Set Tunes & Tune Requirements

There will be two lists, each with six tunes. List 1, will be used for Grade 1 and 2 competitors.
Grade 1 competitors will submit three Piobaireachds. Two tunes from list 1 and one tune of their own choice.
Grade 2 competitors will submit two Piobaireachds. One tune from List 1 and one tune from list 2.
Grade 3 competitors will submit one Piobaireachd, which must be selected from list 2.

Please note, there will be some competitions exempt from the set tune list.
These competitions are:

  • Any Remote/Online CLASP Competitions
  • 'World Solo Amateur' - Piping Live!
  • 'Northern Meetings' - Inverness
  • 'Luss Highland Games'
  • 'Rosneath Highland Games' (Rosneath will not be on the CLASP Circuit for 2018 and will be replaced by Balloch Highland Games for 2018)
  • 'Inveraray Highland Games'
  • 'Chatsworth Country Fair'

You can submit your own choice of tunes at these competitions (that can be tunes from the set tune list if you want!)

Set Tune List for 2025/2026

List 1

  1. The Battle of Waternish (Amach) - Piob. Society Book 2/Kilberry Book
  2. The Glen is Mine (Standard) Kilberry Book/ PS 6
  3. Grain in Hides and Corn in Sacks (Amach) Kilberry Book
  4. Catherine's Lament (Standard) - Piob Society Book 2/Kilberry Book
  5. Ceol Na Mara (J MacKenzie) (Breabach) - The Piobaireachd Society 20th Century Compositions (See tune notes bellow)
  6. The Sound of the Sea (D MacLeod) (Fosgailte) -Donald MacLeod's Collection of Piobaireachd

List 2

  1. Salute to Donald (Standard) - Piob. Society book 8/Kilberry Book
  2. The Duke of Atholl's Salute (Fosgailte) - Piob. Society book 14
  3. Lady Anapool's Lament (Amach) Piob. Society book 9
  4. The Marquis of Argyll's Salute (Breabach) - Piob. Society book 10
  5. Salute to the 51st Highland Division (Niall Mathieson composer) (Amach) Link to the tune
  6. Skye, Mount Vernon, Washington (Bruce Gandy composer) (Breabach) Link to the Ground

* Tune Notes:
1. There is a note error in Ceol na Mara Taorluath Variation. This mistake is covered in the errata sheet.
2. The tune, 'Skye, Mount Vernon, Washington' which was composed by Bruce Gandy is not published currently. However, Bruce will provide music for this tune in the next few days.

Set Tune List - January 2023 until December 2024

Grade 1 competitors should select two tunes from List 1 and one of their own choice.
Grade 2 graded players should pick one tune from List 1 and one tune from List 2.
Grade 3 graded players should pick one tune from List 2

List 1 (for Grade 1/2 Members)

  1. In Praise of Kintyre, by Hugh MacCallum (Glenfiddich Collection)
  2. Nameless (Hiharin dro o dro) (Kilberry Book)
  3. Andrew MacNeill of Colonsay
  4. Lament for Duncan MacFadyen by Donald MacLeod
  5. The Battle of the Strome - (Bk5)
  6. Melbank's Salute - (Bk 14)

List 2 (for Grade 2/3 Members)

  1. AS MacNeill of Oransay (Donald MacLeod)
  2. MacNeil is Lord There (Bk 11)
  3. Lament for The Old Sword (Bk 3 & Kilberry Book)
  4. You’re welcome, Ewen (Kilberry Book)
  5. MacLeod's Short Tune (Bk6)
  6. Little Prince you are my Choice (Bk13)

Set Tune List - January 2022

Grade 1 competitors should select two tunes from List 1 and one of their own choice.
Grade 2 graded players should pick one tune from List 1 and one tune from List 2.
Grade 3 graded players should pick one tune from List 2

Set List 1

  1. MacMhurich's Salute-Donald MacLeod's Collection of Piobaireachd (New release)
  2. Massacre of Glencoe * -  Kilberry & PS6
  3. Rout of Glenfruin * - Kilberry & PS8
  4. MacLeod's Controversy - PS10
  5. Flame of Wrath for Patrick Caogach - PS5 & Kilberry Book
  6. Black Donald’s March - PS3 & Kilberry Book

Set List 2

  1. Lament for Finlay - PS13  P.429
  2. Garden of Roses-Donald MacLeod's Collection of Piobaireachd-(New release)
  3. Tulloch Ard - Kilberry & PS6
  4. Sir James MacDonald of the Isles Lament - PS7 & Kilberry Book
  5. March for a beginner - Kilberry Book
  6. Munro's Salute - PS11

Note: Tunes above with * next to their name indicates where an Amach variation would be recommended.
Note: Munro's Salute - Take care to check the last note of Variation 2. This should be an 'E' and not a 'C' as is notated in some older editions of the Piobaireachd Society Collection.

Current Set Tune List - 2018/2019/up to October 2020

Grade 1 competitors should select two tunes from List 1 and one of their own choice.
Grade 2 graded players should pick one tune from List 1 and one tune from List 2.

