Highland Cathedral - Das Original


	Highland Cathedral ( Uli Roever & Michael Korb ) -The Original-

	*... a tune that has secretly found its way into hearts all over the world!*

	*On the origins of the tune*

	Michael Korb has always had a special liking for bagpipe music. When he finished school in 1975 and came to Berlin, he immediately took lessons with the "pipe major" of a Scottish battalion, who taught him to play this unusual instrument. When the Scots left Berlin, Michael Korb also went .... to Edinburgh, where he took daily lessons with the 80-year-old master Paddy Atkinson. During the day, he practised in Paddy's garden arbour, at night (because of the neighbours) he practised in the woods. For several years, he kept coming back to Edinburgh, until he had an adequate command of the instrument. Following publication of a record featuring bagpipe music in disco style in 1979 and the lucky encounter with the experienced and very successful arranger, producer and composer Uli Roever (who worked, among others, for Udo Jürgens and Peter Maffay), "Highland Cathedral" was jointly developed. The two makers of the tune were convinced of its chances of success - the publishing companies were not. In spite of their rejection at that time, the tune has found its way into people's hearts - sometimes in an unusual way.

	*Milestones on the way to a successful tune*

	"Highland Cathedral" was produced, arranged and composed by Uli Roever and Michael Korb and published as single in 1982. This original version is contained on this CD. It is interpreted by Michael Korb on bagpipe. Since then, the composition has been published on various sound media 310 times (level 2009) by different artists (e.g. in the Netherlands, South Africa, UK and USA). It is played by all Scottish bagpipe bands and has become one of the best-known bagpipe tunes in the world. In the majority of cases, the title was published in its traditional instrumentation of pipes & drums. But other interesting, classical and symphonic versions have met with great interest, too. The song has also been published in German: "Steh wieder auf" (text: Werner Bonfig), Hilary Bell sang "Always you" in English and Amy Grant published "Highland Cathedral" in America on her CD "A Christmas to Remember". The composition also attracted attention when being performed on large events with military bands with up to 800 musicians. "Highland Cathedral" was orchestrated impressively at the "Waldbühne" in Berlin and at the finale of the famous Edinburgh Military Tattoo. The famous and world's best bagpiper Angus MacDonald included the sheet music of "Highland Cathedral" in his famous sheet music collection of selected bagpipe tunes "The Collection". "Highland Cathedral" was featured in one of the most famous British film productions "Four weddings and a funeral". Pop queen Madonna chose "Highland Cathedral" for her church wedding ceremony in Scotland (December 2000). Also Phil Coulter produced and arranged his version of "Highland Cathedral". His recording of the same title held the top position in the German "Klassik Radio" charts in December 2000. In the USA, a film documentation "Tribute to Wayne" about the famous ice hockey player Wayne Gretzky featured "Highland Cathedral". Another film documentation with the title "Gloria & Pipers" featuring "Highland Cathedral" was published in the USA. In December 2001, "Highland Cathedral" was performed concertante before the Royal Family, in the presence of the Queen, in a festivity on the occasion of the "Remembrance Day" (broadcast on television by the BBC). One of the famous bagpipe bands, the "Royal Scots Dragoon Guards", who was awarded 14 Golden Records in 1972 for their wold-wide hit "Amazing Grace", has now published the CD "Highland Cathedral" and a DVD with the same title - a musical film production with beautiful impressions Scotland (www. scottisc.co.uk). Together with 600 performers, the "Royal Scots Dragoon Guards", effectively staged " Highland Cathedral" once again in the finale of the world-famous Edinburgh Tatoo Festival 2004 and 2006. "Stand Up Again" ("Highland Cathedral") Based on the experience made with Highland Cathedral up to now, an up-to-date dance remix of the tune was produced at the 'Roever - Bonfig' sound studio in co-operation with techno musician Denis Lenz. This extravagant pop symphony by the 'Tendence' formation begins with a presentation of the classically arranged bagpipe composition 'Highland Cathedral' by Uli Roever & Michael Korb, which then develops into a jaunty pop hymn. In this way, the English vocal interpretation by Anja Weiß with its idiosyncratic combination of Gregorian-style chants, the leitmotif of "Stand Up Again" (Text: Werner Bonfig), is made danceable in an innovative, unprecedented and original manner (September 2003).

Michael Korb

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Highland Cathedral
Soundtrack

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The new trend of success:

The fabulous album “Highland Cathedral” (interpreteted by Phil Coulter) was nominated for the Grammy award (New Age).

For years the press media and even the Scottish Parliament have been debating the question whether “Highland Cathedral” should become Scotland ’s new national anthem.
In this context, the “Royal Scottish National Orchestra” gave a concert in Edinburgh in June 2006, in which “Highland Cathedral” competed together with Scotland ’s most popular songs in a public contest to become the new national anthem.

“Highland Cathedral” is broadcast internationally in the 15-part TV series “First Dance”.

Brigadier Melville Jameson, who has been responsible for the worldwide popularity of the “Edinburgh Military Tattoo” for 12 years now and for this reason enjoys utmost international reputation, staged this event spectacularly in 2006, too. In the finale, 600 musicians in 13 bagpipe bands presented “Highland Cathedral” with a brilliant display of fireworks as an exquisite sound experience.
Also the invited guests of honour, Princess Anne and the charismatic global actor Sean Connery, were extremely enthusiastic about the probably best Edinburgh Military Tattoo 2006 ever.
Both a CD and a DVD of this concert have been produced. The BBC recorded the event for the purpose of global TV broadcast. In addition, Mr. Jameson produced the CD “Edinburgh Military Tattoo Tribute”, on which he compiled “Highland Cathedral” together with the most beautiful musical performances on the occasion of the 12th anniversary of his reputable production management in a special edition.

The original "Highland Cathedral" (Radio WDR4) is now again available.

The international popularity of the composition "Highland Cathedral" has induced the Scottish clothing company "House of Edgar" to create and produce a special pattern in the tradition of Scottish tartans that bears the same name.