Baile Inneraora, The Town of Inveraray, or The Campbells are Coming: A traditional pipe tune which may be centuries old and to which the Clan marched to many a battle. It was later the March Past of the 1st Battalion The Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders (formerly the 91st Highlanders) and has also formed the theme of songs. The best known song is "The Campbells are Coming" and the tune is now called by no other name.
There are a couple of odd things about that tune. One is that it was so very popular back in the early 20th century that it became THE bagpipe tune (much as Scotland The Brave became after WWII) and, being so overplayed, fell out of favour within the piping community. Though playing in pipe bands etc the first time I had ever heard the tune actually played on the pipes was in that movie.
Another odd thing is that, on the pipes, it is played in the key of G Major over the A drones. This is common in very old traditional tunes, and you'll hear old 18th century reels, strathspeys, and perhaps older pibrochs in the key of G. Newer compositions rarely use that key.
This makes the tune sound, on the pipes, like a strange old Modal tune, though on the fiddle etc it's a straightforward Major tune.
Strictly speaking the key of G on the pipes is G Lydian due to the presence of a raised fourth degree (C#) but tunes lacking the fourth (such as BUNESSAN/Morning Has Broken) come out sounding like ordinary Major tunes; it's the presence of the A drones which makes the tunes sound Modal.
Last edited by OC Richard; 3rd August 13 at 07:22 AM.
Proud Mountaineer from the Highlands of West Virginia; son of the Revolution and Civil War; first Europeans on the Guyandotte
Thanks for the information. I got a kick out of the video but I don't think I could step on my right foot on one. I am pretty sure I would seize up and fall over.
It was interesting hearing the tune on pipes. It does sound like a different tune. Played as a jig in pub I doubt two many folks would connect it with the Campbells.
I have been enjoying the Burke whistle, by the way; thanks for the recommendation.
Originally Posted by Liam
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