"Lament for the Son of King Aro" (in gaelic, "Cumha Mhic Righ Aro") is a traditional tune for the Great Highland Bagpipe. It falls in the "classical" genre of bagpipe music, which is known as piobaireachd (pronounced "pibroch").

This tune is not found in the Kilberry or Piobaireachd Society books, and is not part of the modern repertoire. The primary source for this setting is a book called "The Piobaireachd of Simon Fraser with Canntaireachd", edited by Dr. B. J. MacLachlan Orme, pages 100 - 101 (self-published, 2nd ed. 1985). Inspiration for the setting came from a recording of the tune by Andrew Wright on his cd Pipers of Distinction (1989 Monarch Recordings).

The present setting follows the Orme/Fraser setting more or less exactly. The setting is modernized somewhat.

In addition to the Orme book, there is a published setting of the tune in canntaireachd form under the title "Caugh Vic Righ Aro, A Lament" by Niel MacLeod, Gesto. Gesto's book (pdf warning) is rather ponderously titled "A Collection of Piobaireachd or Pipe Tunes as Verbally Taught by the McCruemmen Pipers in the Isle of Skye to their Apprentices" (Alex Lawrie & Co., 1828).

Additional information may be found on the pibroch.net website.

-- JNS 2/6/2023

2023 version

2023 version

2023 version