Saturday 9th November 2024 at RSPBA HQ Washington Street, Glasgow.
William Fergusson was born in Arbroath in 1885 and died in Glasgow in 1949. He learned his piping first in the 102nd Boys Brigade and then latterly in the 7th Battalion of the Highland Light Infantry ( HLI ). He proceeded to become divisional Pipe Major of 52nd Lowland Division and then back to his HLI where he succeeded Pipe Major Farquhar MacRae in 1914.
After the war he became pipe major of the City of Glasgow Pipe Band, which became The Clan MacRae Pipe Band – one of the most prominent pipe bands during this time period. Under his direction the Clan MacRae went on to win World Pipe Band Championships in 1921, 1922, 1923 and 1925.
William Fergusson left The Clan MacRae Pipe band in 1929.
Pipe Major Fergusson went on to do tours to various parts of the world and in 1940 published a bagpipe Book called Fergusson’s Bagpipe Melodies – available on the free online bagpipe music www.ceolsean.net . While staying in Glasgow he devoted a great deal of his time teaching and assisting with The Scottish Pipe Band Association and The Scottish Piper’s Association. Pipe Major Fergusson passed away in 1949.
To this day The Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association offer a competition for junior pipers in The Pipe Major William Fergusson Memorial Piping Competitions where the competitors are asked to submit and play tunes composed by P/M William Fergusson.
Some of William Fergusson’s more well know 2/4 Marches are:
- The Atholl and Bredalbane Gathering
- The Australian Ladies
- Kintara to El Arish
- 1st Battalion Scots Guards Farewell to Southampton
- Norman Gillies
- The SPB Association
- Margaret M.Duncan
- The Clan MacRae Society
- The Duchess of Montrose
- Lewis F Beaton
Entry Form: Please click HERE
For Tunes: Please click HERE
