Jordan Alexander Key

Mary Ann MacKinnon is a professional bagpiper who has competed in Oban and Inverness since the 1990s. She is also known for her compositions for solo pipers and pipe bands, which are inspired by the people and places she has visited. Her book "Still Steamin' " is a collection of bagpipe tunes that follow her travels around Scotland and beyond. Mary Ann MacKinnon has enjoyed considerable success at Oban and Inverness, including a first in the B Grade Strathspey & Reel (1990). Mary Ann also played with the Vale of Atholl band and has composed many tunes, some of which have been played by bands at the highest level.

Robert Mathieson - Hornpipe in A Hexatonic, "Desert Storm" (perf. Jordan Alexander Key) [86 BPM]

Roderick Campbell (1873 - 1937): Though not one of the most widely played or known classical bagpipe composer, Roderick Campbell’s contribution to the catalogue of great pipe tunes is outstanding, including such excellent works as “The Royal Scottish Pipers Society,” “Colin Thomson,” and “The Banks of the Skiach,” to name just three. He was born on May 24, 1873 in Lochbroom, Ross-shire. Sandy Cameron reportedly heard him play before he’d received any formal tuition, was amazed by his ability, and subsequently became his teacher. He won the Gold Medal at Oban in 1908, and the Open Piobaireachd there in 1910. He was piper to the Count de Serra Largo, who lived in Tain, Ross-shire, and then to Colonel Scott in Derby, England, and was instructor to the Royal Scottish Pipers Society. After the Great War he settled in Edinburgh, where he spent most of time making reeds and teaching. Aside from these details, very little is known about him. Performance: Jordan Alexander Key Edition: Jordan Alexander Key Website: www.jordanalexanderkey.com

To anticipate celebrate the upcoming anniversary of the United States of America on July 4th, I have made further arrangements of classical patriotic and folk music of the United States for the bagpipe in various traditional (and some non-traditional) Scottish styles. Here is 'American Pie' by Don McLean as a slow air, hornpipe, and jig, which is a classical triptych in Scottish bagpiping.

After numerous requests following the post of this arrangement as a solo for bagpipe, I have made an interesting, contrapuntal second part, which might be played as seconds in a band setting or as a duo of bagpipers. Here is 'My Country 'Tis of Thee' (aka 'America'; aka 'God Save the King/Queen') as a sweet waltz or minuet for the bagpipes.

Roderick Campbell (1873 - 1937): Though not one of the most widely played or known classical bagpipe composer, Roderick Campbell’s contribution to the catalogue of great pipe tunes is outstanding, including such excellent works as “The Royal Scottish Pipers Society,” “Colin Thomson,” and “The Banks of the Skiach,” to name just three. He was born on May 24, 1873 in Lochbroom, Ross-shire. Sandy Cameron reportedly heard him play before he’d received any formal tuition, was amazed by his ability, and subsequently became his teacher. He won the Gold Medal at Oban in 1908, and the Open Piobaireachd there in 1910. He was piper to the Count de Serra Largo, who lived in Tain, Ross-shire, and then to Colonel Scott in Derby, England, and was instructor to the Royal Scottish Pipers Society. After the Great War he settled in Edinburgh, where he spent most of time making reeds and teaching. Aside from these details, very little is known about him. Performance: Jordan Alexander Key Edition: Jordan Alexander Key Website: www.jordanalexanderkey.com

The 'HJ' (Hornpipe-Jig) is a standard pairing of dance pieces in bagpipe performance.

Jordan Alexander Key (b. 1990): Strathspey in A Mixolydian, "Pipe Major Iain McWilliam" written in honor of the pipe major of the City of St. Augustine Pipe Band, founded 2021

Roderick Campbell (1873 - 1937): Though not one of the most widely played or known classical bagpipe composer, Roderick Campbell’s contribution to the catalogue of great pipe tunes is outstanding, including such excellent works as “The Royal Scottish Pipers Society,” “Colin Thomson,” and “The Banks of the Skiach,” to name just three. He was born on May 24, 1873 in Lochbroom, Ross-shire. Sandy Cameron reportedly heard him play before he’d received any formal tuition, was amazed by his ability, and subsequently became his teacher. He won the Gold Medal at Oban in 1908, and the Open Piobaireachd there in 1910. He was piper to the Count de Serra Largo, who lived in Tain, Ross-shire, and then to Colonel Scott in Derby, England, and was instructor to the Royal Scottish Pipers Society. After the Great War he settled in Edinburgh, where he spent most of time making reeds and teaching. Aside from these details, very little is known about him. Performance: Jordan Alexander Key Edition: Jordan Alexander Key Website: www.jordanalexanderkey.com