List of explicitly indicated tempo markings. Every tempo indicator is captured here, whether mentioned in the urlar only, or in later variations, or both.
Collections are limited to primary source materials, both from pipers and non-pipers, up to 1854.
Titles are listed as written in the originating source collection. PS numbers link to the relevant Tune Page in the web site. You may sort the table to compare sources and tempos.
Original work done by Allan Speedy, 2017.
The following is a list of definitions taken from MacKay’s book, with BPM ranges taken from a 19th Century Paquet de Maelzel metronome, contemporary with Angus MacKay. Modern BPM ranges are given in parentheses.
- Adagio – “very slow and expressive” 98-126 bpm (66-76 bpm)
- Andante – “a little faster than Andantino” 126-152 bpm (76-108 ppm)
- Andantino – “slow and distinct movement” (although this term has always been uncertain throughout its history)
- Allegro – “synonymous with siubhal, a lively movement or variation” 152-182 bpm (120-139 ppm)
- Vite – “quick” (French)
Mode indicators (French, Italian): these are not the standard, dominant tempo indicators, but are related to tempo, insofar as they describe the mode or style of execution expected.
- Legerement – “light”
- Animato – “animatedly, lively”
– J David Hester 2017
| Source | Date | Title | PS No. | Ground | Variations (Other) | Taorluath | Crunluath |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MacDonald Book | 1820 | 'n ann air mhire tha sibh | 131 | Very Slow | A little lively | ||
| Patrick MacDonald | 1784 | A' Ghlas Mheur | 132 | Very slow, solemn | V1 -brisk V2 - slower V3 - same time V4 - brisk | Quick | Quick |
| Patrick MacDonald | 1784 | Alike to me peace or war | 204 | Rather slow | Variations Brisk | ||
| MacArthur | 1820 | Beinn na Ghrian | 180 | Andante | |||
| Angus MacKay | 1838 | Chisholm's Salute | 065 | Andante | |||
| Angus MacKay | 1838 | Donald Doughal Mackay's Lament | 039 | Andante | |||
| MacDonald Book | 1820 | Donald Gruamach of Slate's Lament for the Death of his Elder Brother | 102 | Moderate | Lively (D) A little quicker (T) Live | Pointed and lively | Very Quick |
| Daniel Dow | 1778 | Duke of Atholl’s Marc | 161 | Slow | |||
| Angus MacKay | 1838 | Glengarry's Lament | 249 | Andantino | V1 - Allegro | ||
| MacDonald Book | 1820 | Glengarry's March | 170 | Slow | |||
| Angus MacKay | 1838 | I got a Kiss of the King's Hand | 213 | Andante | |||
| Peter Reid | 1826 | I return no more | 057 | Very slow | |||
| MacArthur | 1820 | King James Salute | 179 | Legerement | |||
| MacArthur | 1820 | King James VIth's Lament | 014 | Andante | |||
| Angus MacKay | 1838 | Lady Doyle's Salute | 251 | Andante | |||
| MacArthur | 1820 | Lady MacDonald's Lament | 194 | ||||
| MacDonald Book | 1820 | Lament for Ronald MacDonald Esqr of Morar | 176 | Slow | |||
| MacDonald Book | 1820 | Lament on the Death of Patrick More McCruimmen | 137 | Slow | |||
| MacDonald Book | 1820 | Lamentation for the Duke of Hamilton | 085 | Slow | (D) Lively | ||
| Daniel Dow | 1778 | Lord Breadalban’s march | 002 | Slow | |||
| Angus MacKay | 1838 | MacCrimmon will never return | 057 | Andante | |||
| Angus MacKay | 1838 | Macintosh's Lament | 200 | Andante | |||
| Peter Reid | 1826 | MacLeod of Raasay’s Lament | 207 | Slow | V1 - slow | ||
| Angus MacKay | 1838 | MacNeil of Barra's March | 084 | Adagio | |||
