music!
music!
music!
What does a bagpiper play at a wedding?
Wedding Bagpipe Music and more
Here are some recordings of the wedding bagpipe music I play when piping at a Wedding. The different stages of your wedding will require a different “mood” of music. For example, I will play very different types of tunes for piping you Up the Aisle to, than I will for piping during your Confetti Shower.
I also the play the Scottish Small Pipes, which are ideal if you wish for some quieter and more mellow bagpipe music at particular points in your day, particularly during your Wedding Ceremony. I’ve included recordings of both the Highland Pipes and the Small Pipes for many of the bagpipe tunes / songs that I play at a wedding.
Guests’ Arrival
During the 30-45 minute period as your guests arrive, I’ll play the Highland Pipes to welcome them with a wide variety of tunes from my entire repertoire. Tunes will range from the slow, fast, to the fast and furious!
Here’s a small selection:
Crossing the Minch & The Train Journey North (quite fast!)
These two old, but timeless traditional hornpipes which were composed over 50 years ago, help set the celebratory tone to your day!
Murdo's Wedding (not too fast!)
This jaunty little pipe march was composed by Major Gavin Stoddart MBE, the famous army piper who was the Director of Army Bagpipe Music at Edinburgh Castle.
Last Tango in Harris (pretty-fast!)
Beginning with the Last Tango in Harris, here’s a set of of both traditional and more modern jigs.
Piping the Bride or Partner up the Aisle
Walking Up the Aisle will be one of your first really big moments of your day! It’s worth considering whether you would like the (“big”) Highland Pipes, or the quieter and more mellow Scottish Small Pipes played here. Here’s a selection of tunes I feel are appropriate for this point in your Ceremony, which have the appropriate “mood”.
Signing of the Register
Newly Weds down the Aisle
Scotland the Brave
Scotland the Brave needs no introduction. This is a rousing pipe march, recognised all over the world! It sets the celebratory tone as you both make your way down the aisle as a married couple.
Fun fact: Scotland the Brave was played as Scotland’s National Anthem for Scotland’s matches in the 1982, 1986 and 1990 FIFA World Cups!
Mairi's Wedding
Mairi’s Wedding, also known as the Lewis Bridal Song, is celebratory, and very well known wedding bagpipe tune. As the name suggests, it’s very celebratory and is great to play as you come back down the aisle.
Fun fact: The melody to Mairi’s Wedding actually has two completely different songs written for it! The original composition from 1934 was written to celebrate a friend of the composer winning the prestigious National Mòd Gold Medal. The song more well known today, “Step we gaily, on we go, Heel for heel and toe for toe..”, was written in 1936.
Confetti Shower
Married Couple to the Top Table
Scotland the Brave
Scotland the Brave is also a good choice to have played here. Like Mairi’s Wedding, it’s recognisable and easy for your guests to clap along to.
Fun fact: Scotland the Brave was played as Scotland’s National Anthem for Scotland’s matches in the 1982, 1986 and 1990 FIFA World Cups!
Campbeltown Loch
The Glendaruel Highlanders, or commonly known as the song beginning “Campbeltown Loch, I wish you were whisky!” is what I play as I march out of the dining hall having recited the Piper’s Toast.
Fun fact: The song’s composer was lamenting the price of whisky in the pubs of Campbeltown. He wished that nearby Campbeltown Loch was filled with whisky, so he could drink from that instead!
Other tunes I play
For events where a lot of playing is required, such as the guests’ arrival at a wedding or welcoming people to a corporate event I play a great many different tunes – both traditional and contemporary. Here are a few samples of pipe tunes I play at these times.
Caught on Camera!
Some short clips of me piping at various events, and competition performances with Pipe Bands
