Spirit of the Glen: A Review

**beloitpiper** · 5th December 07, 05:48 PM

The new album by the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards has made quite a buzz around the piping world. I was at the Dragoon Guards' museum yesterday and decided to pick up the CD. I'm listening to it now, and while it's not a bad album, it just doesn't pique my fancy. It has a lot of orchestration behind the pipes, and very little drumming. I like the military style. Lots of drums, just pure bagpipes...its what got me into piping. This album will probably sell quite well, but it just doesn't interest me all that much. It promised Amazing Grace, and it sure did deliver. "Amazing Grace" along with "Highland Cathedral" is what is going to sell this album, the rest is pretty much fluff. The track "Mull of Kintyre" has Will Marten singing, and I don't think singing goes along with bagpipes all that well. Also, they play the themes to "Dances with Wolves" and "Last of the Mohicans", which I did not expect. I think they should've picked one or the other. Although, I was was really impressed with the creativity in "Pachelbel's Canon", songs like "Sailing" and "Caledonia" were a bit too sappy with the folk guitar. The last track, "Green Hills of Tyrol" while not done entirely traditionally, is still pretty cool, although it only lasts for 1:15. I wish they either played it longer, or made it into a medley.

If anybody has heard this CD, please tell me what you think. I want to know what other people think of this album.

**McMurdo** · 5th December 07, 06:04 PM

I was looking for it today but have not found it over here as yet. Thanks for the review, I'll keep looking for it.

**wgority** · 6th December 07, 05:07 AM

I received a copy a few days ago and have found nothing particularly special about it. All the tunes are fairly standard and, though well played, have no particular flair or polish. Given the standard that bands play at today (see recordings by SFU, FMM, COWPB, SLOT, etc.), this may please the general public with familiar tunes, but will in no way satisfy the true fan of pipe band music.

**MadBagpiper** · 6th December 07, 06:27 PM

Originally Posted by wgority

I received a copy a few days ago and have found nothing particularly special about it. All the tunes are fairly standard and, though well played, have no particular flair or polish. Given the standard that bands play at today (see recordings by SFU, FMM, COWPB, SLOT, etc.), this may please the general public with familiar tunes, but will in no way satisfy the true fan of pipe band music.

I have not heard a track all the way through, let alone the whole thing, but from what I've heard it sounds really great.
I am a huge fan of both traditional pipe band recordings such as SFU and St. Laurence and of the military marching and pipe band recordings such as the CDs from the Black Watch and the Welsh Guard and hopefully of this one. We'll just have to wait and see I guess!

oop:

**Piobair** · 7th December 07, 11:54 AM

The RSDG "Amazing Grace" album from the 70s is a gem. I love SLOT, SFU and 78th - but there's something really great about the playing on that old recording. Maybe the technique and tone aren't up to the grade I standard, but its definitely a "classic" recording for a variety of reasons.

For that reason I was a little disappointed by the new version of AG. The orchestration isn't as mellow as the original, and at times a little discordant. For my $, the original is superior.

**McClef** · 7th December 07, 04:41 PM

They have been advertising it on TV here, I might treat myself for Christmas!

**Kilted Stuart** · 7th December 07, 04:50 PM

I have to agree with Piobair, the older copy's of a lot of pipe band music sometimes digitized/ remastered on CD have a straight forward not overproduced quality about them.
The lack of production quality is often made up by straight forward classics played they way you would hear them in the field at a festival.
I just picked up the "Amazing Grace" bagpipe and drums of the 48th highlanders of Canada,
recorded in 1989. Straight forward and very good.

Kilted Stuart

**Frank McGrath** · 11th December 07, 04:20 AM

The band is coming to my area. Are they worth seeing in person? They arfe playing in the US for 3 months in '08. Once at the Naval Academy and once in Rockvile, Md.

**beloitpiper** · 11th December 07, 06:40 AM

Originally Posted by Frank McGrath

The band is coming to my area. Are they worth seeing in person? They arfe playing in the US for 3 months in '08. Once at the Naval Academy and once in Rockvile, Md.

Eh, they're good, but IMHO, there's better bands. If you like the orchestration behind the pipes, then go for it! But if you want true, raw military style piping, then go to the Highland Games.