A Collection of the Ancient Martial Music of Caledonia, called Piobaireachd as performed on the Great Highland Bagpipe. Now also adapted to the Piano Forte Violin and Violoncello. With a few old Highland lilts purposely set for the above modern instruments. To which is prefixed a complete tutor for attaining a thorough knowledge of the pipe music.
First published Edinburgh: 1820 (or possibly late in 1819). In 2006, a critical edition was published by the Piobaireachd Society: Donald MacDonald’s Collection of Piobaireachd, Volume 1 (1820) by Roderick D. Cannon and Keith Sanger.
The opening section of instructions and dance tunes was probably published on 25 August 1817 when an advertisement appeared in the Edinburgh Courant: “This day is published, price 3s. 6d. a new and complete guide or tutor for The Great Highland Bagpipe; containing every necessary instruction for enabling any Person, even of ordinary capacity, to play with Ease and Taste on that celebrated national instrument. By Donald McDonald, late Pipe-Major to the Argyllshire Regiment of Militia. Published and sold by the Author, at his house, Carruber’s Close, High Street, Edinburgh. D. McDonald carries on the Business of Pipe-making in all its Branches, and gives Lessons on the Highland and Union Pipes, &c.” (Cannon & Sanger 2006: p. 7, note 49).
The ‘3d Edition – Improved’ (1822) can be viewed here. The PDFs below are scanned from the earliest of the seven printings known to predate 1822; Cannon found that only two of these are alike in every important respect.
Title Page
Outside Front Cover
Inside Front Cover
Dedication
Preface (a transcription is available here)
Instructions (first published 1817)
12 dance tunes (first published 1817)
20 pibrochs (see alphabetical and numerical lists below)
Airs
Alphabetical (source titles and spellings)
A Doleful Lament for the death of Samuel a celebrated piper / Cumadh Dubh Shomhairle D1.20: 98, PS 108
Black Donald Balloch of the Isles’ March / Piobaireachd Dhomhnuill Duibh D1.22: 106, PS 177
Clan’s Gathering, The / Ceann na Drochaid Big D1.7: 38, PS 169
Donald Ghruamach of Slate’s…Lament… / Spaidsearachd Dhonuill Ghruamaich D1.3: 13, PS 102
End of the Great Bridge, The / Ceann na Drochaid Mhoridh D1.23: 111, PS 171
Finger Lock, The / A Ghlass Mheur D1.2: 7, PS 132
Gathering of the McDonald’s of Clanranald, The / Cruimeachadh Chlaun Raonuill D1.12: 68, PS 174
Glengarry’s March / Cill Chriosda D1.5: 30, PS 170
Grant’s Gathering, The / Craigillachy D1.11: 61, PS 52
Groat, The / An Groatha D1.15: 80, PS 159
Lament for Ronald MacDonald of Morar D1.19: 94, PS 176
Lament for King James’ Departure / Suihel Shemes D1.17: 89, PS 175
Lamentation for the Duke of Hamilton / Cumh Dhuc Hamilton D1.4: 23, PS 85
Lament on the Death of Patrick More McCrummen / Cumh Pharic More Mhic Cruimmen D1.16: 84, PS 137
Lord Breadalbane’s March / Bodaich na’m Brigis D1.21: 102, PS 2
Mary’s Praise for her gift [or] McLauchlan’s March / Moladgh Mari D1.14: 73, PS 67
Prince’s Salute, The / Failte Phroinsa D1.1: 1, PS 173
Rout of Glen Fruin, The / Ruaig Ghlenne Fruin…Glenn a Bhroin D1.8: 48, PS 13
Salute on the Birth of Rory Mor MacLeod D1.18: 92, PS 131
Salute to Allister More Mac Donald… of Boisdale / Failte Fir Bhoisdail D1.10: 56, PS 95
Sister’s Lament, The / Cumh na Peahair D1.9: 53, PS 23
Sword’s Lament or the Aged Warriors Sorrow…, The / Cumh Chlaibh D1.13: 71, PS 172
Too long in this Condition / ‘SFhadde Mar Seo Tha Sinn D1.6: 34, PS 161
Numerical (by number and page)
D1.1: 1 PS 173 Prince’s Salute, The / Failte Phroinsa
D1.2: 7 PS 132 Finger Lock, The / A Ghlass Mheur
D1.3: 13 PS 102 Donald Ghruamach of Slate’s…Lament… / Spaidsearachd Dhonuill Ghruamaich
D1.4: 23 PS 85 Lamentation for the Duke of Hamilton / Cumh Dhuc Hamilton
D1.5: 30 PS 170 Glengarry’s March / Cill Chriosda
D1.6: 34 PS 161 Too long in this Condition / ‘SFhadde Mar Seo Tha Sinn
D1.7: 38 PS 169 Clan’s Gathering, The / Ceann na Drochaid Big
D1.8: 48 PS 13 Rout of Glen Fruin, The / Ruaig Ghlenne Fruin…Glenn a Bhroin
D1.9: 53 PS 23 Sister’s Lament, The / Cumh na Peahair
D1.10: 56 PS 95 Salute to Allister More Mac Donald… of Boisdale / Failte Fir Bhoisdail
D1.11: 61 PS 52 Grant’s Gathering, The / Craigillachy
D1.12: 68 PS 174 Gathering of the McDonald’s of Clanranald, The / Cruimeachadh Chlaun Raonuill
D1.13: 71 PS 172 Sword’s Lament or the Aged Warriors Sorrow…, The / Cumh Chlaibh
D1.14: 73 PS 67 Mary’s Praise for her gift [or] McLauchlan’s March / Moladgh Mari
D1.15: 80 PS 159 Groat, The / An Groatha
D1.16: 84 PS 137 Lament on the Death of Patrick More McCrummen / Cumh Pharic More Mhic Cruimmen
D1.17: 89 PS 175 Lament for King James’ Departure / Suihel Shemes
D1.18: 92 PS 131 Salute on the Birth of Rory Mor MacLeod
D1.19: 94 PS 176 Lament for Ronald McDonald Esquire of Morar / Cumhadh Raoinuill Mhic Aileain Oig
D1.20: 98 PS 108 A Doleful Lament for the death of Samuel a celebrated piper / Cumadh Dubh Shomhairle
D1.21:102 PS 2 Lord Breadalbane’s March / Bodaich na’m Brigis
D1.22: 106 PS 177 Black Donald Balloch of the Isles’ March / Piobaireachd Dhomhnuill Duibh
D1.23: 111 PS 171 End of the Great Bridge, The / Ceann na Drochaid Mhoridh