Updated
November 26th 2008

THE DAY IT DAWS
The Lowland Scots Bagpipe and its Music 1400-1715

 


price  £15.00
98 A4 pages
music for 118 tunes


 

 

by Pete Stewart

‘Now who shall play 'The Day it Daws'?’ asks the 17th century elegy that mourns the passing of Habbie Simson, the most celebrated of those pipers who were once such a feature of life in the Scottish  Lowlands.
 In the first volume of his history of the Lowland bagpipers, Pete Stewart draws on contemporary literary sources and burgh records to explore the social role of these pipers and their music, from the earliest days to the first appearance of written bagpipe music at the beginning of the 18th century.

 

samples and sounds

 
   



‘The Day it Daws’ is one of the most ancient of Lowland pipers’ tunes. It is presented here in its late 15th century form, along with over a hundred other tunes, many of which are mentioned in 15th to 17th century sources as having been played by pipers. Together they begin the process of reclaiming this lost tradition.

“In bringing together this splendid repertoire with the historical context within which it was set, Pete Stewart has set a new standard in the published scholarship of the lowland piping tradition. His research is  meticulous and penetrating yet remains highly readable throughout. ... a synthesis of music and history that greatly enhances our understanding of both. That is why this book represents a great leap forward in the onward march of the lowland bagpipe tradition.”

Dr Gary West
Department of Celtic and Scottish Studies
University of Edinburgh
 Download Audio tracks of tunes from the book
(Pete Stewart plays Scottish Smallpipes)		  
Piva 2.4MB
Scotch Morisco (Playford) 4.6MB
Scottish Hunts Up (Mynshall Manuscript) 4.6MB