Pipe Major

Pipe Major

The Pipe Major is the director of bagpipe music in a Scottish or Irish pipe band. Like Drum Major, the position of Pipe Major is derived from British Army traditions. During the early twentieth century, the term Sergeant Piper was used for the role in place of "Pipe Major".Civillian and military...

 John Davie Burgess MBE (born Aberdeen 11 March 1934 - died 29 June 2005) was one of the most eminent players of the Scots bagpipes

Great Highland Bagpipe

The Great Highland Bagpipe is a type of bagpipe native to Scotland. It has achieved widespread recognition through its usage in the British military and in pipe bands throughout the world. It is closely related to the Great Irish Warpipes....

. He began playing at the age of four, and gained international fame as a child prodigy, before turning professional at the age of sixteen. In 1950 he became the youngest ever winner of the Gold Medals for piobaireachd

Piobaireachd

Pibroch, Piobaireachd or Ceòl Mór is an art music genre associated primarily with the Scottish Highlands that is characterised by extended compositions with a melodic theme and elaborate formal variations...

 at both the Argyllshire Gathering in Oban and the Northern Meeting

Northern Meeting

The Northern Meeting, established in 1788 in Inverness, Scotland, is best known for its bagpiping competition in September. These competitions are among the most prestigious solo events in the piping world. The most famous competition is the pìobaireachd competition, which is organized in three...

in Inverness, and he went on to become known as the 'King Of The Highland Pipers'.