Highland Cathedral: What you need to know


Wait for the bagpipe! It starts at 0:32.


I’ll be in Scotland for a couple of weeks in late November. I’ll have more about that when the time comes. I’m planning to write some blog posts from Scotland. For now, I’ve been looking for interesting things to do in Edinburgh.

If I could have my choice of musical events, I’d want to hear the Scottish Fiddle Orchestra. But they apparently do only three or so concerts a year, and there’s nothing in November. I’m leaning toward the Royal Scottish National Orchestra at Usher Hall in Edinburgh. A Beethoven piano concerto and a suite from Swan Lake are on the program. Still, I’d like to find something more Scottish.

“Highland Cathedral” is a piece that sounds ancient. But actually it was written in 1982 by some German musicians, for a highland games in Germany. It has become so popular that many people would like to see it become the Scottish national anthem. Here are three versions of it on YouTube. Given that the piece was written in Germany, I don’t think I need to apologize for leading with a performance by the Johann Strauss Orchestra in Maastricht. It’s the most polished version. But…

⬆︎ This version by the Edinburgh Military Tattoo is very good. It takes a really good band to play in tune, especially with as many instruments as there are here. The Edinburgh Military Tattoo has superb, and superbly disciplined, musicians. The bagpipe players are true professionals. I believe that’s Princess Anne in the audience at 3:10.

⬆︎ And here is the Scottish Fiddle Orchesta at Usher Hall in Edinburgh, along with the hall’s organ. This is the least polished performance, yet still very good.

There is an otherworldly magic in the sound of bagpipes. I don’t think you have to be Scottish to fall under the spell.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *