VOLUME 9 ISSUE 1 WINTER 2017 clan STRACHAN Clachnaben! involvement in the 1715 Jacobite rebellion /11 Highland News & bagpipes / 5 Notes / 19 The Wolf of Shetland ponies Badenoch / 8 / 21 NEWSLETTER FOR THE CLAN STRACHAN SCOTTISH HERITAGE SOCIETY, INC. NON TIMEO SED CAVEO clan STRACHAN Clachnaben! President’s address Newsletter for the Hello the Clan, Clan Strachan Scottish Heritage Another year has come and gone and I hope that all is well with each of Society, Inc. you. I, for one, look forward to 2017. 30730 San Pascual Road We tried to hold our annual meeting in December but time and events Temecula, CA 92591 got in the way. We will try to get it done early in the year. One of those United States of America reasons was Jim’s daughter, Alicia, was married to a fine young Marine named Aaron . it was a great wedding and I know we all wish the happy Phone: 951-760-8575 couple a grand life together. Email: [email protected] After a long wait, we finally got our parade We’re on the web! banners completed and www.clanstrachan.org mailed out to those who requested them Incorporated in 2008, the Clan Strachan Scottish Heritage Society, Inc. was orga- . see the picture nized for exclusively charitable, educa- tional and scientific purposes within the provided here . they meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal came out looking good Revenue Code of 1986, or the correspond- ing provision of any future United States and will be a splash of Internal Revenue Law, including, for such purposes, the making of distributions to color for Clan Parades. organizations that qualify as except orga- nizations under said Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. Remember to start Specifically, the Corporation will promote setting aside time and the history, tradition, and heritage of the Gaelic-Scottish culture; encourage educa- monies for the 2019 tion, the collection and preservation of trip to Scotland. You records, traditions and historical material related to the history of Gaelic-Scottish will not want to miss it! culture wherever located; provide instruc- tion on Genealogical research techniques; perform such charitable work as is Happy New Year to compatible with the aims and objectives of Clan Strachan Scottish Heritage Society, you all! Inc.; to invest in any property worldwide that has relevance to the needs and objec- tives of the Society; and, to engage in any other lawful activities permitted under the talk soon d California Non-Profit Public Benefit Cor- poration Law and Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Law. The recital of these Gu Deoch Gu Cairdean Gu Spors purposes as contained in this paragraph is intended to be exclusive of any and all other purposes, this Corporation being formed for those public and charitable purposes only. 2 VOLUME 9 ISSUE 1 WINTER 2017 CLACHNABEN! clan STRACHAN clan STRACHAN Scottish basket weaving rom jewelry to glassblowing, textiles to pottery, Scotland’s thriving arts and crafts industry produces a fantastic range Fof authentic products, with many artisans using traditional methods. The art of basketry or basket weaving is one of the oldest nantly treeless environment, so kishie baskets are made traditional crafts in Scotland. The skills needed to make with Shetland oat straw and soft rush, both of which are baskets were developed in response to the necessities of more readily available on the island than wood. everyday, rural life in Scotland. A similar form of basket developed in Orkney was called The first settlers who arrived in the Hebrides 9,000 years a cassie, and was often made from woven heather. ago made long baskets out of willow to catch fish. Over Over time basketry has become an art form instead of a the centuries, basketry remained a common and essential necessity. Now, traditional Scottish basketry skills are used skill throughout Scotland and was used to make vessels to to produce decorative, sculptural pieces as well as func- store food, catch fish and shellfish, and carry heavy loads, tional items. In addition to using locally grown materials particularly fuels such as peat from the moors to the home. such as willow, heather and rushes, contemporary makers In the eighteenth and nineteenth also experiment with new materials centuries, crofting fami- such as recycled newspaper lies in the Highlands and plastics. and Islands made Recently, there has tightly woven been an upsurge grass contain- of interest in ers to store learning bas- grain and ketry skills and meal, and courses are creel baskets offered across for carry- Scotland. ing heavy The Scottish loads such as Basketmak- fuel, manure, ers’ Circle is crops and a membership other goods. organization that Baskets were promotes Scottish made and re- basket