1. AIR AND JIG

Slow melancholy air played on solo Uileann pipe leading into at 1’05 an up-tempo jig played on solo Uileann pipe

Patrick King / Terence Trower

2’07

2. JOHN COLLINS DANCE

Up-tempo lively jig, small group with violin, accordion, guitar, percussion and bass.  Beginning with solo violin and accordion leading into at 0’33 a lively up-tempo full group rendition of John Collins Jig

Peter Arnold

3’05

3. GAELIC CELEBRATION

Treble bass and deep bass, ancient recorders with grubhorn, the sounds of old reed instruments along with light percussion leading into rhythm, playing a lively, happy, bright, jubilant, exhilirating theme

Richard Hinsley

2’27

4. ST PATRICKS DAY

A regimental march with historical origins played on the Irish warpipes.  A tune for the Irish mercenaries, who were called “Wild Geese”, who fought for the French in the 17th century in the reign of Louis XIV and at later dates.  The historical origin of this tune is hundreds of years old.  Many Irish regiments in the British army adopted this tune as their regimental march, playing it on the Irish warpipes.

Patrick King / Terence Trower

0’37

5. LAMENT OF THE PIPER

Solo piper playing a lament on a two-drone bagpipe, creating an atmosphere of melancholy, reminiscing, sadness, grief, sorrow, mourning and nostalgia.  The origins of the bagpipe can be traced back to the most ancient of civilisations.

Graham D’Ancey

1’16

6. BATTLE OF AUGHRIM

A lively, up-tempo Celtic theme, starting with percussion, bringing in solo violin, leading then into a small group with violin, guitar, bass guitar, piano and percussion, playing in an Irish, Scottish, Celtic traditional style.  At 1’56 the theme mood changes into a modern up-tempo Celtic fusion, leading back at 3’18 into the more traditional style of Irish, Scottish and Celtic music

Peter Arnold

3’54

7. DREAMING OF HOME

Ancient solo Welsh harp playing a comforting, peaceful, nostalgic, soothing, soft, calm theme.  The music of the harp has existed in the Celtic coutries of Ireland, Scotland and Wales and in Cornwall, Brittany and the Isle of Man since ancient times.  The Welsh harp as played here is a wire string triple harp and has a bell-like sound

Susan Germaney

2’57

8. WARRIORS

Battle drums leading into ancient, mediaeval, single drone bagpipes, giving a sense of anticipation and an atmosphere of advancing battle-ready warriors.  The origins of bagpipes probably originated in many cultures as a rustic instrument through herdsmen who had the basic materials of sheepskin, goatskin and reed pipe from which to make them

Robert Fossey

2’42

9. CELTIC REEL

Light flute melody leading into harp, leading into bodhran, then into rhythm, with a mid-section of bodhran and flute solo.  A lively, happy, Celtic, Scottish folk dance played on flute, harp and bodhran.  The bodhran is a goatskin drum widely used in Irish and Cekltic music

Barbara Mulree

2’03

10. THE PRINCE RETURNS

Solo harpsichord plays to 0’43 then leaves theme when Uileann pipes join and take up the theme.  A tune for Bonnie Prince Charlie to mark the Jacobite rebellion of 1745

Patrick King / Terence Trower

1’24

11. CELTIC LEGENDS

A free tempo, ethereal, mystical, haunting opening section played on a solo drone Breton pip and tambour for 1’19, leading to an up-tempo rhythmic section played on Breton pipes, tambour and hurdy-gurdy to the end of the theme.  The hurdy-gurdy is an ancient stringed instrument closely associated with France, producing a sound that is partially similar to the bagpipe

Graham D’Ancey

2’01

12. CELTIC VANGUARD

Tambour, kettle drums leading  into fifes (small shrill flute), leading into ancient two-drone bagpipes creating an atmosphere of the spearhead of an advancing army of battle-ready warriors.  Military theme played on ancient two-drone bagpipes, tambour and kettle drums

