Search - Pipes and Drums of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards: Highland Cathedral on DVD

Excellent!

Todd | 12/18/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Hearing this great pipeband is made even better by seeing them in action at some of Scotland's most beautiful sites. This is a "must get" for anyone into Scottish music and history."

Second To None

Roger Kennedy | 02/02/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The DVD version of this very fine video of the Pipes & Drums of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards is not much different than the VHS. The sound and picture quality is probably better, and there are a few extras about the history of the regiment.

Since losing their regimantal band in 1994, the pipes & drums have been soldiering on without them. It was hoped that perhaps they might have continued a little of that great music with the band of the Dragoon Guards but this didn't happen. With their demise now as well it does not seem that the combined sound of band and pipes well be the same as it was in the golden years of the Scots DGs music history.

"Highland Cathedral" is an attempt to carry on the "Amazing Grace" tradition and the Scots DGs do a great job with a variety of support elements. The Band of the Light Division is in the musical background with Graham Jones directing, but unfortunately we never get to see them with the pipes & drums. Interesting to note that the early 2008 USA tour of the Coldstream Guards and Royal Scots Dragoon Guards had Graham Jones now directing the Coldstreamers. With keyboards, various brass intruments and other background effects the pipes & drums of the Scots DGs show that they still have the innovative spirit.

The video would have been enhanced with the old regimental band, or any of the current bands of the Royal Armored Corps that were still around in 1998 when this was made. Still, it is a nice production with some great scenic views of Scotland. The pipes & drums have combined tourism with tradition here and it is a winning combination. Interesting to add that the CD released under this title has some slight differences in the music chosen. More 6/8 marches are used in the video for the marching I guess.

This DVD should be a popular item with the 2008 USA Tour, and shows that the innovative spirit that made the Scots DGs #1 with "Aamazing Grace" is still alive and well. The band are also shortly to release a another new CD in Feb 2008 which will have many of these arrangments as well as new selections. Nulli Secondus!"

Royal Scots DGs on Video

Roger Kennedy | 05/31/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a fine video of the pipes and drums of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards (Carabiniers & Greys) The band performs various selections at famous historical sites throughout Scotland. World reknowned for their original hit "Amazing Grace" back in 1972, the Royal Scots DGs have been active in the recording world over the years since. Unfortunately the pipes and drums soldier on now without their famous military band. The band was downsized in 1994 and has become a slightly larger divisional band known as the Dragoon Guards band, with links to several regiments besides the Royal Scots DGs. While the video is still good with just the pipes and drums, in my opinion it could have been so much better if the band was still around. Too bad they did not try and use the Dragoon Guards band as well. Some of the arrangements with key boards and the like are just not the same, although the Royal Scots DGs show that they are still innovative in trying out new sounds and combinations, just as they use to be when they had the military band. There is a CD which accompanies this recording as well, although with slight variations in the music selected. Listeners will enjoy seeing one of the top pipe bands of the British army going through their paces on this video, and the scenery shots of the band on location are impressive. Pipe band people should also enjoy as well."

Lacking A Little Bit!

M. J. McDonald | Texas, USA | 04/30/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is a great pipe band, and I enjoyed some of the DVD. Call me old fashioned? I probably wouldn't have bought it if I'd known they were using some contemporary sounds. Several songs I tried to listen to with an open mind, but ended up fast forwarding. I didn't mind the orchestra when it was purely background music but
in a few pieces, they brought in a bit of a "rock n' roll" twangy sound
that I hated!"