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Clan Campbell Society
(North America)

Photo: Inveraray Castle on the west coast of Scotland is the ancestral home of the
Duke of Argyll, Chief of the Clan Campbell

Inverary Castle

Clan Campbell Music

THE CAMPBELLS ARE COMING

 

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CHORUS

The Campbells are coming Ho-Ro, Ho-Ro!
The Campbells are coming Ho-Ro, Ho-Ro!
The Campbells are coming to bonnie LochLeven
The Campbells are coming Ho-Ro, Ho-Ro!

VERSES

Upon the Lomonds I lay, I lay,
Upon the Lomonds I lay, I lay,
I lookit down to bonnie Lochleven
And saw three perches play-hay-hay!
The Great Argyll he goes before,
He makes the cannons and guns to roar,
With sound o'trumpet, pipe and drum,
The Campbells are coming, Ho-Ro, Ho-Ro!
The Campbells they are a' in arms,
Their loyal faith and truth to show,
With banners rattling in the wind,
The Campbells are coming Ho-Ro, Ho-Ro!


Clan Pipe Music

By James Campbell
September 30, 1997

There are a number of ancient pipe tunes connected with Clan Campbell; mention is made of some of them, the first three of which are specimens of the classical music of the Highland Bagpipe, commonly described as "Piobaireachd".

Failte Mharcuis Earragaidheal, or The Marquis of Argyll's Salute:- This tune commemorates the only Marquis of Argyll, who, during the decade 1640 to 1650, was head of the Covenanting Party and the most powerful noble in Scotland. But he was defeated more than once by Montrose and the disastrous defeat of Inverlochy in 1645 resulted in the Shire of Argyll being raided from end to end by the MacDonalds from Ireland, who had thrown in their lot with Montrose. When Charles II was restored in 1660 the Marquis, who had placed the crown on his head at Scene some ten years before, went to London to offer his allegiance, but owing to the successful hostility of his enemies, he was arrested, sent back to Edinburgh, tried for treason, condemned and executed in 1661.

Bodaich nam Briogais, or The Carles with the Breeks:- or Lord Breadalbane's March. An old air, which is said to have been thrown into Piobaireachd form by Glenorchy's piper at the battle of Allt na Meirlich, Caithness, in 1680. The contestants were the local Sinclairs and an invasion force led by Sir John Campbell of Glenorchy. The name dates from this event and was a piece of opprobrium for the defeated Sinclairs. The tune has been consistently favoured by pipers up to the present day. Bodaich nam Briogais or The Carles with the Breeks or Lord Breadalbane's March music study PDF.

Cruinneachadh Sil Diarmid, or Clan Campbell's Gathering:- An old Piobaireachd, much esteemed by pipers as one of the finest Clan Gathering tunes. An alternative name, "The Battle of Doirneag", is found in Angus Mackay's MS, but there is documentary evidence of its having been called "Cruinneacha nan Caimbeulach" as far back as 1814 and internal evidence establishes it to be a Gathering.

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.

The Glendaruel Highlanders:- This quickstep was composed about 1860 by Alexander Fettes, Pipe Major of the City of Aberdeen Volunteers. When the Argyllshire Volunteers came under the command of Colonel Campbell of Glendaruel they appropriated the tune as their March Past and, as such, it descended to their successors, the 8th Battalion Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders. More recent compositions of the present century include "The Argyllshire Gathering" by John McColl, "Climbing Dunnyquaich" by D.C. Mather, "Inveraray Castle" by Pipe Major William Lawrie, "Miss Elspeth Campbell" by T. Douglas, "Campbell's Farewell to Redcastle" and "Captain Campbell (of Drum a Voisk)" by D. Galbraith.

 

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Clan Campbell Society (N.A.)

Membership benefits include:

– A subscription to our award winning 60 page quarterly magazine, "The Journal"

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Membership is open to all Campbells, Campbell septs, those married to a Campbell or Campbell Sept, those descended from Clan Campbell, and to those interested in learning about the Clan Campbell, Scottish history and culture, and who acknowledge Mac Cailein Mòr as their Clan Chief, as he is the Chief of Clan Campbell, the greatest family in all of Scotland! (We're a "wee bit" biased.)

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