Dastirum (the word is an encouragement - three cheers! be proud! bravo!) is a 69 page book with audio CD, featuring Allan MacDonald's audience-winning approach to pibroch. Informed both by historical sources and oral tradition, Allan MacDonald sings and plays 17th & 18th century Highland bagpipe music. The most exciting player of his generation, Allan is stimulating the renaissance of one of Europe's most soulful and majestic musical traditions. "a major step forward in the study of the Great Music" David Murray "his fine bagpipe, and the clarity of his embellishments are uplifting to hear" Donald MacPherson "a consummate musician, playing with passion and mastery of his art. Allan has made more impact than anyone else in his generation" Bill Livingstone "great emotion, flair and style that is always inspiring, challenging and often breathtaking" Roddy MacLeod (Director of the National Piping Centre, Scotland) "A consummate player, one of three formidable piping brothers from the Gaelic-speaking community of Glenuig in Moidart, MacDonald has paid his dues on the competition platform, winning the coveted Clasp at the Northern Meeting two years running. But over the years he has questioned the orthodoxy of today's standardised pibroch settings as played for the judges, and has tapped deeply into his culture to investigate pibroch's links with Gaelic song, and with the ancient bardic harping traditions of Scotland and Wales. This, combined with an innate musicality, results in some superb moments on this album" Review by Jim Gilchrist in The Scotsman