The Dance of the Thistle

This is a 2/4 march in duple time with two beats to the bar. The competition march first appeared in the 1800’s with adaptations from previous airs by Angus Mackay of Raasay, first piper to Her Majesty Queen Victoria and by Hugh McKay of Stirling.

The Dance of the Thistle march has been exclusively composed for Kinloch Anderson by Pipe Major Derek Potter RVM, The Sovereign’s Piper 2008-2012.

This march is named after the Kinloch Anderson Thistle tartan and recalls the sight of a field of stately thistles, rhythmically resisting the power of the wind to destroy their standing and their status as Scotland’s national flower. The tartan itself manifests a rich, deep purple colour synonymous with Scotland’s royal history and heritage and forms a link with the exclusive thistle logo which is a trademark of Kinloch Anderson, Scotland.