Set Tunes

Since the year 2000, Dr. William Donaldson has contributed his exclusive analysis of tunes set by the Piobaireachd Society for the major solo piping competitions at the Northern Meeting, Argyllshire Gathering and other significant events.The author of the seminal work, The Highland Pipe & Scottish Society, Dr. Donaldson explores manuscripts inaccessible to most pipers, and compares and contrasts settings of these great tunes, which now number more than 100 in our series.

In addition to his work as a lecturer in Scottish history with the Open University, William Donaldson received more than eight years of ongoing instruction in ceol mor from the great Robert Bell Nicol of Balmoral, Scotland.

Dr. Donaldson also provides his on musical interpretation of the piobaireachds in MP3 file format.

Please note that the Set Tunes Series is available to all for free and copyright remains with Dr. Donaldson.

pipes|drums’ presentation of Dr. William Donaldson’s Set Tunes Series is the largest online collection of piobaireachd in the world. We are grateful to him for his work.

Current Set Tunes Series

Previous Years' Set Tunes List

Set Tunes Series

Download

Abercairney’s Salute

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

Airds Lament

Aldearn, The Battle of (no.1)

Aldearn, The Battle of (number 2)

All the Old Men Paid Rent but Rory

Battle of Balladruishaig, The

Battle of Glenshiel, The

Battle of Sherriffmuir, The

Battle of the Bridge of Perth, The

Battle of Waterloo, The

Bealach nam Brog, The Battle of

Beinn a’ Ghriain

Bells of Perth, The

Beloved Scotland

Bicker, The

Big Spree, The

Black Donald’s March

Black Wedder’s White Tail, The

Blind Piper’s Obstinacy, The

Blue Ribbon, The

Boat Tune, The

Captain Donald MacKenzie, Lament for

Captain Donald MacKenzie, Lament for (2)

Captain MacDougall, Lament for

Carles with the Breeks, The

Castle Menzies

Catherine’s Lament

Children, Lament for the

Chisholm’s Salute

Clan Chattan’s Gathering

Clanranald’s Salute

Cluny MacPherson’s Salute

Colin Roy MacKenzie’s Lament

Company’s Lament, The

Corrienessan’s Salute

Craigellachie

Craigellachie (3)

Daughter’s Lament, The

Dead, Lament for the

Departure of King James, Lament for

Desperate Battle, The

Donald Ban MacCrimmon, Lament for

Donald Gruamach’s March

Donald of Laggan, Lament for

Drizzle on the Stone

Duke of Atholl’s Salute, The

Duke of Hamilton, Lament for the

Duke of Hamilton, Lament for the

Duntroon’s March

Earl of Antrim, Lament for the

Earl of Ross’s March, The

Earl of Seaforth’s Salute, The

End of the Great Bridge, The

End of the Great Bridge, The (II)

End of the Little Bridge, The

Fair Honey

Farewell to the Laird of Islay

Farewell to the Laird of Islay (2)

Finger Lock, The

Finger Lock, The (2)

Finlay’s Lament

Flame of Wrath for Patrick Caogach, A

Gathering of the MacDonalds of Clanranald

Gathering of the MacNabs, The

Glen Is Mine, The

Glen Is Mine, The (revised)

Glengarry’s March

Glengarry’s March (2)

Good Health To You, Donald

Grain in Hides and Corn in Sacks

Groat, The

Gunns’ Salute, The

Hail To My Country

Half-Finished Piobaireachd, The

Harp Tree, Lament for the

Hector MacLean’s Warning

His Father’s Lament for Donald MacKenzie

Hugh’s Lament

I Am Proud To Play A Pipe

I Got a Kiss of the King’s Hand

In Praise of Morag

Introduction to the 2006 Set Tunes Series

Isabel MacKay

John Garbh MacLeod of Raasay’s Lament

John Garbh MacLeod of Raasay’s Lament (revised)

