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Selected Compositions
The pdf files below are being made available for download by donation. The suggested donations are based on prices of downloadable commercial sheet music of comparable size. If you want to download more than one file, you can add your donations together and make one deposit.
Tunes for Northumbrian smallpipes
The following tunes and other compositions were written for Northumbrian smallpipes, specifically the set that I own and play. Many of the tunes are playable on pipes with more common key arrangements, so I’ve made them available here. (Note to non-pipers: Northumbrian smallpipes come with differing numbers of keys, with 7 being something of a standard and giving a nominal range from d’-b”. The pdfs of selected tunes are available in two editions, one with everything notated at concert pitch (this will be most convenient to players of other instruments, such as fiddle, concertina, etc.) and the other notated in the keys most accessible to Northumbrian pipers. The “concert pitch” versions are the original versions of the tunes. Some of the “Northumbrian piper’s” versions have been altered slightly to make them more playable on pipes with more common key arrangements than mine. To hear the MP3 example of each tune, click on the name of the tune.
My Ain Kind Dearie, from the CD Big Music for Northumbrian Smallpipes
A 9-minute variation set for solo Northumbrian smallpipes based on the version in Peacock’s tunes, with 5 additional variations. Requires high and low Cs, and F nat. Probably also good on violin.
DOWNLOAD sheet music: My Ain Kind Dearie
Suggested Donation: $4.00
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Mysteries of Knock, from the CD Big Music for Northumbrian Smallpipes
A tune from Ryan’s Mammoth Collection of 1883, with a mix of new Northumbrian-style and Irish-style variations. Playable on 7-key chanter.
DOWNLOAD sheet music: Mysteries of Knock
Suggested Donation: $2.00
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Ensemble Compositions with Northumbrian Smallpipes
A 4-minute slow lament for Northumbrian smallpipes (D set), flute, violin and either guitar or harp ad lib, with optional cello.
From a review by Peter Dyson: “The slow air Mackenzie's Misfortune, from Dick Hensold is destined to become a classic. It is a gorgeous tune with some unusual progressions, and it stays in the memory a long time after the CD has finished playing.
DOWNLOAD sheet music: MacKenzie’s Misfortune
Suggested Donation: $5.00
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First Leaves of Spring, from the CD Big Music for Northumbrian Smallpipes
A slow air for Northumbrian smallpipes (D set), whistle, violin and either guitar or harp ad lib. This was written so that each player leads the rhythm in different places, each listening and weaving around the others. Has high Cs, but can be adapted for 7-key chanter.
DOWNLOAD sheet music: First Leaves of Spring
Suggested Donation: $5.00
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Lance Robson's Jig, from the CD Big Music for Northumbrian Smallpipes
A 6-minute jig ending in a 4-voice fugue, for Northumbrian smallpipes (D or G set), flute, violin, viola, cello and guitar. The version for D set requires high C, both Fns, and a middle Bb, and the version for G set requires both Fns, low G#, and middle Bb.
DOWNLOAD sheet music: Lance Robson’s Jig, letter size layout
DOWNLOAD sheet music: Lance Robson’s Jig, A4 layout
Suggested Donation: $5.00
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Zoë Cansdale of Hartburn, from the CD Big Music for Northumbrian Smallpipes
A memorial piece that begins with a slow O’Carolan-style tune, which bridges into a highly-orchestrated slip jig. Scored for Northumbrian smallpipes (D set, will fit on a 7-key chanter but has optional high Cs), flute, violin, viola, cello and guitar, with optional harp ad lib.
DOWNLOAD sheet music: Zoë Cansdale of Hartburn
Suggested Donation: $8.00
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Hartburn Hornpipe, from the CD Big Music for Northumbrian Smallpipes
A trio for 3 sets of Northumbrian smallpipes, with optional chords for use with F sets. All parts playable on 7-key chanters.
DOWNLOAD sheet music: Hartburn Hornpipe
Suggested Donation: $2.00
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Written as an experiment to see how far one could modulate with fixed-pitch drones. Scored for Northumbrian smallpipes (D set), whistle or flute, violin and either guitar or harp ad lib, with optional cello. Also playable as a Northumbrian smallpipes solo with or without chordal accompaniment.
DOWNLOAD sheet music: Cahan O’Hara Rondeau
Suggested Donation: $5.00
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Ivory and Dan
Coming soon.
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Chromatic Hornpipe
Coming soon.
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Highland Pipe Music
Highland Pipe tunes, opus 1, 6 slow tunes
DOWNLOAD sheet music: Coming Soon
Suggested Donation: $3.00
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Highland Pipe tunes, opus 1, 6 jigs
DOWNLOAD sheet music: Coming Soon
Suggested Donation: $3.00
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Highland Pipe tunes, opus 1, 4 reels and a 3/4 hornpipe
DOWNLOAD sheet music: Coming Soon
Suggested Donation: $2.00
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Other Compositions
An air for low whistle, obbligato cello and guitar or other chord instrument. First recorded by Troy MacGillivray in 2006. This sound sample is of the Misguided Fools, a trio with Dick Hensold, Michelle Kinney and Chris Cunningham.
DOWNLOAD sheet music: Dream at Dawn
Suggested Donation: $2.00
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The first two strains of the following set are from James Thomson's music book, a recorder manuscript from 1702, edited by David Johnson and © 1975 Forsyth Bros Ltd. The tune seems so much like a Border pipe tune, I have written variations based on the style of the Dixon manuscript of Border pipe music from the 1730s. It is playable on either Border pipes or alto recorder.
DOWNLOAD sheet music: Laird’s Good Brother for border bagpipes
DOWNLOAD sheet music: Laird’s Good Brother for alto recorder
Suggested Donation: $2.00
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A very early variation set, originally written for alto recorder.
DOWNLOAD sheet music: Variations on The Shepherd’s Wife for alto recorder
DOWNLOAD sheet music: Variations on The Shepherd’s Wife for flute, Nsp or practically anything else
Suggested Donation: $2.00
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Written in response to a request for "something with 57 in it" for a 57th birthday party, it seemed logical enough to make up a tune with 57 notes. This piece is formatted to fit in a birthday card. Originally for viola, it appears here in treble clef for any instrument.
DOWNLOAD sheet music: Tom’s 57 notes
Suggested Donation: $2.00
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A springar (a kind of Norwegian dance) for seljefløyte (a Norwegian willow-flute, basically a whistle with no fingerholes).
DOWNLOAD sheet music: Seljefløyte Springar
Suggested Donation: $2.00
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