A Piobaireachd Lesson for Pretty Dirk

Another piobaireachd linked to Donald Ban MacCrimmon's death is the Pretty Dirk. Padruig Og MacCrimmon is thought to be the composer of the tune.

A dirk possessed by a MacLeod Chieftain was admired very much by Padruig Og. The Chieftain told him that if he composed an appropriate tune in its praise, the dirk would be presented to him. Padruig wanted nothing more; next morning he struck up the newly composed piobaireachd which pleased MacLeod so much that he handed the dirk to MacCrimmon saying that he well deserved it for so forcible an appeal, prepared in so short a space of time.

Padruig's son Donald Ban was the family member designated to accompany his Chieftain to war against the Jacobites; he was given the dirk to carry while in service. It was probably dropped when he was killed or when his body was removed from the field in the dark of night. It was recovered by the leader of the Jacobites, Fraser of Gorthleck.

Ironically, Donald Ban was a secret supporter of the Jacobites and he is said to have composed a Salute to hail the arrival of Prince Charles Edward Stuart on Scottish soil. However, after some hesitation his Chieftain, MacLeod of Harris and Dunvegan, came out for the Hanovarians and he had no choice but to accompany his Laird.

Bill's Tune Comment

The Pretty Dirk is a popular small piobaireachd consisting of the Urlar/Ground and only one variation. It is classified as Even-lined construction; being of three lines each of four bars with the first line repeated. Phrasing as it is called is half line and end of line. Such short pieces normally require the Urlar to be repeated after the completion of the variation.

If playing for one's own enjoyment etc., one might select the first line only and/or other line when coming back to the Urlar. The audio file of the piobaireachd should be studied, and the small errors correction at the end of the file and as played in the video clip third line Urlar on some technique relevant.