Scott was unable to promote this album due to circumstances arising at the time, and the project was put on the back shelf. Years went by when Scott noticed his original masters were deteriorating. He sent them away to be restored. As he listened to these restored masters, Scott felt that the arrangements and sound of his music were, in his own words, “pretty cheesy.”

After all, it was 1994 and the technology and quality of music had improved quite dramatically with the introduction of mp3s and live digital editing. Scott tried recording the pipe track over on one of the songs, but the contrast proved to be too much.

It was then that Scott decided to go back into the recording studio. He kept what he felt were his best songs on this first album and added some other songs and arrangements he had already had in mind to record. This time, instead of making his arrangements around the bagpipe music, he would take the liberty to arrange the pipe music around the (Scottish) style and arrangement of music he was looking for.

The earliest known record of the Scottish bagpipe date to around 1400 A.D. The songs that Scottish pipers first played on their bagpipes had their origin in folk songs heard for centuries at weddings, dances and community celebrations. These songs regale Scottish culture and traditions. They tell the stories of beautiful women, famous clans, Scotland’s heroes and places that bonded the Scottish people to each other and to their land.

“Auld Lang Syne” is a familiar tune that we often hear at New Year’s celebrations. It plaintively asks, “should auld (old) acquaintance be forgot”? The Scottish author, Robert Burns tells us “no”, in a poem he wrote in the 18th century. Burns tells the Scots (and all of those throughout the world who have adopted this tune), that friends and memories must be held dear, no matter how far from home.

“Scotland the Brave” is one of the most famous folk tunes in Scotland. When it is played on the bagpipe, by either a band or single piper, it moves the stalwart clansman to public displays of emotion. The bagpipe melody has been played since the beginning of the 20th century. Cliff Hanley added lyrics to this tune in the mid-1950s, recalling the history of Scotland, its beauty and the fierce spirit of its people.

“Flower of Scotland” is a strong contender to be Scotland’s official national anthem. It also details the history of Scotland and its troubled relationship with England. Scotland is officially part of the United Kingdom, after centuries of struggle against British rule. However, the Scottish Football Association and the national rugby team adopted “Flower of Scotland” for their opening ceremonies before each game. It is especially significant when Scottish teams play against England, where the national anthem, “God Save Our Queen” is the ceremonial tune.

Find the lyrics for nearly 200 Scottish bagpipe tunes at Rampant Scotland.

Ecclesiastes 3

1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

Listen to The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards perform at Edinburgh Castle.