The Hallowed Brae Concert Band & Bagpipes

Composed by Ian Macpherson BEM and Scott Morton, and arranged by Ian Macpherson BEM, “The Hallowed Brae” unfolds as a richly scored piece for bagpipes, drums, and concert band, evoking a sweeping musical narrative steeped in Scottish heritage. Opening with a gentle, atmospheric introduction, the bagpipes set a plaintive tone over sustained harmonic textures in the winds, as if unveiling the brae in the soft light of dawn.

The work gradually builds in colour and intensity, with interwoven woodwind lines, warm brass harmonies, and subtle percussion adding depth and resonance. Melodic fragments pass between the solo piper and the band, suggesting echoes of history and the voices of the past carried on the wind.

As the music progresses, dynamic surges and rhythmic flourishes bring a sense of gathering purpose, evoking scenes of Highland life—from solemn remembrance to spirited assembly. Broad crescendos lead to full-ensemble passages where the pipes soar above a rich orchestral foundation, before the work subsides once more into a reflective, dignified conclusion, leaving the image of the hallowed brae etched in the listener’s mind.