Set List 1

  1. The Kings Taxes (Piobaireachd Society Book 5 & Kilberry)
  2. The MacLeod’s Salute (Piobaireachd Society Book 12 & Kilberry)
  3. Lament for Donald of Laggan (Piobaireachd Society Book 8 & Kilberry)
  4. Lament for MacDonald of Kinlochmoidart No. 1 (Piobaireachd Society Book 6 & Kilberry)
  5. Isabel MacKay (Piobaireachd Society Book 6 & Kilberry)
  6. Lament for The Iolaire (Donald MacLeod’s Collection of Piobaireachd Book 1)

Set List 2

  1. Company’s Lament (Piobaireachd Society Book 1)
  2. The Little Spree (Piobaireachd Society Book 7 & Kilberry)
  3. Cabar Feidh Gu Brath (Queen’s Own Highlanders (Seaforth And Camerons))
  4. Catherine’s Lament (Piobaireachd Society Book 5 & Kilberry)
  5. Lament for Alisdair Dearg MacDonnell of Glengarry (Piobaireachd Society Book 14 & Kilberry)
  6. Chisholm’s Salute (Piobaireachd Society Book 14 & Kilberry)

Archive Set Tunes Issued 2017

2017/2018 List 1 (in use until Army School of Piping Competition - June 2018)

Grade 1 competitors should select two tunes from this list and one of their own choice. Grade 2 graded players should pick one tune from this list and one tune from List 2.

  1. MacLeod of Raasay's Salute - Online Resource
  2. Salute the Soldier (21st Century) - Salute the Soldier
  3. Corrienessan's Salute - Online Resource
  4. Lament for Captain MacDougall - Online Resource
  5. The Groat - Online Resource
  6. MacCrimmons Sweetheart - Online Resource

2017/2018 List 2 (in use until Army School of Piping Competition - June 2018)

Grade 2 and Grade 3 graded players should pick one tune from this list.

  1. Queen Elizabeth II’s Salute - Queen Elizabeth the Second's Salute
  2. Lament for Alan My Son - Duncan Johnson book, 'His Complete Compositions' - Online Resource
  3. Glengarry’s Lament - Online Resource
  4. Too Long In this Condition - Online Resource
  5. Struan Robertson Salute - Online Resource
  6. The Boat Tune - Online Resource

» Notes on Piobaireachd Set Tunes (2017/2018)
Also note, you are not restricted to these settings only, but you should make sure the setting you are playing is a recognized setting and present the music to the judge at each competition.

Set Tunes Timeline

August 2017 – New set tune list for grade 1, 2 and 3 competitors will be released.
October/November 2018 – New Set tunes will be submitted for competition.
August 2019 – New set tune list for grade 1, 2 and 3 competitors will be released.
October 2020 – New set tunes will be submitted for competition.

This timeline will be reviewed but, if we feel it is working well, it is likely to continue in this way.

Tune Requirements

Grade 4/5 (Online events only)
Piobaireachd
(Ground and next variation (Singling only) - Own Choice
Full Piobaireachd (When this event is offered, it will be the pipers own choice of tune, but will not carry any league table points)
2/4 March
(The musical requirement for the 2/4 march event, is one four-parted or two different two-parted 2/4 marches) Own Choice
Strathspey and Reel – S
hould consist of one 2-parted strathspey and one 2-parted reel. Pipers can submit the first 2 parts of a 4 parted tune for either the Strathspey of Reel. Own Choice
Jig –
Minimum 4 parted. Own Choice 

Grade 3 (Online and In-person Events)
1. Piobaireachd - Submit 1 Tune (Own choice or submit One tune from Set List 2) See Set Tune page for information on which competitions are exempt from the Set Tune list.
2. 2/4 March (Own Choice)
3. Strathspey and Reel (Own Choice)
4. Jig or 6/8 March (Own Choice) This is an event which may not always be available to compete in and varies from competition to competition .

Grade 2 (Online and In-person Events)
1. Piobaireachd - Submit 2 Tunes (Two own choice tunes or One tune to be submitted from Set List 1 and One tune to be submitted from Set List 2) See Set Tune page for information on which competitions are exempt from Set Tune list.
2. 2/4 March (Submit 2 Tunes)
3. Strathspey and Reel (Own Choice)
4. Jig or 6/8 March or Hornpipe (Own Choice) This is an event which may not always be available to compete in and varies from competition to competition .

Grade 1 (Online and In-person Events)
1. Piobaireachd - Submit 3 Tunes (Three own choice tunes or Two tunes to be submitted from Set List 1 and One tune own choice) See Set Tune page for information on which competitions are exempt from Set Tune list.
2. 2/4 March (Submit 2 Tunes) - Please note, this event can also be run as a 2/4 March, Strathspey and Reel Event.
3. Strathspey and Reel (Submit 2 TunesPlease note, this event can also be run as a 2/4 March, Strathspey and Reel Event.
4. Jig or 6/8 March or Hornpipe & Jig (Own Choice) This is an event which may not always be available to compete in and varies from competition to competition .