Search - Band of the Black Watch :: Sands of Time

Sands of Time - Needed More

John Nichols | 12/29/2001

(1 out of 5 stars)

"Dissapointing album. Not what you are accustomed to hearing if you enjoy superior piping and bands. Quality of recording is poor with a small collection of standard pipe tunes played in a less than inspired performance. Recommend you try another album."

Odd Collection of Combined Music

Roger Kennedy | 01/10/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"One of the things that makes this CD worthwhile is that its played by the regimental band of the Black Watch, who no longer exisit. They are now part of th Highland band of the Scottish Division. With current proposed cuts this band may no longer be around much longer as well! Norman Rogerson was director of music of the old regimental band back in the 1970s. He took the band on several highly successful USA tours with the pipes and drums. He was something of a maverick personality and gave the regimental band a lot noterity. Under his direction the popular "Scotch on the Rocks" was created for band and pipes. This tune had a brief spell of popularity but never quite became another "Amazing Grace". Under Rogerson the band put out a number of LPs with odd mixtures of combined music. A lot of these were rather tongue and cheek and were intended for popular or easy listening. I think with these recordings the regimental band was trying to break into a popular market. The end result was that it satisfied neither! The Black Watch wanted to become like the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards. They never quite succeeded on the same level. It is surprising of all these recordings that this one should be chosen for CD format. The buyer may be interested for its vintage value of the regimental band, but will find many of the selections and arrangements a bit odd."