Set Tunes

THE PIOBAIREACHD SOCIETY SET TUNES FOR 2024

The Piobaireachd Society recommends the following for competitions in 2024:

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, K

Lament for Donald Ban MacCrimmon PS 2, K

Donald 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 Big Spree PS 1, K
Black Donald’s March (#) PS 3, K
The Blue Ribbon (#) PS 5, K
The MacDougalls’ Gathering PS 5, K
Nameless (Hiharin odin, hiharin dro) PS 5, K
The Glen is Mine (#) PS 6, K
Clanranald’s Salute (#) PS 7, K
Farewell to the Laird of Islay (#) PS 9
The Battle of Sheriffmuir (#) PS 15, K
The Gunns’ Salute PS 15

Competitors will submit six 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 MacSwan of Roaig PS 1, K
The Gathering of Clan Chattan (#) PS 2, K
The Gathering of the MacNabs (#) PS 5, K
MacKintosh’s Lament PS 8, K
MacNeil of Barra’s March PS 10
Melbank’s Salute PS 14
The Cave of Gold (#) PS 16
Cronan Phadruig Seumas 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

Tunes played in Senior Competitions 2023-2027

Set Tunes 2023

Judges Notes Set Tunes 2023 from Spring Judges Seminar

Choosing Set Tunes

Set Tunes 2022

Notes on 2019 Set Tunes

Set Tunes 2018

Notes on the 2018 GM

2017 Silver Medal Additional Notes

Set Tunes 2016

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

Set Tunes 2009
Judges Notes 2009