Excellent CD for piping and celtic music enthusiasts
R. Gray | Maryland | 08/21/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The quality of playing and the diversity of instrumentation are some of this CD's greatest strengths. While it's not fair to compare this to a pure pipe and drum recording, it does have exceptional sound quality as far as pipe and drum recordings go. Too often, such recordings suffer from poor balance or tones that are either too tinny or too muted.
Bonnie Rideout's playing is always impressive - check out her other recordings if you haven't already. She gives the music a sensual quality that it would otherwise lack. She also has a fiery intensity that combines nicely with the pipes.
If you like percussion, you will appreciate this CD. The drumming is an interesting blend of traditional pipe and drum drumming with marching snares, bodhran and dombek. The drum break, Captian Chops, is a particular treat, combining marching snare drums with the traditional ensemble of pipe drumming.
The more common traditional songs benefit from original arrangements, and they are still great songs despite their popularity. If you like both pipe and drum music and celtic music, you will most certainly like this CD."
We need more rants!
David B. Moser Sr. | Cleveland, GA USA | 09/26/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"my good fortune put me in Wash,DC on saturday, saw the concert poster, and went. The Masonic Temple was a perfect setting for such fun,foot tapping music. The award winning Pipe band is something we can be proud to represent America. Watching the flurish drummers twirl the drum sticks adds to the great pipe music. Then to listen to Bonnie fiddle, accompanied by her drummer and guitar player for several tunes was wonderful. The end of the concert featured the The Pipes and Bonnie. The CD is this music since you missed the concert."
Incredible Bagpipes
Millertime | Pinehurst, North Carolina United States | 06/20/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Simply the finest single album of bagpipe music I've every heard. The amazing thing is they're even better live!"
Fantastic! America's Best Piping!
Millertime | 11/18/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This CD is great! CoW is America's best pipe band and it shows here in this CD. Even though I didn't like the fiddle messing up some of the tracks, it was a very cool mix most times and the music really rocks! And, of course, they are very very cool to see live. I saw them before they went to Worlds last year and wow! City of Washington is great!"
Probably the best Piping CD out there !!
David M.Craig | 08/31/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is an incredible CD. I defy anyone not to be moved when they hear track # #, the Gospel Version of Amazing Grace, with the violin opening, followed by one, then a whole band, of pipers.The tune "Dunblane " is equally as moving, the the old standby's such as Mist Covered Mountains and Scotland the Brave are great."