Rich heritage of melodies encompasses old favourites and modern classics

most people are asked to think of music played by the Highland bagpipe their thoughts turn to tunes like “Scotland the Brave” and “The Green Hills of Tyrol”.

But those perennial favourites of pipe bands, give little clue of the diverse repertoire that the best pipers have at their fingertips.

Take, for example, the pibroch Lament for the Children. Composed in the 1650s after the famous piper Patrick Mor Maccrimmon lost seven of his eight children to small pox, it has been described as the most beautiful single line melody in European music.

Then there is the pibroch Macintosh’s Lament, which is said to have provided the inspiration for Dvorak’s New World Symphony.

Queen Victoria’s piper Angus Mackay is credited with developing simple marching tunes into more complicated and highly embellished pieces of music.

His tunes Highland Wedding and Abercairney Highlanders are examples of the genre. The Little Cascade, an unusual but highly melodic reel composed to the sound of a dripping tap, by Pipe Major George Mclennan of the Gordon Highlanders, is a classic of the early 20th century. As is his reel Mrs Macpherson of Inveran.

Another great composer was John Maccoll. His complex and musical marches such as John Macfadyen of Melfort are still played in competition today.

Susan Macleod is a sophisticated strathspey composed by another giant of the 20th century - Pipe Major Donald Macleod of the Seaforth Highlanders.

In more recent times the late Gordon Duncan from Pitlowhen chry composed highly original tunes which have made their way into the repertoires of musicians from way beyond the piping scene.

The modern pipe band has developed the use of harmony in piping with the 78th Fraser Highlanders from Canada pioneering piping “suites” such as their evocative Journey to Skye.