making and paired beside the allied crafts through hearth during the exhibitions, courses, long, dark winter demonstrations and months. lectures. They have also Creels are deep developed a sister site, baskets that can be carried www.wovencommunities.org, over the shoulder with straps which traces Scottish vernacular made of leather or grass rope or in basketry from the perspective of the pairs across the backs of ponies. Creels are communities who made and used them as well usually woven from strands of willow on a wooden frame. as the different basket types. SBC also aims to maintain A particular form of creel basket called the kishie was and improve craft standards by organizing training for be- developed in the Shetland Islands. Shetland is a predomi- ginners and holding masterclasses for experienced basket- CLACHNABEN! VOLUME 9 ISSUE 1 WINTER 2017 3 clan STRACHAN Above:A Scottish yarn baskets (Baskets by Jim). Right: Typical basket weaving patterns. Bottom right: A Scottish willow basket. Bottom left: Cattails being prepared for weaving. Previous page: A Scottish pine needle basket. makers and promoting members’ work with arts organizations and the media through networking and presentations. The circle offers a wide range of courses around the country covering all aspects of basketmaking, appeal- ing to people of different skill levels. Additionally, the Scottish Fishing Museum in Fife displays a number of original and rep- lica baskets used in the fishing industry. 4 VOLUME 9 ISSUE 1 WINTER 2017 CLACHNABEN! clan STRACHAN clan STRACHAN The great highland bagpipe hough they are clearly an instrument of great antiquity, how bagpipes Tarrived in Scotland is somewhat of a mystery. The “Oxford History of Music” gions. Others maintain that the instrument was makes mention of the first docu- brought over the water by the colonizing mented bagpipe being found on a Scots tribes from Ireland. Hittite slab at Eyuk. This sculptured Ancient Egypt also appears to have bagpipe has been dated to 1,000 B.C.E. a claim to the instrument, also; from Biblical mention is made of the bagpipe as early as 400 B.C.E. the pipers in Genesis and in the third Chapter of of Thebes are reported to have been Daniel where the “symphonia” in Nebu- blowing pipes made from dog skin with chadnezzar’s band is believed to have been chanters of bone. Later, Roman bagpipes a bagpipe. or “tibia utricularis” represented a major These early pipes or “Pan” pipes, without the innovation, the addition of the reservoir. Histori- bag or reservoir, were probably the second musical in- ans have noted that Roman coins depict Nero playing strument to evolve. (Musical history dictates that pip- a bagpipe, not a fiddle. ers have to take a back seat to percussion instruments What is certain, however, is that bagpipes have in this case.) Early pipes were constructed of materials existed in various forms in many places around the with a natural bore (hollow reeds, corn stalks, bam- world. In each country the construction of the basic boos, etc.) instrument From the comprises the Middle East, same com- the bagpipe ponent parts; traveled an air supply, through and a bag with a evolved in chanter and Europe along- one or more side the diffu- drones. sion of early By far the civilization. most com- Some histo- mon method rians believe of supplying that bagpipes air to the bag were brought is by blow- to Scotland ing with by invading the mouth, Roman Le- although CLACHNABEN! VOLUME 9 ISSUE 1 WINTER 2017 5 clan STRACHAN some early innova- of the piob mhor, or tions included the use great Highland Bag- of bellows. The bag, pipe. When bagpipes commonly made from did arrive in Scotland, animal skin, is simply they quickly became an airtight reservoir a part of Scottish life. to hold the air and Every town would hire regulate its flow, thus a bagpiper, usually out allowing the piper to of special taxes from breathe and maintain the wealthy families in a continuous sound, the area, who would both at the same time. pipe for townspeople The chanter is the on all occasions. In melody pipe, usually some places the piper played by one or two would play in church- hands. Generally com- es in place of an organ. prising two or more It was the Highlanders sliding parts, the drone themselves who devel- allows the pitch of the oped the instrument to pipes to be altered. its current form. The French Musette The Great Highland can be seen as a logi- Bagpipe is classified cal explanation for the as a woodwind instru- evolution or refine- ment, like the bassoon, Above: A WWII bagpiper leading his regiment. ment of the instru- oboe, and clarinet. It Prevoius page: The Quebec City Pipe band performing. ment into a number of is further classified examples of chamber as a double reed.