Today’s tune is a hauntingly beautiful, melancholy slow air called “Loch Duich.” Loch Duich is a sea inlet on the western coast of Scotland, with its most famous landmark being the picturesque Eilean Donan Castle. It is also known as the clan country of the MacRaes. Not much is known about the origins of the bagpipe tune named after Loch Duich, but it could have something to do with the rich history of the castle, which was built in the 13th century, destroyed in 1719, and rebuilt between 1919 and 1932.

Loch Duich Preview

Here’s a video of a recording I did of the tune on the bagpipes with some beautiful pictures of Loch Duich. I figure you get to see enough videos with me in them that it’s nice to change it up a little.

Legends of Loch Duich

Loch Duich is also known for some Scottish mythical folklore with some tales of sitings of a similar creature to the Loch Ness monster, and other tales like a legend of three brothers that went fishing in Loch Duich and saw and fell in love with selkies, or “seal maidens” that had transformed into their human form and were dancing along the shore. Whatever story you decide to attach to the tune, whether of ancient castles and armies, sea monsters, or fishermen longing for beautiful seal maidens, or whatever else you come up with on your own, I hope you can get a feel for the emotion and folklore of Loch Duich and really enjoy playing this tune as much as I do.

Sheet Music and Tutorial

If you have already enrolled in the Bagpipe Master course, here’s the link to check out the full step-by-step tutorial and download the sheet music:

Access Sheet Music & Tutorial