bag pipes on a rock

The Music

A comprehensive collection of bagpipe music

sheet-music

The playing of, the classical music of the Highland Bagpipe, originally a rich and varied oral form, was heavily influenced during the 20th century by the published scores of the Piobair-eachd Society.  These were edited in a highly inaccurate and doctrinaire way.  

The imposition of the resulting scores on major competitive events has seriously affected the way this music as heard in public today. But the power of the internet enables the original manuscripts and early printed sources to be viewed directly without being filtered through a corrupted interme-diate source.  The present site presents the source scores for many of the classic tunes along with a commentary and audio recordings illustrating a variety of possible interpretations.

How to download and use

Browse through the A to Z below, and use the download buttons for the audio file and accompanying text document. Downloads are free.

Abercairney's Salute

Abercairney's Salute

Aged Warrior's Sorrow The / The Sword’s Lament

Aged Warrior's Sorrow The / The Sword’s Lament

Aird's Lament

Aird's Lament

All the Old Men Paid Rent but Rory

All the Old Men Paid Rent but Rory

Auldearn, The Battle of (no.1)

Auldearn, The Battle of (no.1)

Auldearn, The Battle of (no.2)

Auldearn, The Battle of (no.2)

Battle of Balladruishaig, The

Battle of Balladruishaig, The

Battle of Glenshiel, The

Battle of Glenshiel, The

Battle of Sherriffmuir, The

Battle of Sherriffmuir, The

Battle of Waterloo, The

Battle of Waterloo, The

Battle of the Bridge of Perth, The

Battle of the Bridge of Perth, The

Bealach nam Brog, The Battle of

Bealach nam Brog, The Battle of

Beinn a' Ghriain

Beinn a' Ghriain

Bells of Perth, The

Bells of Perth, The

Beloved Scotland

Beloved Scotland

Bicker, The

Bicker, The

Big Spree, The

Big Spree, The

Black Donald's March

Black Donald's March

Black Wedder's White Tail, The

Black Wedder's White Tail, The

Blind Piper's Obstinacy, The

Blind Piper's Obstinacy, The

Blue Ribbon, The

Blue Ribbon, The

Boat Tune, The

Boat Tune, The

Captain Donald MacKenzie, Lament for

Captain Donald MacKenzie, Lament for

Captain MacDougall, Lament for

Captain MacDougall, Lament for

Carles with the Breeks, The

Carles with the Breeks, The

Castle Menzies

Castle Menzies

Catherine's Lament

Catherine's Lament

Children, Lament for the

Children, Lament for the

Chisholm's Salute

Chisholm's Salute

Clan Chattan's Gathering

Clan Chattan's Gathering

Clan MacNab's Salute/Elchies Salute, The

Clan MacNab's Salute/Elchies Salute, The

Clanranald's Salute

Clanranald's Salute

Cluny MacPherson's Salute

Cluny MacPherson's Salute

Colin Roy MacKenzie's Lament

Colin Roy MacKenzie's Lament

Company's Lament, The

Company's Lament, The

Corrienessan's Salute

Corrienessan's Salute

Cragich, One of the

Cragich, One of the

Craigellachie

Craigellachie

Daughter’s Lament, The

Daughter’s Lament, The

Dead, Lament for the

Dead, Lament for the

Departure of King James, Lament for the

Departure of King James, Lament for the

Desperate Battle, The

Desperate Battle, The

Donald Ban MacCrimmon, Lament for

Donald Ban MacCrimmon, Lament for

Donald Gruamach's March

Donald Gruamach's March

Donald of Laggan, Lament for

Donald of Laggan, Lament for

Drizzle on the Stone

Drizzle on the Stone

Duke of Atholl's Salute, The

Duke of Atholl's Salute, The

Duke of Hamilton, Lament for the

Duke of Hamilton, Lament for the

Duntroon's March

Duntroon's March

Earl of Antrim, Lament for the

Earl of Antrim, Lament for the

Earl of Ross's March, The

Earl of Ross's March, The

Earl of Seaforth's Salute, The

Earl of Seaforth's Salute, The

End of the Great Bridge, The

End of the Great Bridge, The

End of the Little Bridge, The

End of the Little Bridge, The

Fair Honey

Fair Honey

Farewell to the Laird of Islay

Farewell to the Laird of Islay

Finger Lock, The

Finger Lock, The

Finlay's Lament

Finlay's Lament

Flame of Wrath for Squinting Peter

Flame of Wrath for Squinting Peter

Gathering of the MacDonalds of Clanranald

Gathering of the MacDonalds of Clanranald

Gathering of the MacNabs, The

Gathering of the MacNabs, The

Glen Is Mine, The

Glen Is Mine, The

Glengarry's March

Glengarry's March

Good Health To You, Donald

Good Health To You, Donald

Grain in Hides and Corn in Sacks

Grain in Hides and Corn in Sacks

Groat, The

Groat, The

Gunns' Salute, The

Gunns' Salute, The

Hail To My Country

Hail To My Country

Half-Finished Piobaireachd, The

Half-Finished Piobaireachd, The

Harp Tree, Lament for the

Harp Tree, Lament for the

Hector MacLean's Warning

Hector MacLean's Warning

His Father's Lament for Donald MacKenzie

His Father's Lament for Donald MacKenzie

Hugh's Lament

Hugh's Lament

I Am Proud To Play A Pipe

I Am Proud To Play A Pipe

I Got a Kiss of the King's Hand

I Got a Kiss of the King's Hand

Isabel MacKay

Isabel MacKay

John Garbh MacLeod of Raasay's Lament

John Garbh MacLeod of Raasay's Lament

Keppoch's March

Keppoch's March

King's Taxes, The

King's Taxes, The

Lachlan MacNeill Campbell of Kintarbert's Fancy

Lachlan MacNeill Campbell of Kintarbert's Fancy

Lady Annapool's Lament

Lady Annapool's Lament

Lady Doyle's Salute

Lady Doyle's Salute

Lady MacDonald's Lament

Lady MacDonald's Lament

Lady Margaret MacDonald's Salute

Lady Margaret MacDonald's Salute

Laird of Anapool, Lament for the

Laird of Anapool, Lament for the

Laird of Contulich's Lament, The

Laird of Contulich's Lament, The

Lament for King George III, The

Lament for King George III, The

Learn more about the history of the music

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