Robert Fossey

2’08

13. IRISH WASHERWOMAN

Solo violin playing a medium up-tempo Irish jig.  This style of jig with Celtic influences was taken by colonists to the North American continent in the 19th century where it became popular with early settlers

Patrick King / Terence Trower

1’01

14. SPRINGTIME

Solo Celtic harp, musically, innocent with a pastoral atmosphere, inspiring thoughts of a beautiful spring day and the movement of a butterfly

Paul Pinder

2’05

15. FIDDLERS JIG

Am up-tempo lively dance/jig with leaping movements played on violin, viola, tin whistles, Irish harp, bodhran and tambourine

Graham D’Ancey

1’36

16. MEDIAEVAL JIG

Medium tempo, bright, optimistic mediaeval tune played by two performers on the biniou pipe and bombarde.  Historical opinion is that the biniou kozh, which is a one-drone bagpipe, was adapted from the veuze bagpipe, both of which are native to Brittany and are used as an accompaniment to the bombarde, which is a primitive small oboe-like shawn, being a mediaeval double reed wind instrument with a sharp penetrating tone, widely used in Breton music which is native to Brittany

Patrick King / Terence Trower

0’35

17. SPIRITS OF THE FOGOU

Celtic harp ethereal theme with choir voices creating a spiritual, sacred, mystical, tranquil, peaceful, holy and divine atmosphere

Graham D’Ancey

1’34

18. ARRIVAL OF THE CELTS

Ancient mediaeval single drone bagpipes and drums creating an expectant atmosphere with a sense of reaching a destination or coming to the end of a journey.  The bagpipes are mentioned in the bible and are believed to have originate in Sumeria.  With the migration of the Celtic people in ancient times the bagpipes found their way into Persia, India, Greece, Italy and the countries in which they are now used

Barbara Mulree

2’10

19. NOSTALGIC AIR 1

Slow Celtic air played on solo violin and Celtic harp, creating an atmosphere that is nostalgic, pensive, wistful, daydreaming, longing and creating a sense of an earlier time

Graham D’Ancey

1’37

20. LOVERS TRYST

Celtic harp, treble bass and deep bass ancient recorders with grubhorn sound of old reed instruments and light tambourine percussion, creating a light, airy, mediaeval theme evoking thoughts of chivalry, lovers, courtship and the Roy Court of kings and queens

Wendy Patrick

2’08

21. BRETON MARCH

Up-tempo march, played on veuze/Breton biniou kozh bagpipes, kettle drums, bombardes and jingling johnny (bell tree).  Historical opinion is that the biniou kozh, which is a one-drone bagpipe, was adapted from the veuze bagpipe, both of which are native to Brittany and are used as an accompaniment to the bombarde, a primitive small oboe like a shawn, being a mediaeval double reed wind instrument with a sharp penetrating tone, widely used in Breton music, native to Brittany

Graham D’Ancey

1’35

22. SPRIGINS JIG

Up-tempo, jovial, mischievous Celtic jig played on violin, bodhran, tambourine, viola and tin whistle.  Light-hearted, jovial, mischievous theme.  Viola enters theme at 0’44 with tin whistle entering theme at 1’09

Graham D’Ancey

1’35

23. PIBROCH OF DONALD DHU

A 500 hundred year old tune, played here on the highland warpipes, can be traced back to a Pibroch, which is the classical music of the bagpipes.  This Pibroch is associated with Black Donald of Dhu of the Cameron clan.  Later in time the tempo of this tune was increased to a march and played on the warpipes.  It was heard extensively during the 1745 rebellion, inspiring the Cameron clan.

