Black Dog
Sir: Some years ago a Spectator correspondence emanated from a diary note about the Black Dog, a sobriquet for death.
I meant at the time to give the following information: In the oldest known book of piobaireachd — the classical music for the bagpipe there is a tune called 'Samuel's Black Dog.' The book concerned, the Campbell Canntaireachd, was written about 1790, and gives the notes and gracenote groups in the form of words. About 1810, a Donald McDonald published his collection of piobaireachd in which he noted the same tune in staff notation, calling it: Cimadh Dubh Shomhairle, a doleful lament for the Death of Samuel, a celebrated Piper.
Later the tune was recorded by Angus MacKay who, for reasons best known to himself, renamed it: 'The Stewarts' White Banner.' Other editors, presumably not having the advantages of either a knowledge of folklore, or a subscription to The Spectator, regarded the Campbell name as "obviously a mistaken translation."
Angus MacKay subsequently became Queen Victoria's first piper, but was later committed to the Bethlem Hospital, London, suffering from mental disorder. He was afterwards transferred to Scotland, and died from drowning. The reason for raising these manifold subjects after such a lapse in time is that the case-history of Angus MacKay may still be in existence. I am at present writing a book on the MacCrimmons, the legendary piping family which was possibly as huge a hoax asOssian, and the mental state of Angus MacKay. who was one of the chief progenitors of the presumed hoax, is obviously of great importance. I would be most grateful for any information the whereabouts of the case-history.
Alistair Cam psie Highfield East, Bridge of Allan, Scotland
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