A Bibliography of Bagpipe Music

Abstract

Serious students of the bagpipe have waited eagerly for this book, ever since the author gave a foretaste of it in a paper presented at the Piobaireachd Society Conference in 1976 (printed in its Proceedings, Vol. 4); and they will not be disappointed. However, it should be understood that coverage is limited to the British Isles, and that, naturally enough, Highland bagpipes get the lion's share. The book begins with a lengthy bibliographic essay on bagpipe music publications, their editors and their publishers. In the bibliography proper (sub-divided according to types of bagpipe), only volumes consisting primarily of music are described, and the works listed range in date from the mid-18th century to 1975. A book of this nature caters to two kinds of reader. On the one hand, it should be useful to anyone interested in British music history, in bibliography, or in the history of musical instruments. On the other hand, it will serve the needs of practising pipers, particularly Highland pipers, who may not be aware of the extensive literature for their instrument, and would like to fill gaps in their collections, with the aid of the plain paper copier. Thus Dr. Cannon gives locations of all books, in the hope "that librarians and others interested in music will be encouraged to gather a complete collection of bagpipe music under one roof for the first time" (p. 2). The book is a mine of exact information on a complex and confused subject, and one marvels at the labour it must have entailed. Nevertheless it is incomplete, and the following notes are offered in a spirit of friendly cooperation and the hope that a revised edition will be put out. Furthermore, many new titles have appeared since 1975.