fraternity.
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There are more details of significant and historic bagpipes as well as information on
maintenance, refinement and instrument set up to be found in “The Complete Pipers
Handbook”, which funds the freely available School of Piping website and is available here:
http://www.schoolofpiping.com/handbook.html
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