Search - Pipes & Drums, Spirit of the Highlands :: Scots Guards

Scots Guards on Display

Roger Kennedy | 02/24/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a very good recent recording of the pipes and drums of the 1st battalion, the Scots Guards. The Scots Guards were the first Scots unit to tour the States in 1955, and thus made a very big impression. They were the main word in piping over here before the Black Watch took over the show! The Scots Guards have toured many times since, but unfortunately it has been a while since they have done so. Thats why its good to see a new CD by the pipes and drums which have also not recorded in a while. Under Pipe Major Macdonald, the band sounds very impressive. The playing is sharpe, and the selection of tunes is very good. The medleys are well arranged and played as only a top army pipe band can do. The listener might find it interesting to compare how the band sounds today with the older sounding recordings which are available here as well. Here one can discern that the style of playing has changed over the years. The older rope tension drums have been replaced by the newer Premier drums, which produce a very sharpe and less deep tone. Purists like myself prefer the older sound, as it is more martial in nature. The modern drums are almost jazzy, and do not belong in an army pipe band in my opinion. In years past the Scots Guards use to have two battalions, thus there were two pipe bands, which when combined produced an impressive sound. Today only the 1st battalion remains. Again, the older recordings will give the listener that opportunity to hear the massed pipes of the Scots Guards. The Scots Guards also use the standard double three beat intro for the drums in this CD, instead of the longer single five beat drum roll which normally introduces the pipes in the Scots Guards and Guards regiments as a whole. Its odd that they would do this, almost as if the style of playing was intended to be civilian-like for this CD, instead of more army style playing. Still, this is a most excellent CD which the discerning pipe listener should enjoy. The CD notes on the band and current Pipe major are also good. Recommended."