This pibroch tune is said to have been composed in 1651 by Patrick Mor MacCrimmon, a member of the most famous piping family, the MacCrimmons of Skye, personal pipers of the Chief of the MacLeods.

When King Charles II held a review of the Scottish army at Stirling, he was told that MacCrimmon was known as the Prince of Pipers, and the King let the piper kiss his hand.

The piper was so pleased he composed this pibroch on the spot.

A pibroch begins with a theme (called an urlar or ground) which is then varied throughout the piece. These variations become gradually more complex and rhythmic as the piece goes on. At the very end, the basic theme is sounded again. One thing that makes the variations more complex is the amount of ornamentation that the piper must play. Ornamentation consists of the little notes called 'grace notes' that are not part of the main melody. These notes are essential to all pipe music.