The Lone Piper

For centuries pipers and drummers have held an important role within the military. Marking calls to action throughout the day, performing at celebrations and keeping morale up during times of conflict. These musicians play a significant part in modern military keeping this musical heritage alive today.  

Within Scottish Regiments, calls to action are briefed with the sound of the bagpipes. In addition to their daily soldiering duties, a Lone Piper will play their pipes to signify routine commands. Each call has a different  tune, that the Battalion will recognise and understand. Here are just some examples of traditional calls and their corresponding tunes: 

Wake-Up: “Johnny Cope” 

Breakfast:  “Brose and Butter” 

Retreat:  “The Green Hills of Tyrol” 

Last Post: “Lochaber no More” 

Lights Out: “Sleep, Dearie Sleep” 

Since by-gone times, pipers have also played alongside marching drills to keep time and boost spirits. Historically, each regiment has their own tune which a representative of the Battalion will perform alongside the march.  

This long-standing connection with music is evidenced in times of conflict, when pipers have brought the sound of home with them to the battlefield. There are famous cases of pipers during the First and Second World War who were awarded medals of gallantry for their bravery. Playing their pipes at great peril to bring strength and morale to their fellow soldiers during the darkest of times.  

Lone  Pipers also hold a special position within The British Royal Household. Since 1843, when Queen Victoria first introduced the office of Piper to the Sovereign, the reigning Monarch has had their own personal Piper. The Piper’s main duty is to play under the Sovereign’s window every morning, a tradition that His Majesty King Charles has continued. Every morning at 09:00, the Sovereign Piper will play a selection of songs under His Majesty’s window for 15 minutes. In addition to this duty, the Lone Piper also plays at state occasions such as banquets and ceremonial events. Most recently, the Sovereign’s Piper, Pipe Major Paul Burns of The Royal Regiment of Scotland, a previous Tattoo Lone Piper, performed traditional lament “Sleep, Dearie, Sleep” during the service of the late, Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral at Westminster Abbey. 

At our event, The Lone Piper is a key part of the performance marking a poignant moment of reflection and signifying the end of the night.  

Pipe Major George Stoddart became the first Tattoo Lone Piper when he took up the mantle in 1950. Having served in the Second World War, Stoddart was a talented piper who held the position for the next 11 years. He was such an influential part of our event that 60 years later, in 2010, his son Major (Retd) Gavin Stoddart stood in his father’s footsteps atop the Castle Ramparts, to perform “Sleep Dearie Sleep” on his father’s bagpipes.   

History was made again in 1977, when Officer Cadet, Elaine Marnoch became the first female Lone Piper to perform at our Show playing Piobaireachd tune “Lament for Mary MacLeod, the Skye Poetess”. Following this, making her own mark in the Tattoo’s history, Lance Bombardier Megan Beveridge followed by becoming the first regular female soldier to perform as Lone Piper in 2016, aged just 21 years old.  

In the past, the Lone Piper duty fell to one individual, however in recent years the Lone Piper position has been shared by up to five performers during the August run. In addition to learning music by heart, the piper must have a stomach for heights as they stand hundreds of feet above the Edinburgh Castle Esplanade. Before the times of health and safety the role included true jeopardy with pipers standing on a small platform next to a sheer drop. Nowadays, the Lone Piper is securely harnessed to a custom-built platform ensuring their safety at all times.   

As well as recognizable songs such as “Sleep Dearie Sleep” and “Flowers of The Forest”, the Tattoo has featured a wide variety of Lone Piper tunes, from Regimental to Piobaireachd, and specially composed music to mark key anniversaries such as the tune “The Immortal Memory” that was composed and performed in 1996 to commemorate Robert Burns.  

In 2022, The Lone Piper performed “Guth a’ Phìobaire” (The Voice of the Piper) a song composed especially for our Voices Show by experience piper and Tattoo Production Manager, Major Stevie Small MBE. 

Next August, when the finale begins and the lights dim, make sure to cast your eyes skywards to the Castle Ramparts and listen for the drone of the pipes. As an event, we’re proud to share the Lone Piper performance, a much-loved element of military and Scottish tradition.  

Tickets for our 2023 Show Stories are available now, get yours online or by phoning +44 (0) 131 225 1188.