A STARZ Original Series From Executive Producer Ronald D. Moore: Outlander

[OC Richard]

I just skimmed through the 18 pages to see if anyone has mentioned the music. I didn't notice any.

The music is by our local (Hollywood) guy Bear McCreary, who did some very interesting music for Battlestar Galactica, mixing orchestral, Celtic, and Arabic musical styles to great effect.

Composers tend to stick by their cadre of trusted musicians, so I expect many of the same people to be involved with Outlander, with Eric Rigler on Highland pipes and uilleann pipes and perhaps low whistles, Chris Bleth on flutes, whistles, and duduks, and a couple Oingo Boingo guys on drums and guitars.

Here's an interview with Bear in which he mentions being happy to be able to use the bagpipes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdbEnWwdyV0

(I've worked for Bear, he's a really cool guy.)

Here you can hear the Highland pipes under the vocals, with the uilleann pipes at the end.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrusSXEEv1M

Quite appropriate, because in the 18th century the instrument we call 'uilleann pipes' was being widely made and played in Scotland. Nowadays we (incorrectly) think of the uilleann pipes as being uniquely Irish.

The Skye Boat Song has an odd melody, odd in that it starts and ends on the 5th.

About Outlander, I've never heard of the books and my only knowledge of the show, before reading this thread, was seeing a TV commercial. Sounds interesting!