Keppoch’s March

King George III’s Lament

King’s Taxes, The

Lachlan MacNeill Campbell of Kintarbert’s Fancy

Lady Annapool’s Lament

Lady Doyle’s Salute

Lady MacDonald’s Lament

Lady Margaret MacDonald’s Salute

Laird of Anapool, Lament for the

Laird of Contullich’s Lament, The

Lament for the Castle of Dunyveg

Little Spree, The

Little Supper, Lament for the

Lochnell’s Lament

Lord Lovat’s Lament

Lord MacDonald’s Lament

Lost Pibroch: Introduction to the Set Tunes Series 2009

MacCrimmon Will Never Return

MacCrimmon’s Sweetheart

MacDonald of Kinlochmoidart’s Lament (no. 1)

MacDonald of Staffa’s Salute

MacDonald’s (or Duntroon’s) Salute

MacDonald’s Tutor, Lament for

MacDonald’s Tutor, Lament for (revised)

MacDonalds are Simple, The

MacDonalds’ Salute, The

MacDonalds’ Salute, The (revised)

MacFarlanes’ Gathering, The

MacGregor’s Gathering/Salute

MacIntosh of Borlum’s Salute

MacIntosh’s Lament

MacIntyres’ Salute, The

MacKays’ Banner, The

MacKays’ Banner, The

MacKays’ Short Tune, The

MacKenzie of Applecross’s Salute

MacKenzie of Gairloch’s Lament

MacLeans’ March, The

MacLeod of Colbecks, Lament for

MacLeod of Colbecks, Lament for (revised)

MacLeod of MacLeod’s Lament

MacLeod of MacLeod’s Lament

MacLeod of Raasay’s Salute

MacLeod’s Short Tune

MacLeods’ Controversy, The

MacLeods’ Salute, The

MacNab’s Salute, The Clan

MacNeill of Barra’s March

MacRaes’ March, The

MacSwan of Roaig, Lament for

March for a Beginner

Marquis of Argyll’s Salute, The

Mary MacLeod, Lament for

Mary’s Praise

Mary’s Praise (2)

Massacre of Glencoe, The

Melbank’s Salute

Men Went to Drink, The

Menzies’ Salute, The

Mrs. MacLeod of Talisker’s Salute

Mrs. Smith’s Salute

My Dearest on Earth, Give Me Your Kiss

My King Has Landed In Moidart

Nameless – Hiharin dro o dro

Nameless – Hiharin odin, hiharin dro

Nameless (cherede darievea)

Nameless, Hihorodo tra cherede che

Old Men of the Shells, The

One of the Cragich

Only Son, Lament for the

Parading of the MacDonalds, The

Park Piobaireachd #2, The

Park Piobaireachd, The #2 (II)

Pass of Crieff, The Battle of the

Patrick Og MacCrimmon, Lament for

Patrick Og MacCrimmon, Lament for (revised)

Piper’s Warning to His Master, The

Porst Ullare

Prince’s Salute, The

Prince’s Salute, The

Queen Anne’s Lament

Red Hand in the MacDonalds’ Arms, The

Red Speckled Bull, The

Ronald MacDonald of Morar’s Lament

Rout of Glenfruin, The

Rout of Glenfruin, The (revised)

Rout of the Lowland Captain, The

Rout of the MacPhees, The

Scarce of Fishing

Sir James MacDonald of the Isles’ Salute

Sobieski’s Salute

Sound of the Waves Against the Castle of Duntroon, The

Stewarts’ White Banner, The

Stewarts’ White Banner, The (II)

Strome, The Battle of

Struan Robertson’s Salute

Sutherlands’ Gathering, The

Too Long in this Condition

Tulloch Ard

Tune of Strife, The

Union, Lament for the

Unjust Incarceration, The

Unjust Incarceration, The (2)

Vaunting, The

Viscount of Dundee, Lament for

War or Peace

Waternish, The Battle of

Waternish, The Battle of (revised)

Weighing From Land

Welcome Johnny Back Again

William Donaldson’s Introduction to the 2005 Set Tunes Series

William Donaldson’s Introduction to the 2007 Set Tunes Series

William Donaldson’s Set Tunes 2008 Introduction: “What are the neighbours up to?”

You’re Welcome, Ewen Lochiel

Young Laird of Dungallon’s Salute, The

Young Neil’s Salute

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