| James Oswald | 1755 | Marsail Lochinalie | 203 | Slow | To be begin slow and increase in quickness to the last part but one, as the tune represents a Battle | ||
| MacDonald Book | 1820 | Mary's Praise for her gift [or] McLauchlans March | 067 | (D) Lively (T) Quick | |||
| Patrick MacDonald | 1784 | McIntosh’s Lament | 200 | Slow | V1 - moderate time | Somewhat Quicker, Repeated a little quicker | |
| James Oswald | 1755 | McIntosh’s Lament | 200 | Plaintive | |||
| Peter Reid | 1826 | McIntosh’s Lament | 200 | Very slow | V1 - slow | ||
| Angus MacKay | 1838 | Menzies Salute | 218 | Adagio | V3 - Allegro | ||
| MacArthur | 1820 | Murray of Abercairne's Salute | 186 | Adagio | |||
| Patrick MacDonald | 1784 | Never more shall I return | 057 | Slow | V1 - a little quicker V2 - quicker V3 - quick | ||
| James Oswald | 1755 | Pioberachd Mhic Dhonuil | 177 | Slow | To begin slow and increased in quickness to the End | ||
| Angus MacKay | 1838 | Sir Ewin Cameron of Lochiel's Salute | 236 | Adagio | V1 - Allegro | ||
| MacArthur | 1820 | The Bells of Perth | 181 | Vite | |||
| MacArthur | 1820 | The Big Spree | 178 | Andante con Expresione | |||
| Angus MacKay | 1838 | The Carles with the Breeks | 002 | Andante | |||
| MacDonald Book | 1820 | The Clan's Gathering | 169 | Moderate (D) Lively | |||
| Angus MacKay | 1838 | The Duke of Perth's March | 070 | Allegro | |||
| Peter Reid | 1826 | The Earl of Ross' Pibrach | 118 | Slow | V1 - slow V2 - pointed V3 - round | distinct running (D) - smart | |
| MacDonald Book | 1820 | The End of the Great Bridge | 171 | Slow (D) Slow | Slow and pointed (D) A little lively | Livelier (D) Lively (T) Livelier still | Brisk (D) Very brisk (T) As lively as can be played distinctly |
| MacDonald Book | 1820 | The Finger Lock | 132 | Very Slow | Slow (D) A little Quicker | Brisk (D) Quicker (T) Very quick | |
| MacDonald Book | 1820 | The Gathering of the McDonalds of Clanranald to the Battle of Sheriff Muir | 174 | Lively (D) Lively | |||
| Angus MacKay | 1838 | The Glen is mine | 058 | Andante | V4 - Allegro | ||
| Angus MacKay | 1838 | The Gordon's Salute | 016 | Andantino | |||
| Angus MacKay | 1838 | The Grant's'[sic] Gathering | 052 | Andante | |||
| MacDonald Book | 1820 | The Grants Gathering | 052 | Very slow | |||
| MacArthur | 1820 | The Highland Club | 184 | Animato | |||
| Angus MacKay | 1838 | The Highland Society of Scotland's Salute | 184 | Animato | |||
| Peter Reid | 1826 | The Lament for Graham of Chlaverhouse | 190 | Very slow | |||
| MacArthur | 1820 | The MacDoughall's Gathering | 198 | V1 - Andante | |||
| Angus MacKay | 1838 | The MacLean's March | 077 | Adagio | Livelier (D) Lively (DD) Livelier still | ||
| Angus MacKay | 1838 | The MacLeod's Salute | 231 | Andantino | |||
| Peter Reid | 1826 | The Masacre of Glenco | 088 | Very slow | |||
| Angus MacKay | 1838 | The Massacre of Glencoe | 088 | Andante | |||
| MacDonald Book | 1820 | The Princes Salute | 173 | Moderate | Very Quick | ||
| Peter Reid | 1826 | The Rout of Bendoeg | 217 | Slow | |||
| Peter Reid | 1826 | The Sutherlands Gathering | 072 | Slow | |||
| Angus MacKay | 1838 | The Vaunting | 235 | Andante | |||
| MacDonald Book | 1820 | Too Long in this Condition | 161 | Lively | |||
| James Oswald | 1755 | Will you go to Sherriff Muir | 295 | Brisk | |||
| Peter Reid | 1826 | Young George’s Salute | 055 | Slow | V1 - slow V2 - round & pointed (D) - quick V3 - slow (D) - quicker (T) - quick | Slow | Slow |
| Angus MacKay | 1838 | Prince Charles Lament | 061 | Allegro |