I believe it was recorded and performed live in 1978 by Zamfir (master of the pan-pipes) with James Last & Orchestra, recently used on the Kill Bill movie soundtrack. James Last is known for doing orchestral covers of all kinds of pre-written music across a hugely prolific career, but he actually penned The Lonely Shepherd himself. As for the exact year of writing I'm not sure, but the late 1970s seem to be the most likely time.
It's German and it means 'Lonely Shepherd'
Obadiah Shepherd has written: 'A letter from Obadiah Shepherd to Doctor. Zealwag. ..'
Fran Shepherd has written: 'Fashion index'
Thomas Shepherd Munden has written: 'Memoirs of Joseph Shepherd Munden, comedian'
G. Shepherd has written: 'Inside Residential Care'
Herman Robert Shepherd has written: 'Aerosols'
J. Shepherd has written: 'Basic electrical engineering'
John Shepherd has written: 'Higher electrical engineering'
E. S. Shepherd has written: 'Photography of colour'
Roy Elmer Shepherd has written: 'History of the rose'
R. H. Shepherd has written: 'The bibliography of Ruskin'
Eric Shepherd has written: 'Police Station Skills for Legal Advisers'