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.

Lament for the Castle of Dunyveg

Lament for the Castle of Dunyveg

Little Spree, The

Little Spree, The

Little Supper, Lament for the

Little Supper, Lament for the

Lochnell's Lament

Lochnell's Lament

Lord Lovat's Lament

Lord Lovat's Lament

Lord MacDonald's Lament

Lord MacDonald's Lament

M

M

MacCrimmon Will Never Return

MacCrimmon Will Never Return

MacCrimmon's Sweetheart

MacCrimmon's Sweetheart

MacDonald of Kinlochmoidart's Lament (no. 1)

MacDonald of Kinlochmoidart's Lament (no. 1)

MacDonald of Staffa's Salute

MacDonald of Staffa's Salute

MacDonald's (or Duntroon's) Salute

MacDonald's (or Duntroon's) Salute

MacDonald's Tutor, Lament for

MacDonald's Tutor, Lament for

MacDonalds are Simple, The

MacDonalds are Simple, The

MacDonalds' Salute, The

MacDonalds' Salute, The

MacDougalls' Gathering, The

MacDougalls' Gathering, The

MacFarlanes’ Gathering, The

MacFarlanes’ Gathering, The

MacGregor's Gathering/Salute

MacGregor's Gathering/Salute

MacIntosh of Borlum's Salute

MacIntosh of Borlum's Salute

MacIntosh's Lament

MacIntosh's Lament

MacIntyres' Salute, The

MacIntyres' Salute, The

MacKays' Banner, The

MacKays' Banner, The

MacKays' Short Tune, The

MacKays' Short Tune, The

MacKenzie of Applecross's Salute

MacKenzie of Applecross's Salute

MacKenzie of Gairloch's Lament

MacKenzie of Gairloch's Lament

MacLeans' March, The

MacLeans' March, The

MacLeod of Colbecks, Lament for

MacLeod of Colbecks, Lament for

MacLeod of MacLeod's Lament

MacLeod of MacLeod's Lament

MacLeod of Raasay's Salute

MacLeod of Raasay's Salute

MacLeod's Rowing Tune (MacLeod's Salute)

MacLeod's Rowing Tune (MacLeod's Salute)

MacLeod's Short Tune

MacLeod's Short Tune

MacLeods' Controversy, The

MacLeods' Controversy, The

MacNeill of Barra's March

MacNeill of Barra's March

MacRaes' March, The

MacRaes' March, The

MacSwan of Roaig, Lament for

MacSwan of Roaig, Lament for

March for a Beginner

March for a Beginner

Marquis of Argyll's Salute, The

Marquis of Argyll's Salute, The

Mary MacLeod, Lament for

Mary MacLeod, Lament for

Mary's Praise

Mary's Praise

Massacre of Glencoe, The

Massacre of Glencoe, The

Melbank's Salute

Melbank's Salute

Men Went to Drink, The

Men Went to Drink, The

Menzies' Salute, The

Menzies' Salute, The

Mrs. MacLeod of Talisker's Salute

Mrs. MacLeod of Talisker's Salute

Mrs. Smith's Salute

Mrs. Smith's Salute

My Dearest on Earth, Give Me Your Kiss

My Dearest on Earth, Give Me Your Kiss

My King Has Landed In Moidart

My King Has Landed In Moidart

N

N

Nameless (cherede darievea)

Nameless (cherede darievea)

Nameless - Hiharin dro o dro

Nameless - Hiharin dro o dro

Nameless - Hiharin odin, hiharin dro

Nameless - Hiharin odin, hiharin dro

Nameless - Hiorodotra cherede che

Nameless - Hiorodotra cherede che

O

O

Old Men of the Shells, The

Old Men of the Shells, The

Only Son, Lament for the

Only Son, Lament for the

P

P

Parading of the MacDonalds, The

Parading of the MacDonalds, The

Park Piobaireachd (no.2), The

Park Piobaireachd (no.2), The

Pass of Crieff, The Battle of the

Pass of Crieff, The Battle of the

Patrick Og MacCrimmon, Lament for

Patrick Og MacCrimmon, Lament for

Piper's Warning to His Master, The

Piper's Warning to His Master, The

Porst Ullare

Porst Ullare

Prince's Salute, The

Prince's Salute, The

Q

Q

Queen Anne's Lament

Queen Anne's Lament

R

R

Red Hand in the MacDonalds' Arms, The

Red Hand in the MacDonalds' Arms, The

Red Speckled Bull, The

Red Speckled Bull, The

Ronald MacDonald of Morar's Lament

Ronald MacDonald of Morar's Lament

Rout of Glenfruin, The

Rout of Glenfruin, The

Rout of the Lowland Captain, The

Rout of the Lowland Captain, The

Rout of the MacPhees, The

Rout of the MacPhees, The

S

S

Scarce of Fishing

Scarce of Fishing

Sir James MacDonald of the Isles' Salute

Sir James MacDonald of the Isles' Salute

Sobieski's Salute

Sobieski's Salute

Sound of the Waves Against the Castle of Duntroon, The

Sound of the Waves Against the Castle of Duntroon, The

Stewarts' White Banner, The

Stewarts' White Banner, The

Strome, The Battle of

Strome, The Battle of

Struan Robertson's Salute

Struan Robertson's Salute

Sutherlands' Gathering, The

Sutherlands' Gathering, The

T

T

Too Long in this Condition

Too Long in this Condition

Tulloch Ard

Tulloch Ard

Tune of Strife, The

Tune of Strife, The

U

U

Union, Lament for the

Union, Lament for the

Unjust Incarceration, The

Unjust Incarceration, The

V

V

Vaunting, The

Vaunting, The

Viscount of Dundee, Lament for

Viscount of Dundee, Lament for

W

W

War or Peace

War or Peace

Waternish, The Battle of

Waternish, The Battle of

Weighing From Land

Weighing From Land

Welcome Johnny Back Again

Welcome Johnny Back Again

X

X

Y

Y

You're Welcome, Ewen Lochiel

You're Welcome, Ewen Lochiel

Learn more about the history of the music

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