Sgrìobhaidhean
Ceòlmhor's catalogue of original works spans the traditional compositional frameworks, and the modern approaches too — available for personal performance. Commissions are accepted for private, civic, and institutional occasions.
Named for the port town on the west Mainland of Orkney — a place of narrow flagstone streets, grey Atlantic light, and a musical tradition rooted in the far north. The piece is written in the slow, unhurried character of the air form, reflecting the contemplative quality of the Orcadian seaboard.
The trows are the small, mischievous fairy folk of Orcadian and Shetlandic tradition — fond of music, dancing, and leading travellers astray after dark. This jig is written to capture their nimble, unsettled character: quick, irregular, and not quite to be trusted.
Mons Meg is the great fifteenth-century bombard that still stands on the battlements of Edinburgh Castle — six tonnes of wrought iron, silent since 1681, overlooking a city that has grown around it for six hundred years. This contemporary piece is written to reflect both the mass and the stillness of the gun: slow-moving, deliberate, and rooted in place.
The title draws on the Gaelic root lìon — to fill, to flood, to brim. The piece moves with the unhurried weight of incoming water: a long, sustained melody that builds and recedes without urgency, written in the character of the classical Gaelic air form.
Written in the long tradition of pipe tunes that immortalise small disasters and cheerful misfortunes. Brogues — the sturdy leather shoes of the Celtic tradition — appear frequently in the folklore of Scotland and Ireland, and their disappearance here is treated with appropriate alarm. The piece is quick-footed and lively, in the spirit of the dance.
Named for the figure of authority at Leith harbour — Edinburgh's old port, now reclaimed by galleries and the permanent berth of the Royal Yacht Britannia, but once the commercial gateway of the capital. Written in the direct, square-cut character of the 4/4 march: purposeful, forward-moving, and suited to parade or competition.
Named for the long, narrow peninsula that reaches south from Campbeltown toward the Irish coast. On a clear day, Northern Ireland is visible from the Mull of Kintyre — there is a closeness across the water that the rest of Scotland barely registers. The reel is written with that sense of proximity: quick, open, and carried on the wind.
Named for the upland country above the village of Balquhidder in Stirling — resting place of Rob Roy MacGregor and one of the quieter, less-visited corners of the Trossachs. The strathspey's characteristic dotted snap carries through every bar: assertive, proud, and rooted in the heather-covered braes of the Highland boundary.
Greenock's customs house stood at the heart of one of Scotland's busiest eighteenth-century ports, processing tobacco, sugar, and an Atlantic trade that flowed in both directions. The hornpipe is written in the rolling, seafaring character of the form — built for movement, and rooted in the maritime world that produced it.
A classical ceòl mòr composition in the form of a lament. The title means "Lament for the Wood" — a reference to the disappearance of Scotland's native Caledonian forest, cleared first for cattle and later for sheep from glens once thick with Scots pine and birch. The ground is built from a sparse, falling theme; the variations observe the structural conventions of the classical form.
All compositions © Ceòlmhor. All rights reserved. Sheet music is licensed for personal and private performance use only. For commercial recording, broadcast, competitive performance, or any other use, contact Ceòlmhor to discuss licensing terms.
A commission produces an original piece written specifically for your occasion — premiered at the event or delivered as a finished score, depending on the nature of the engagement.
From £250
Fixed fee agreed before work begins
Best for
Individuals and families commissioning a piece for a personal occasion — wedding, memorial, anniversary, or family celebration.
Individually agreed
Following initial brief
Best for
Directors, producers, advertisers, and brands requiring original piping music for film, television, documentary, podcast, or commercial use.
Individually agreed
Following initial consultation
Best for
Civic bodies, military units, cultural institutions, and organisations commissioning a piece of ceremony, heritage, or lasting cultural significance.
Enquire
Describe your occasion, the type of piece you have in mind, and how you intend to use it. Select Composition on the Enquire page to get started.
Consultation
A brief conversation by phone or email to understand the occasion, the mood, any cultural or personal references, and the intended use.
Composition
The piece is composed to the agreed brief. A reference recording is shared for feedback. One round of revisions is incorporated.
Delivery
The final typeset score is delivered as a PDF, accompanied by an audio reference recording. Licensing terms are confirmed in writing.
Standard commissions are completed within four to six weeks of confirmed brief and payment of the commission fee. Timeline for institutional commissions is agreed individually.
Available as an addition to any premium performance package — Highland Package, The Grand Supper, The Hogmanay Engagement, The Full Engagement, or Ceilidh & Dance Evening. The commission fee is in addition to the performance package fee. Enquire at the time of booking or through the performance enquiry process.
To commission a piece as part of a performance booking, indicate this in your performance enquiry. The commission will be confirmed and scoped as part of the booking process.