Pipe Major 48th Highlanders

1898-1913

Bjornstad in Edinburgh Farquhar Beaton served as Pipe Major of the 48th Highlanders of Toronto from 1898-1913. He was known for his tunes ‘The Midlothian Amateur Pipe Band’ and ‘Colonel D.M. Robertson’. Pipe-Major Beaton led the band until 1913 and experimented with part-playing on Highland bagpipes.
He has introduced a new practice to his band,, playing the four parts, the melody, tenor, alto, and bass, of the tune at the same time, on an orchestral basis, as has been the practice with some of the Old Country regimental bands for many years, but hither to unknown in Canada. This idea was developed from an incident worth recording. When His Excellency, the Earl of Aberdeen, who is an ardent admirer of the bagpipes, was publicly entertained in Toronto, prior to his departure from Canada on the expiry of his term as Governor-General, the pipe band of the 48th was in attendance at the ceremonies (in the Parliament Buildings). The Pipe-Major and one of the pipers played in concert the first and second part of the tune “The Green Hills of Tyrol.” The effect produced was at once noted by His Excellency, who complimented the Pipe-Major personally, and strongly recommended the cultivation of part-playing on the pipes, which since then has been done.  One of his most coveted honours is the Chicago World s Fair championship and gold medal. In the circuit of Caledonian games in Canada and the United States for the years 1895, 96. 97, he took every first prize for which he competed,

He died in 1916 and is buried in Mt Pleasant Cemetery.