The Highland Cathedral

[methodistgirl]

This scottish folksong sounds very special. I have all ready played this at
my church using certain stops to create the illusion of having bagpipes.
I'm going to try it again since the tune has been playing in my head after
hearing it. I go try out for the church choir tomorrow before hand. Mr.
Magle, if you want to see what my church looks like, look up my profile.
There is a picture of the methodist church I go to along with anyone else
who would like to see. Thanks for this new folksong. That is what my
state of Kentucky is all about is folk music or we wouldn't be called the
Blue Grass State.
judy tooley

Ps. Why is the sheet music so smudged?

[jvhldb]

This is a query related to the whole series of posts on Highland Cathedral. Thanks for all the useful and correct information. A very good forum!

I would like to buy the Koch Swann 1988 CD "Musica Variata" for my own use, but have had no luck so far. It seems to exist in a music store in South Africa but, "due to international licensing law, we can't sell it to anybody who isn't local..." I do see it on NPR play lists, so somebody must have a copy...

I have even tried EBay.

Any further leads to purchase of this CD would be most appreciated.

Thank you,

Bonnie

I find it strange that we have something in South Africa that can't be found anywhere else. Can you remember which store had the copy? As far as I know there is no problem exporting music from South Africa, the problem arrises with banking and foreign currency control, most companies use the international licensing law to skip all the paper work. If they still have a copy I can find out from our local customs and forex offices what the procedure would be to get it to you.

[bcrobins]

Hello Simbra,

Afraid I am the perpetrator of the South African idea...

I did an exhaustive search a few weeks ago, and located a reference to a music store in that country. After reading their statement about not selling internationally, I became discouraged and didn't bookmark the site. I might have realized that some people in an international music forum would live there, avoiding the whole problem. I'm sorry to say that I now can't find the listing. Probably someone bought the only one.

I do see it on sale, used, on Amazon for $149 dollars US. Our currency isn't doing well, so this might not seem too bad to people in other countries??? It is definitely more than I can manage. Wish the company owning the rights would take a hint and provide a new edition! Couldn't we all write and ask them?

Reference international licensing laws, I have no expertise in the area, but have definitely run into this before, couldn't buy a CD or sheet music from the UK, etc. Please notice that I quoted the web site itself where they said "we do not sell internationally." Music licensing is a current topic, I know, with large fines being imposed on people performing illegal downloads, etc.

Wish I had better news, but I will keep looking.

Very enjoyable forum!

Bonnie

I have listened to this particular recording via a local radio station - and would like to obtain a copy of the CD...A previous writer commented that it seemed to be available in South Africa - which is where I am!

If anyone knows where, or from which SA store one can get hold of this CD I would appreciate the info...

Contact me at hans.lombard at telkomsa.net

Regards

Simbra

[sheldonmaureen]

Greetings, everyone!
I was wondering if any of you have had the chance to hear or play a piece for organ and bagpipes called The Highland Cathedral. It is my favorite piece of classical music but sadly is not very well known and the only good recording that I have located of it is currently "out of print". It is so beautiful and I'm wondering really how famous it is among other organists. The only good recording I know of is owned by our state's radio station, so I have to content myself with that. Looking foward to your anwers! Bill

Hi Bill, I have heard a beautiful version on South African Radio. I will try to locate it's source and let you know.
Sheldon

[bapyper]

I have a curiosity question regarding the notation of the bag pipe. I am an amateur organ player, but have no experience with bag pipes. When I read the score as posted by ecnice, it seems to me that the bag pipe notes are written in a strange key.
They are marked with the symbol for "normal piano right hand key" (this is called the G key in danish, don't know the english term). In this key, the first notes read: a - d - e - f - e - d... which would sound like a minor chord, but listening to the recordings, it is certainly a major chord (the "tonic" i believe it's called, it must be an E-flat, to match the organ).

What is going on here? Is this common notation for bagpipe music?


I know this is not a bag pipe forum, but maybe somebody could still provide a hint?

Regards
OleMik

Here is the deal. The great highland bagpipes sound their tonic between an a and b flat, with a little wiggle room for tuning by changing the lengths of the drones and setting the chanter reed deeper in its hole. (As you can imagine, it makes it very difficult to play band or orchestral music with the pipes, especially for folks who really care about intonation, and it gets harder the more pipers there are.) Anyway, to simplify things for the piper, their music is just written in the key of C in treble (G) clef. This makes everything sound about a half step above what the piper's music says, usually. With this scale, then, all bagpipe tunes in major keys are using either the A or the D on the piper's music for the tonic, the 1st and 5th degrees of the pipe's scale. So if you're playing the pipes with an orchestra or band, and you want a major key, you can either play in concert Bb or Eb, basically.
To further complicate things, the flatted seventh of the pipe's scale gives everything a mixolydian flavor. And the grace notes used to decorate and allow for repeated notes to be articulated on the pipes take some getting used to when reading pipe music.
From a piper and amateur organist...

And thanks for the mp3 and .gif of the sheet music. I have played this tune many times always wishing for the chance to do it with the organ accompanying. The university here has an organ festival coming up and the director of organ studies here is going to do it with me on the school's rufatti organ in the main concert hall. My joy is indeed great.
Best,
bapyper

[sheldonmaureen]

Guys, I located a beautiful arrangment of this piece consisting of flute, bagpipe and pipe organ - its wonderful. Go to www.salonmusic.co.za. For such a good priceL ZAR120.00 excl postage. It was aired a number of times on national radio stations. Go for it, the recording is awesome!!
Cheers, SHeldon

[Krummhorn]

Sheldon,

That's a great find ... thanks for the link.

For those interested, the price of 120.00 ZAR roughly translates to:
- 17.34 USD
- 17.32 CAD
- 12.25 EUR

At those prices, it will be hard to pass up on.

[BethWagner]

Sheldon,
I'd also like to thank you for the link. I haven't had the chance to check it out, but I hope to soon and it should be a help for all those searching for a recording. This piece is really rare!
Thanks again!
Regards, Bill

[bcrobins]

I did follow the link, but when I attempted to submit an order, the response was "page cannot be found."

Did anyone else have better luck?

Thanks,
Bonnie

[Krummhorn]

Shoot - experienced the same page error too

[sheldonmaureen]

HIGHLAND CATHEDRAL:

Hi Guys

Best is to maybe phone them / send them an email with your credit card details. They are a very trustworthy and strong company. You will receive your CD.

If you need any assistance send me a mail to: vetter@telkomsa.net and maybe I can assist you in getting these CD's to you.

Regards
Sheldon

[Flute'n'Pedal]

I'm playing "Highland Cathedral" on the organ, and since there are no bagpipes around here, I have to play the solo line with the right hand. Does anyone have any suggestions as to registration? Is there a special technique to get the bagpipe effect?

Flute'n'Pedal

[methodistgirl]

Flute 'n' Pedal, I have been playing this on my harmonica. This music
is as easy as falling of an organ bench! Even though the folksong is
very beautiful on bagpipe and pipe organ. Highland Cathedral can be
played on the harmonica.
judy tooley

[sheldonmaureen]

Hi Bill

If you wish to listen to a sample recording, I am willing to send it to you.

Let me know.

Regards
Sheldon

[methodistgirl]

Have any of you forgotten this song? Highland Cathedral? Monday will
be St. Patrick's day and what song can be more fitting than Highland
Cathedral?