Patrick King / Terence Trower

1’18

24. SAILORS JIG

Theme opens with accordion, leading into tambourine leading into rhythm, played with sticks on wood.  A lively jig played on accordion, tambourine and sticks, giving an atmosphere of seafaring, boats, docks and mariners in past times

Paul Pinder

2’04

25. MERRYMAKING

Bright, lively, exuberant Celtic fair, wedding, merrymaking, carefree theme played on bodhran, mandolin, fiddle and accordion, creating an atmosphere of merryment, fun and of being in high spirit

Anthony Walton

2’16

26. PIPERS LAMENT

Solo piper playing a nostalgic, melancholy, sad lament on a two-drone bagpipe, creating a 16th century sound (a third drone was added to bagpipes circa 1550)

David Cherrett

2’05

27. WEDDING DANCE

Solo Celtic harp creating an up-tempo, light airy, carefree, happy theme

Graham D’Ancey

0’55

28. BRETON DANCE

An up-tempo theme played on Breton biniou bagpipes and tambour drum.  Historical opinion is that the biniou kozh, which is a one-drone bagpipe, was adapted from the veuze bagpipe, both of which are native to Brittany and are used as an accompaniment to the bombarde, a primitive small oboe like a shawn, being a mediaeval double reed wind instrument with a sharp penetrating tone, widely used in Breton music, native to Brittany

Graham D’Ancey

1’38

29. WASSAIL

Theme starts with solo flute, harp enters at 0’14, violin enters at 0’35, mandolin enters theme at 1’03, tambourine enters at 1’10 and bodhran enters theme at 1’46, creating a theme with an atmosphere of a festive occasion, merrymaking and celebrating with drinking

Graham D’Ancey

2’21

30. LAMENT

Solo Celtic harp playing a lamenting, nostalgic and reminiscing theme

Barbara Mulree

3’04

31. CELTIC HARP

Solo Celtic Irish harp playing a nostalgic, yearning, tender, tranquil, sentimental, daydreaming and melancholy theme, evoking a memory of an earlier time and days gone by

Graham D’Ancey

1’17

32. BLACK BEAR

This theme, played on warpipes, is a martial tune dating back to the early 19th century.  Traditionally, Scottish march back to barracks to the sound of this rousing tune, which is played to lift weary hearts

Patrick King / Terence Trower

0’39

33. SETTLERS JIG

Medium up-tempo jig, played on violins, viola, tin whistles, Irish harp and bodhran, creating a light-hearted, jolly, happy atmosphere of joviality and merrymaking

Graham D’Ancey

1’10

34. MYST AND THUNDER

A haunting theme with a sense of yearning, played on tin whistle and tambour

Graham D’Ancey

1’26

35. INSTRUMENT OF WAR THEME

The theme from the award winning film series Instrument of War and The Great Highland Bagpipe of the same name, the powerful story of the great Highland bagpipe, narrated by Tom Conti, Hannah Gordon, with special guest, Charlton Heston.  The series features Phil Collins, Jackie Stewart, Cappercaillie and the Prince of Wales.  The use of the pipes in war is very ancient among the Celtic people, from ancient times through to the Braveheart days of William Wallace, to the siege of the Alamo, the sound of the bagpipes have struck terror into the enemy.  For more information on the films from Highland Classics email:  films@highlandclassics.com and at the website www.highlandclassics.com

Patrick King / Terence Trower

2’00

36. CELTIC BLESSING

Lilting solo Welsh harp, romantic, happy, joyful, bright, animated, playful theme

Graham D’Ancey

1’15

37. POOKA JIG

Mandolin starts theme, violin enters at 0’34, joined by bodhran at 0’46, creating a lively, up-tempo jig portraying a sense of mischief, joviality and playfulness, played on mandolin, violin and bodhran

Graham D’Ancey

1’56

38. SCOTS AND IRISH

Nostalgic theme played on solo flute, Celtic influences of Ireland and Scotland

Patrick King / Terence Trower

0’29

39. NOSTALGIC AIR 2

Slow Celtic air played on solo violin and Celtic harp, creating an atmosphere that is nostalgic, pensive, wistful, daydreaming, longing and creating a sense of an earlier time

Graham D’Ancey

1’38

40. HIGHLAND LADDIE

Played on bagpipes, the historical origin of this tune is hundreds of years old, dating back to the 16th century.  In this version it is played at a tempo the piper would play leading his men into battle.  This tune was used by many Scottish regiments of the British army as their regimental march.

Patrick King / Terence Trower

0’41