Set Tunes
Tunes played in Senior Competitions 2023-2027
Set Tunes 2026
The Piobaireachd Society recommends the following for competitions in 2026:
A. SENIOR COMPETITIONS
A new approach to setting tunes for the senior competitions was adopted in 2023 for a trial period of five years. The aim is to give competitors a wider choice of tunes while still ensuring exposure for the appropriate repertoire. If deemed successful, the period may be extended beyond five years.
Competitors will submit six tunes from the list below. Different tunes will be selected for each competitor for the Argyllshire Gathering and the Northern Meeting in the same year. The chosen tunes will be noted and competitors will not be permitted to submit these two tunes again for a period of at least five years.
The list may be expanded from year to year on the recommendation of the Piobaireachd Society. It is unlikely that any of the tunes will be removed from the list.
The Finger Lock PS 1, K In Praise of Morag PS 1, K The Unjust Incarceration PS 2, K The Bells of Perth PS 2, Lament for Donald Ban MacCrimmon PS 2, KDonald Gruamach’s March PS 2, K Colin Roy MacKenzie’s Lament PS 3, K Lament for the Duke of Hamilton PS 3, K Lament for the Earl of Antrim PS 3, K Lament for the Children PS 3, K Patrick Og MacCrimmon’s Lament PS 3, K Scarce of Fishing PS 3, K The Red Speckled Bull PS 4, K
Beinn a Ghriain PS 4 John Garve MacLeod of Raasay’s Lament PS 5, K Mary’s Praise PS 5, K Lament for the Union PS 6, K Craigellachie PS 6, K The Daughter’s Lament PS 6, K The Sound of the Waves against the Castle of Duntroon PS 6, K The End of the Little Bridge PS 8, K Lady MacDonald’s Lament PS 8, K
Nameless Cherede Darievea PS 8, K The Laird of Anapool’s Lament PS 9 The Rout of the Lowland Captain PS 9 MacLeod of Colbeck’s Lament PS 10 MacKenzie of Gairloch’s Lament PS 10 The Red Hand in the MacDonald’s Arms PS 10 The MacLeans’ March PS 10 The Battle of Waterloo PS 11 Mrs MacLeod of Talisker’s Salute PS 11 The MacDonalds’ Salute PS 11 Abercairney’s Salute PS 11 My Dearest on Earth, Give me your Kiss PS 11
Lament for the Harp Tree PS 12, K Port Urlar PS 12 Lament for Airds PS 13 Lament for Hugh PS 13 Salute to MacDonald of Staffa PS 13 Good Health to You Donald PS 13 The Sutherlands’ Gathering PS 14 Lament for King George III PS 14 Lament for Cluny MacPherson PS 14 Sir James MacDonald of the Isles’ Salute PS 14 MacLeod of MacLeod’s Lament PS 15, K
Farewell to the Queen’s Ferry PS 20th Century Piob. 2020 edition Lament for John MacDonald, Inverness PS 20th Century Piob. 2020 edition Lament for Pipe Major Robert Reid PS 20th Century Piob. 2020 edition Salute to James Campbell PS 20th Century Piob. 2020 edition Salute to the MacCrimmon Cairn at Borreraig PS 20th Century Piob. 2020 edition The Phantom Piper of Corrieyairack PS 20th Century Piob. 2020 edition Roderick MacDonald’s Salute Donald MacLeod Piob. 2019 edition A Son’s Salute to his Parents Donald MacLeod Piob. 2019 edition The Edinburgh Piobaireachd John MacLellan Ceol Mor
B. GOLD MEDAL COMPETITIONS
| The Finger Lock (#) | PS 1, K |
| The Pride of Barra (#) | PS 5, K |
| Lady MacDonald’s Lament | PS 8, K |
| The MacDonalds are Simple (#) | PS 9 |
| Port Urlar | PS 12 |
| Lament for Airds (#) | PS 13 |
| Fare Thee Well Donald | PS 14 |
| Lament for Captain Donald MacKenzie | PS 15 |
Competitors will submit four of the above tunes, one of which they will be required to play.
For the purposes of the Gold Medal competitions, tunes marked (#) require crunluaths a mach.
C. SILVER MEDAL COMPETITIONS
| Lament for the Castle of Dunyveg | PS 1 |
| Nameless Hiharin dro o dro | PS 4, K |
| The Earl of Seaforth’s Salute | PS 5, K |
| The King’s Taxes | PS 5, K |
| Beloved Scotland | PS 6, K |
| The Rout of Glenfruin (#) | PS 8, K |
| The Battle of Bealach nam Brog | PS 9 |
| Farewell to the Laird of Islay (#) | PS 9 |
| Lament for the Iolaire | Donald MacLeod Piob. 2019 edition |
| Lament for John Morrison of Assynt House | Donald MacLeod Piob. 2019 edition |
Competitors will submit four of the above tunes, one of which they will be required to play.
For the purposes of the Silver Medal competitions, tunes marked (#) require crunluaths a mach.
PS = Piobaireachd Society Collection K = Kilberry Book of Ceol Mor
The Donald MacLeod and PS 20th Century Piobaireachd collections have been corrected and re-printed recently in A4 format and it is recommended that these be used as the sources for these tunes.
Competitors are not restricted to settings in the Piobaireachd Society Collection and Kilberry Book. Those who wish to play alternative settings should submit legible scores, indicating the origins of the settings, to competition organisers along with their tune selections.
Altogether different tunes known by the same or similar names will not be accepted as alternatives.
This announcement is without prejudice to any arrangements made by the Argyllshire Gathering or the Northern Meeting.
For the Music Committee, Ronald McShannon, 2 Ascot Avenue, Glasgow, G12 0AX
Judge Notes Spring Seminar 2024
Judges Notes Set Tunes 2023 from Spring Judges Seminar
2017 Silver Medal Additional Notes
Set Tunes 2015
Senior Tunes 2015 Judges Notes
Set Tunes 2014
Judges Notes Gold Medal 2014
Judges Notes Silver 2014
Judges Notes Senior Tunes 2014
Set Tunes 2013
Judges Notes Silver 2013
Judges Notes Gold 2013
Judges Notes Senior 2013
Set Tunes 2012
Judges Notes 2012 Senior
Judges Notes 2012 Gold
Judges Notes 2012 Silver
Set Tunes 2011
Judges Notes 2011
Set Tunes 2010
Judges Notes 2010