Bagpipe Tunes
Mitchell's Bagpiping Services
There are many, many bagpipe tunes suitable for playing at Funerals, Weddings and for other occasions.
In Bryan Mitchell's experience
a few stand out due to traditional and regular
use at weddings in the Hamilton, Waikato, Waipa
and King Country regions of New Zealand. e.g.
Amazing Grace,
Hearken My Love,
Highland Cathedral,
Highland Wedding,
Mairi's Wedding,
Mull of Kintyre,
My Love is but a Lassie yet,
Scotland the Brave,
Skye Boat Song,
Tiree Love Song,
These are probably quite commonly used tunes nationwide.
The playing of tunes that people
recognise is important. People unfamiliar with bagpipe music,
benefit from obvious changes in tempo, key
and rhythm as it helps them to identify different tunes are being
played. Esoteric piping tunes are generally avoided
in favour of those most likely to be known by the average person.
Tunes with a Celtic flavour do get good reception.
It is useful to find tunes likely to have significance to
parents or grand-parents, or special relatives or guests. Sometimes
it is necessary to "learn" tunes specifically for a
wedding, even if it means transcribing them off a tape or CD
if the tune cannot be found in a bagpipe music book or on a
recording. A tune can even be composed for your wedding.
The following lists are just a few tunes, to help you think about
what to select. I also suggest people listen to a few piping
recordings or videos of such as Youtube, to see if they recognise,
or prefer any particular tunes. The couple is welcome to come and
listen to tunes (played practice chanter and/or pipes) and to
discuss what they want played for whichever part of the ceremony.
 Scottish
Tunes All the Blue Bonnets are over the Border ~ March Amazing Grace ~ Slow Air / Hymn As the Deer pants for water ~ Air / Hymn Black Velvet Band, The ~ Air Blue Bells of Scotland ~ March Bonny Dundee ~ March Bonny Lass of Fyvie ~ March Brown Haired Maiden ~ March Cailin mo Ruin-sa (The Maid I adore) ~ Air Cock O’ the North ~ March Comin’ thro’ the Rye ~ March Corriechoillies’ Welcome ~ March Echo Lake ~ Air Haste to the Wedding~ March Heykens’ Serenade ~ March Highland Cathedral ~ Air Highland Laddie ~ March Highland Wedding ~ March Lord of the Dance ~ March Mairi’s Wedding ~ March Maggie ~ Air Meeting of the Waters ~ March Mingulay Boat Song ~ Air Mrs Scott Skinner ~ March Mull of Kintyre ~ Air Murdo’s Wedding ~ March My Love is but a Lassie Yet ~ March O Flower of Scotland ~ Air O Joy to the World ~ Air / Hymn Ode to Joy ~ Air / Hymn Old Rustic Bridge ~ March Rab’s Wedding ~ March Road to the Isles ~ March Scotland the Brave ~ March Skye Boat Song ~ Air Sweet Maid of Glendaruel ~ March Swing of the Kilt ~ March Teribus O’ Terioden ~ March Tiree Love Song ~ Air Westering Home ~ Air Whistle o’ the Lave O’t ~ March Wi’ a Hundred Pipers ~ March Wooed and a married a’ ~ March |
 Irish
Tunes A Quarter to Four/Anika’s visit home (Jig)(NZ) Back to Donegal, (6/8 March) Banjo Breakdown (Jig) Black Bird, The /Liverpool Hornpipe (Hornpipe) Black Velvet Band, The (6/8) Brian Boru's March to Clontarf (March) Danny Boy (4/4 Air) Fields of Athenree (Air) For Ireland I’d not tell her name (6/8 Air) Garry Owen (6/8 March) Green Hills of Antrim, The (12/8 Slow Air) Greenwoodside, The (2/4) Irish Washerwoman, The (Jig) Last Rose of Summer, The (Air) Leaving of Liverpool, The (4/4 March) Maggie (2/4) March Down the Aisle (4/4 March) Minstrel Boy, The (Air) Oft in the Stilly Night (Jig) Oh Dear what can the matter be (6/8) Paddy’s Leather Breeches (Jig) Paddy McGinty’s Goat (Hornpipe) Paddy O’Rafferty (Jig) Paddy Wack (Jig) Rakes of Marlowe (2/4) Rose of Tralee (6/8 Air) Spanish Lady (2/4 Air) Star of County Down (Air) Sweet Molly Malone/In Dublin’s Fair City (Air) Those Endearing Young Charms (Air/ Waltz) Waltzing Matilda (Aust/Irish) (2/4) When Irish Eyes Are Smiling (6/8 Air) When Johnny comes Marching Home (6/8 March) |
See also Solo Piper.