“Songs of Scotland”

Volume 12A

"Songs of Scotland," complete with their verses, form a book for pipers wishing to inflect Scottish national songs with an expression only possible by knowing the words.

These songs have been frequently heard at Scottish concerts.  They have been played by soloists and pipe bands at banquets, memorial services, weddings, and church services. They are all beautifully inviting for pipers wherever they are in the world, because of their excellence of melody, matching words and distinct fingering. With the lyrics in mind, a piper can experience the considerable satisfaction of 'singing' these nostalgic songs with the biting tone of his or her Highland bagpipes.

One will recognize many familiar songs.  Others though unfamiliar, will be cherished as historic. Nevertheless, they are true old Scottish selections written to remember some noteworthy piece of history, some part of the countryside, and most often one's home and dearly loved ones.

Selections are frequently named after some locality in Scotland. Their names are familiar towns, villages, mountains, rivers and streams.  Some are of battles.  Many songs were written about persons or friends dear to their authors.  Fond memories become entwined with the delightful sound of bagpipes, as though these songs of far away Scotland were being sung again as well as being played.  Truly, the songs of Scotland can be enjoyed for their memories.

These familiar songs are all beautiful to hear on the pipes. Some are for the military, of battles, reverence of kings and country and of small country towns.  Others were composed from life's personal experiences between lovers.  All have been adapted to the confines of a unique instrument, the accepted national instrument of Scotland.

Wherever pipers go, someone will request a Scottish song.  There is delight in complying with their requests.  Words are inseparable from the music and remain united, inflected by the deft fingers of accomplished pipers intent upon the expressive voices of their beloved pipes.

In these songs, one will experience a new dimension to Scotland's beauty; not only its scenery, and its history, but the warmth of affection that dwells in the hearts of native Scots wherever they may be scattered across the world.  "Songs of Scotland for the Church Piper" will be dear to the hearts of all that have Scottish blood in their veins.