Solo Piping

Solo Elements

As of 1 July 2024 there are new requirements for solo piping in competition throughout Australia.

The implementation of standardised tune requirements aims to enhance the overall standard of solo piping throughout the nation. This initiative allows pipers from one branch to competently participate in contests hosted by another branch, ensuring familiarity with the tune requirements and fair competition against players of similar grades.

While these tune requirements are obligatory for solo piping contests organised by Pipe Band Australia, they do not prohibit promoters/branches from organizing specialized events.

As part of our commitment to improving the standard and ongoing development of Piobaireachd, Australia has adopted The Piobaireachd Society Silver Medals Set Tunes.

Piobaireachd elements will change on 1 December in line with the Piobaireachd Society Gold and Silver medal tune announcements. These requirements will apply to the following year of competition allowing competitors ample time to prepare.

This page details these requirements by grade.

Piobaireachd Society

Website

Set Tune

Archives

Implementation Timeline

1 July 2024

2024 Set tunes released. A minimum of 1 tune from the 2024 or 2025 set tune list to be submitted by A/ B Grade pipers for all competitions.

1 December 2024

A minimum of 2 tunes from the 24/25 list to be submitted by A grade pipers at all Pipe Bands Australia competitions. B grade pipers will submit 1 tune from the 24/25 set tune list.

1 December 2025

The 2026 set tunes from the Piobaireachd Society Gold & Silver list implemented. A minimum of 2 tunes for A grade pipers and 1 tune for B grade pipers from the set tune list will be expected.

1 December 2026

The 2027 set tunes from the Piobaireachd Socity Gold & Silver list will be implemented. A minimum of tunes for A grade players and 1 tune for B grade players from the set tune list expected.

Light Music

  • Element 1 – 1 x 2/4 March of 4 or more parts (Submit 2 tunes)
  • Element 2 – 1 x Strathspey of 4 or more parts into 1 x Reel of 4 or more parts (Submit 2 of each tune)
  • Element 3 – 1 x Hornpipe of 4 parts into 1 x jig of 4 or more parts (Submit 2 of Element 4 – 1 x 6/8 March of 4 or more parts (submit 2 tunes)

Promotors are advised that a minimum of 3 events should be conducted at each contest. Elements 1 & 2 are compulsory and element 3 & 4 can be selected/interchanged as the 3rd event.

  • Element 1 – 1 x 2/4 March of 4 or more parts (Submit 3 tunes)
  • Element 2 – 1 x Strathspey of 4 or more parts into 1 x Reel of 4 or more parts (submit 3 of each tune)
  • Element 3 – 1 x Hornpipe of 4 parts into 1 x jig of 4 or more parts (Submit 3 of each tune) Element 4 – 2 x 6/8 March of 4 or more parts (submit 3 tunes) Element 5 – 2 x Jigs of 4 or more parts (submit 3 tunes)

Promotors are advised that a minimum of 3 events should be conducted at each contest. Elements 1 & 2 are compulsory and element 3, 4 or 5 can be selected/interchanged as the 3rd event. Elements 1 & 2 can be combined into a MSR or run separately. This would be at the promotor’s discretion.

  • Element 1 – 1 x 2/4 March of 4 or more parts
  • Element 2 – 1 x Strathspey of 4 or more parts into 1 x Reel of 4 or more parts
  • Element 3 – 1 x jig of 4 or more parts Element 4 – 1 x 6/8 March of 4 or more parts

Promotors are advised that a minimum of 3 events should be conducted at each contest. Elements 1 & 2 are compulsory and element 3 & 4 can be selected/interchanged as the 3rd event

  • Element 1 – 1 x 2/4 March of 4 or more parts (can be 2 x 2 parted tunes)
  • Element 2 – 1 x Strathspey of 2 or more parts into 1 x Reel of 2 or more parts
  • Element 3 – 1 x Slow Air of 24 bars or more
  • Element 4 – 1 x 6/8 March of 4 or more parts (can be 2 x 2 parted tunes)

Promotors are advised that a minimum of 2 events should be conducted at each contest. Element 1 is compulsory and elements 2, 3 & 4 can be selected/interchanged as the 2nd event.

  • Element 1 – 1 x 2/4 March of 2 or more parts
  • Element 2 – 1 x Slow Air
  • Element 1 – Any tune on the practice chanter
  • Element 1 – 1 x 2/4 March of 4 or more parts

As at the day of the contest.

  • Element 1 – 1 x 2/4 March of 4 or more parts

Over 50 as at the day of the contest.

Piobaireachd

2026 Set Tune List

PS = Piobaireachd Society book, K = Kilberry Book of Ceol Mor

A Grade = Submit 3 full tunes
B Grade =
Submit 2 full tunes

Nameless Hiharin dro or dro. PS4, K
The Pride of Barra. PS5, K
The King’s Taxes. PS5, K
The Earl of Seaforth’s Salute. PS5, K
Beloved Scotland. PS6, K
The Macdonald’s are Simple. PS9
The Battle of Bealach nam Brog. PS9
Lament for Captain Donald McKenzie. PS15
Lament for the Castle of Dunyveg. PS1
The Rout of Glenfruin. PS8, K
Farewell to the Laird of Islay. PS9
Lament for the Iolaire. Donald Macleod Piob 2019 edition
Lament for John Morrison of Assynt House. Donald Macleod Piob 2019 edition
Marquis of Argyll’s Salute. PS10
(#) denotes that Crunluath a’mach must be played

PS = Piobaireachd Society book, K = Kilberry Book of Ceol Mor

C Grade = Full tune (tune selected from below list)
D Grade =
Ground and next Variation. (tune selected from below list) Note the idea is to play the ground plus one variation in total. Therefore if the Ground has a thumb variation for example, then the thumb would suffice as the variation. If there is a Ground followed by a variation with Singling and a Doubling, only the Singling is required to be played.
Novice =
Play the entire ground (tune selected from below list)

Sir James MacDonald of the Isles Lament. PS 7, K
Lament for Alasdair Dearg McDonnell of Glengarry. PS 14, K.
Company’s Lamen.t PS 1
Glengarry’s Lament. K
Little Spree. PS 7
K.Glen is Mine. PS 6, K
Old Woman’s Lullaby. PS 4, K
MacFarlane’s Gathering. PS 4, K
Too Long in this Condition. PS 7, K
Struan Robertson’s Salute. PS 8, K
Catherine’s Lament. PS 5,K
Black Donald’s March. PS 3,K
Corrienessan’s Salute. PS 8, K
Massacre of Glencoe. PS 6, K
You’re Welcome, Ewen Lochiel. PS 2, K
Lament for Mary MacLeod. PS 5, K
Lament for MacDonald of Kinlochmoidart No. 1. PS 6, K
The MacLeod’s Salute (Rowing Piobaireachd). PS 12, K
The Groat. PS 1, K
The Munro’s Salute. PS 11
Salute to Donald. PS 8, K
Proud to Play a Pipe. PS 6, K
Queen Elizabeth II Salute, Donald Macleod Complete Works. p25
Caber Feidh Gu Brath, Donald Macleod Complete Works. p26

Piobaireachd

Support Materials

Pipe Band Australia acknowledges and thanks Malcolm McRae and Mike Cusack for the following recordings contained herein taken live at Albury Piobiareachd in July 2024.

Morning 1

19:40

Morning 2

12:49

Morning 3

07:23

Morning 4

20:48

Morning 5

12:36

Morning 6

07:03