A National Collective Borders initiative
Border pipes: Bill Telfer, Matt Seattle
Fiddle: Eric Falconer, Matt Seattle
Bass: Phil Clayton
Guitar: Matt Seattle
Engineer: Scott Mitchell, Soundwaves Hawick
Muse: Irene Beston
Theme for the Early Days of a Better Nation ©2013 Matt Seattle

Theme for the Early Days of a Better Nation (initial Demo)

My radical reinterpretation of the traditional Border & Northumbrian pipe tune, with brilliant accompaniment from bandmates Donald, Fraser and Lewis.
From the 'Reivers of the Heart' CD.
Visit https://www.mattseattle.scot/shop

Reivers Of The Heart

Cut And Dry Dolly

As well as his brilliant original lyrics, Robert Burns wrote new verses for many beautiful auld Scots sangs, several of which sit beautifully on the Lowland / Border bagpipes.
Matt with Donald, Lewis, Morag and Frazer

I Love My Love In Secret

Souters of Selkirk from William Dixon's 1733 collection of Border Pipe Tunes.
Played by Matt Seattle on Border Pipes in 4-part harmony.
Recorded in 2001 by David Kilpatrick for 'Breaking Down The Borders' JAMCD1
Image: Statue of Souter, Selkirk © Copyright Barbara Carr and licensed for reuse under Creative Commons Licence

Souters of Selkirk

An extended full band version of the tune which later became "Oh Dear, What Can The Matter Be".

Willie Bides Lang At The Fair

Two classic triple time Border Bagpipe hornpipes from WIlliam Vickers' 1770 manuscript from Border Directors' CD Lowp Till Ye Cowp
http://www.dragonflymusic.co.uk/ltyc.html

Border Directors: Jack's Gone A-Shearing & Bonny Miller

Theme for the Early Days of a Better Nation
Sung by Jackie McGuckian, recorded by Tommy Roseburgh for the Bella Caledonia 'Songs for Scotland' album.
Music & Border Pipes: Matt Seattle
Lyrics: David Finnie / Matt Seattle
Guitars: Donald Knox / Matt Seattle
Fiddles: Iain Fraser
Bass: Phil Clayton

Theme for the Early Days of a Better Nation

MSB mixes mp3

The Oaks of Lochwood

Little Wee Winking Thing

A personal reading of the Northumbrian classic, played on Northumberland's 'other' bagpipe, the Border pipes.

Felton Lonnen

A first time is rarely perfect, but often special - this one was joyful
Duns, Scottish Borders, 27 Feb 2016, Matt Seattle Band's first public performance of O'er the Dunion, a Jedi Reel.

O'er The Dunion MSB 27 Feb 2016 Duns

The tune is so good that there had to be more of it.
From the 2001 album Border Seasons, Matt with the McFalls

Border Seasons

Now Westlin Winds

Recorded 2001.
I am grateful to Robert McFall for his stunning string arrangement for Herons In Winter: taking advantage of the tune’s modal ambiguity (there’s no c or c#), it raises it to a higher expressive level and paints vivid pictures of Winter in the mind.

Herons In Winter

Anthemic performance of the Galashiels town tune
Matt Seattle: Border Pipes
Lewis Powell-Reid: Accordion

Sour Plums O' Galashiels

A bowl of soup in Hawick's improbable café provides the nourishment for this pipe reel in maqam hijaz.

Damascus Drum

Irene's Tune

Grown from a traditional air to the ballad of Thomas Rhymer, the 13th century seer of Earlston. The Rhymer's journey pushes the envelope of Border music beyond reason.
From the 2011 Reivers of the Heart CD.

Thomas The Rhymer Suite

Composed and arranged by Matt Seattle. A little water music with Mr McFall's Strings, from the 2001 Border Seasons CD. Eddlestone Water becomes the Cuddy in Peebles where it joins the Tweed.

Cuddyside

Sweet Soul Music of the Borders - the title means 'If you were mine'. A track from the 1999 Out of the Flames CD, DGM9907, produced by Steafan Hannigan. The tune is  from William Dixon's 1733 manuscript.

An Thou Were My Ain Thing

From the 1999 Out of the Flames CD produced by Steafan Hannigan. The five tunes are
The Wood Of Fyvie; Such A Wife As Willy Had; Linkumdoddie; The Oyster Wife's Rant; Ratho Fair. Sheet music for these tunes is in the book 'Over the Hills and Far Away' from dragonflymusic.co.uk

The Fyvie Set

Mainly focussed on the revitalisation of the Border piping tradition, this soundcloud page gives a sample of Matt’s activities in various settings including the bands of which he is a member.

Matt Seattle & Friends

Popular tracks