Master piper, John MacFadyen, plays "Rory McLoude's Lament"

John MacFadyen (1926-1979) was a master piper and teacher. His influence continues to be felt in the teaching of the large group of great players he helped mold (with Bill Livingstone, Ed Neigh, Jim McGillivray and Michael Cusack among them). Seumas MacNeill wrote that this performance, from the 1969 Silver Chanter Recital-Competition at Dunvegan Castle, Isle of Skye, Scotland, was likely the first time in centuries that this Patrick Mor MacCrimmon competition was heard within the walls of the castle (Rory McLoude died in 1614). Note the seldom-heard treatment of Variation I where MacFadyen opts to pass by the melody's key notes, at odds with what is set out in the written score: a true artist of the instrument.