This Society was formed in 1903 to encourage the study and playing of piobaireachd, the classical music of the Highland bagpipe. It has collected the available piobaireachd manuscripts and from these and the knowledge of the existing experts and players published 15 books with the piobaireachd, written in staff notation accompanied by notes on the sources. The Society has also published the Kilberry Book of Ceol Mor by Archibald Campbell - a collection of 112 of the better-known tunes. There are notes, separately published as Sidelights and Further Sidelights that tell of Kilberry's own famous teachers and what they taught him.

The Society has published a book of modern piobaireachd and more recently new editions of important works such as Joseph MacDonald's Treatise (1994), The MacArthur MacGregor Manuscript (2001 and in conjunction with the John MacFadyen Trust) and Donald MacDonald's book of Piobaireachd containing 24 tunes (2006).

Publication of these books has helped the Society fulfill its main aim. In addition to this the Society has now developed a comprehensive website, with sound files, manuscripts, new music, photographs and other information  all designed to encourage the understanding and playing of this music.

Applying for Membership 

 Membership of the Piobaireachd Society is open to all those who have an interest in this music.

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 What is Piobaireachd

When the Highlands and Islands of Scotland adopted the bagpipe, perhaps some seven or eight hundred years ago, they began to develop the instrument and its music to suit their needs and tastes. What emerged was the instrument we know today and a form of music, piobaireachd, which is unique to the instrument. It is a very stylized form of music. There is freedom in the theme or ground of the piobaireachd to express joy, sadness, or sometimes in the gathering, a peremptory warning or call to arms. Thereafter the theme is repeated and underlined in a series of variations, which usually progress to the crunluath variation where the piper's fingers give a dazzling technical display of embellishment or gracenotes.
 
Piobaireachd, or Ceòl Mòr (the Grand Music) as it might be more accurately termed, takes account of the continuous and constant volume nature of the bagpipe. Certain movements have evolved that are particularly expressive and are used to punctuate and give the light and shade required in music. To most good pipers, piobaireachd is the real music of the pipes. Quick marches, strathspeys and reels etc. arc a different form of music properly labeled as Ceòl Beag, or the small or lesser music.
 
The Piobaireachd Society has in the past appointed and may continue to appoint and pay teachers to teach promising pupils.