The 21st annual pipes|drums New Year’s Honours

2021 Product of the Year

I Piped, That She Might Dance by Iain MacDonald

In a year that saw a plethora of products, Iain MacDonald’s historical novel about the latter life of the legendary piper Angus MacKay set a mark for its creativity. Piping and drumming has never seen anything like this book, which was even published by an actual book publisher. This is a great story, couched in historical fact, and we’re confident that the tale could even get the attention of a canny Hollywood producer. Piping and drumming have many great stories, but the one about Angus MacKay is probably our most intriguing. It’s the type of folklore that every great art needs, and Saskatchewan-based MacDonald encapsulated it perfectly, making piping accessible beyond our little circle. Reviewer Nick Hudson gave it top marks.

Pannelists’ comments:

• Iain’s fictional account of Angus MacKay of Raasay is very well researched and written and provides the reader with a possible look into the life and times of this great piper and composer.
• Hard to decide between I Piped . . . and Pipe Bands, but Iain MacDonald’s novel is just too creative to pass up.
• Iain MacDonald’s I Piped, That She Might Dance is an engaging and well-executed work of creative non-fiction. It brings to life one of the most celebrated, controversial, and multi-faceted figures in piping history, Angus MacKay. In a piping library, you’ll have countless shelves of sheet music, many audio/visual materials, a section on academic research and history, a growing personal memoir and biography collection, a handful of volumes filed under “self-help for pipers”, and one conspicuously empty shelf for this singular book.
• A good read if you are interested in a bit of history.
• This was a very innovative idea – one that I don’t believe has been done in the piping world until now – and was such a great read. Brimming with facts and history but written in a way that you can actually read, enjoy, and picture Angus MacKay’s world.
• This was a very innovative idea – one that I don’t believe has been done in the piping world until now – and was such a great read. Brimming with facts and history but written in a way that you can actually read, enjoy, and picture Angus MacKay’s world.
• A fantastic book. Someone who takes our art and makes it their passion.

Also nominated (alphabetical order) . . .

Mackerel Sky by John Dew – the clever recording by one of our cleverest young creators caught our attention in 2021. Just the start of things for Dew.

North to South by Stuart Robertson – the Scots émigré to Australia came out with his first full-length recording, harnessing his general love of music, resulting in a solid review by Scott Long.

The Out West Collection by Sean Somers – the Calgary-based composer and leader produced his first collection, well-received and rising above in a year of numerous collections.

The Parkgrove Collection by Stuart Samson – the venerable military piper published his second collection and an accompanying website. Reviewer Jim Stack and many others liked it a lot.

Piobaireachd is for Everyone by Dan Nevans – determined to make piping accessible to the unwashed masses, Nevans published a clever non-fiction book that pushed our art further afield, and reviewer Lorne MacDougall gave it great credit.

Piobaireachd / Pipe Music by Fraser Fifield – reviewer James MacHattie loved the recording by the multi-instrumentalist Fifield, giving the album a rare five-gracenote rating.

Pipe Bands by Jeannie Campbell – a literally massive tour de force of pipe band history, Campbell’s 850-page Pipe Bands will be an important historical resource on sturdy shelves everywhere. Our review of the book gained a 4.5-gracenote rating.

(Before you go to the next award-winner, consider purchasing one, several or all of the products above, and support our creators!)