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Scots Guards USA Tour

Roger Kennedy | 03/21/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is the recording from the 1972 Scots Guards coast to coast USA tour. The regimental band was under the direction of Major James Howe, one of the dynamic directors of music for this band. His arrangments truly make the most of the band's impressive resouces. The recording quality is also top notch, even though this is an older recording, you won't find anything better today. The band sounds bright and crisp. Since this is a USA tour alot of the music reflects that. Still, you won't find any better versions of these selections out there. There are also some good marches of the better known variety which are exceedingly well played and recorded. The massed pipes and drums of the 1st and 2nd battalions of the Scots Guards sound wonderful as well. The pipe band medlys are excellent. In particular the dance medly is most thrilling with simulated shouts and cries of the Highland Dancers as the music plays the rapid reels that they normally dance to. This is thrilling stuff! The bands combine wonderfully for some medleys of popular scots tunes. Here we see the genius of Howe's arrangments as he has the band alternate with the pipes for a truly moving effect. The finale has all the ingredients of a good combined concert by two excellent bands, distinct in their quality of music, but woven together to provide a truly moving conclusion to an exciting recording. Originally released as an LP, the CD version has retained the same tonal qualities of the records, providing the listener a top quality musical portrait of the Scots Guards during their 1972 tour. This is martial music at its best, raised almost to the level of an art form. The Scots Guards were the first bands brought over to inaguarate what has become a bi-annual tradition of visiting British/Scottish bands in the USA. You won't find a better example of this than on this recording. Strongly recommended for both the casual and serious listener of this kind of music. Listen and enjoy!"