Black Watch White House 1963

[neloon]

Came across this video of the Black Watch playing at the White House in 1963. The Major is, of course, frightfully "English"! The dancers among us might have some comments on the dancing styles.

https://www.facebook.com/craig.rober...UwMjA4OTMzNzA/

Alan

[huntgathergrow]

Came across this video of the Black Watch playing at the White House in 1963. The Major is, of course, frightfully "English"! The dancers among us might have some comments on the dancing styles.

https://www.facebook.com/craig.rober...UwMjA4OTMzNzA/

Alan

Fantastic find. Thank you for sharing!

[Nomad]

The Major is, of course, frightfully "English"
https://www.facebook.com/craig.rober...UwMjA4OTMzNzA/Alan

Oh yes and of course needs no badges of rank, you can always spot an officer by the absolutely terrible way they salute.

[ThistleDown]

For more information on Brigadier (then Major) Mike Wingate Gray, refer to his obit in The Herald: www.heraldscotland.com/news/12063275.Brigadier_Mike_Wingate_Gray/. Many English have joined Highland Regiments, just as Scots have joined the RAF and the Royal Navy.

[Brian Rose]

I found the drummers interesting. The snare drummers used a style I associate more with the Royal Marines than Army units. Perhaps of 50 years, the army has changed. It could also be a "parade" style rather than a "marching " style. I have witnessed a few Highland regiment performances when they toured Michigan. Also lots of other You Tube videos and I don't remember that as an Army Style.
I'm only a casual observer of Highland dancing. My impression is that it is very style bound with strict form requirements i.e. that's the way it's done and has been done for years. I wouldn't expect much variation from current performances.
One also wonders under the current state ( past 10 years) of Presidential security, would edged weapons be allowed that close to POTUS? Performance or not.

[OC Richard]

I have in front of me the programme for the Black Watch's 1963 North American tour.

Early in the tour, on 13 November, they performed for an appreciative President Kennedy.

The tour was interrupted when the President was assassinated and the Kennedy family asked The Black Watch to play at his funeral, on 25 November.

The 1989 programme of the Black Watch North American tour states:

"In 1963 the Regimental Band, Pipes and Drums was honoured by being requested to play at The White House for President John F Kennedy. A month later they were again called to The White House for a very different occasion: the Kennedy family requested the pipers of The Black Watch to play at the funeral of the fallen President (making the Black Watch) the only British regiment ever requested to play at the funeral of an American President."

Here at 22:42 the pipers of The Black Watch can be seen and heard.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KJQkn6zUvM

(The military band in scarlet tunics seen at 18:05 is The President's Own, of the US Marine Corps.)

There is a tune:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jtY1n_Y-QE

(The tour programme doesn't list the tour itinerary and dates, as they usually do, so I can't be sure that the tour was interrupted for the funeral. But that is the story usually told.)

[neloon]

I'm only a casual observer of Highland dancing. My impression is that it is very style bound with strict form requirements i.e. that's the way it's done and has been done for years. I wouldn't expect much variation from current performances.

I suspect the SOBHD would not be happy with some aspects of the dancing. But what do they know?

Alan

[plaid preacher]

I have seen this recording before. It is a fine performance.

I also believe there is a recording that was done during this tour. I have an LP of the Black Watch released in 1964, that I believe was done while in the US.