Set Tunes2025-09-25T08:07:01+00:00

Set Tunes 2026

The Clasp Competition 

Open to previous winners of the Highland Society of London’s Gold Medal at the Argyllshire Gathering or Northern Meeting. The competition will be held under the Rules of the Northern Meeting.

Tunes – Competitors will submit six tunes from The Piobaireachd Society list of Set Tunes 2026, one of which they will be required to play.

Tune list is available at https://www.piobaireachd.co.uk/set-tunes-archives

The selection of tunes to be consistent with the conditions stated there by the Society.


The Highland Society of London’s Gold Medal

Tunes – Competitors will submit four of the following tunes, one of which they will be required to play. Tunes marked with an asterisk (*) require Crunluaths a mach. Please see Piobaireachd Society website for further information.

First prize winners in this event at any former Gathering of the Northern Meeting are excluded. Entry is restricted to those already notified of their eligibility to compete by the joint committee of the Argyllshire Gathering and Northern Meeting in the year of the competition. The competitions will be held under the Rules of the Northern Meeting.

The Finger Lock* PS1, K

The Pride of Barra* PS5, K

Lady MacDonald’s Lament PS8, K

The MacDonalds are Simple* PS9

Port Urlar PS12

Lament for Airds* PS13

Fare Thee Well Donald PS14

Lament for Captain Donald MacKenzie PS15

Silver Medal Competition 

Entry is restricted to those already notified of their eligibility to compete by the Joint Committee of the Argyllshire Gathering and Northern Meeting in the year of the competition.

Tunes: Competitors will submit four of the following tunes, one of which they will be required to play.  Tunes marked with an asterisk (*) require Crunluaths a mach. Please see Piobaireachd Society website for further information.

Lament for the Castle of Dunyveg PS1

Nameless Hiharin dro o dro PS4, K

The Earl of Seaforth’s Salute PS5, K

The King’s Taxes PS5, K

Beloved Scotland PS6, K

The Rout of Glenfruin* PS8, K

The Battle of Bealach nam Brog PS9

Farewell to the Laird of Islay* PS9

Lament for the Iolaire Donald MacLeod Piob 2019 edition

Lament for John Morrison of Assynt House Donald MacLeod Piob 2019 edition

Competitors are not restricted to settings in the Piobaireachd Society Collection and Kilberry Book. Those who wish to play alternative settings should submit legible scores, indicating the origins of the settings, to competition organisers along with their tune selections.

PS = Piobaireachd Society Collection K = Kilberry Book of Ceol Mor.

The Donald MacLeod and PS 20th Century Piobaireachd collections have been corrected and re-printed recently in A4 format, and it is recommended, where possible, these be used as the sources for the tunes.

Different tunes known by the same or similar names will not be accepted as altenatives.

March, Strathspey & Reel (Former Winners)

Open only to former winners of the March, Strathspey and Reel “A” competition, and its predecessor competitions

Competitors must submit six Marches, Strathspeys and Reels and will be required to play two different March, Strathspey and Reel tunes.

March, Strathspey & Reel (Grade A)

Entry is restricted to those already notified of their eligibility to compete.

Competitors must submit six Marches, Strathspeys and Reels and will be required to play one of each, once through.


March, Strathspey & Reel (Grade B)

Entry is restricted to those already notified of their eligibility to compete.

Competitors must submit four Marches, Strathspeys and Reels and will be required to play one of each, once through.

Hornpipe & Jig (Grade P & A)

Entry is restricted to those already notified of their eligibility to compete in MSR (Grades P & A). Competitors must submit two tunes of each and are required to play one of each.

Hornpipe & Jig (Grade B)

Entry is restricted to those already notified of their eligibility to compete in MSR (Grade B).

Competitors own choice of tunes to be played.