Interview with The 42nd Royal Highland Regiment

Today is a special day here at The Celtic Rose and I am excited to share with you my interview with The 42^nd Royal Highland Regiment.

I have had the pleasure of watching these men perform on many occasions and I can honestly tell you that it is a wonderful experience each time.

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I hope you will sit back and read along as I introduce to you The 42^nd Royal Highland Regiment and their fierce leader, Preston Smith.

*Preston, thank you very much for joining me here today. I would like to start off with an explanation of who The 42^nd are.

PRESTON-

The 42^nd Royal Highlanders is America’s Premier band of pipes, fifes, and drums. We portray the 42^nd Royal Highlanders (aka today as The Black Watch), of the American Revolution era (~1777).

The 42^nd Regiment was the most senior of all the Highland Regiments – first coming to North America in 1756 for the French and Indian War. The regiment fought in a famous but ill-fated attack on Fort Ticonderoga in 1758, and was given the title of “Royal Highlanders”. The 42^nd traveled to western PA in the early 1760s, and down the Ohio in 1765 to the Mississipipi River to take possession of Fort de Chartres at the end of the war.

During the War for Independence, the 42^nd fought throughout New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

The 42^nd band of music portrays the 42^nd of the Revolution – and fields the highland pipes, 6-hole fifes, and the rope-tension drums that would have been on the field during the revolution – the only such band in the US.

*Why were they called ‘The Black Watch’?

PRESTON-

Before becoming a Regiment of the line, the 42^nd served as Independent Companies of the Highland Watch in Scotland – essentially law enforcement.

The origin of the name “The Black Watch” is murky – some say it’s a reference to the distinctive dark tartan worn by the regiment; some say it’s a reference to the Watch’s “black hearts” policing their own people; and others believe it’s a reference to their watch of the “black trade” – cattle rustling.

The Black Watch became the official name of the regiment in the late 1800s, and today the 3^rd Battallion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland carries on the lineage of the 42^nd.

*How did this group come to be formed in Lafayette, IN?

PRESTON-

In the early 1970s, Thomas Griffin was a director of the Tippecanoe Ancient Fife and Drum Corps, also from Lafayette. Around 1975, the bicentennial brought out a resurgence of 18^th century music, particularly corps of fifes and drums.

Being of Scottish descent, and a piper, Tom set out in 1975 to create a unit that would carry on the history of the regiment, and bring Scottish field music to the world of 18^th century music.

*What is the goal of this group?

PRESTON-

     ·        To present an authentic-looking portrayal of the men and music of the 1777 42^nd Royal Highlanders

·        To present a unique program of 18^th century Scottish field music, with elements of the state of the art in piping, fifing, and drumming

·        And to be the group that everybody else wants to be!

*How many participate in the group and what are the instruments involved?

PRESTON-

We field around 25 men at full strength, in several different sections:

·        8 bagpipers

·        4-5 fifers

·        6 drummers

·        6 color guard – uniformed as private soldiers of the regiment

During band performances, in addition to the music of the pipes, fifes, and drums,  a show by the 42^nd will feature demonstrations of the arms drill used by British soldiers during the revolution, and Highland Dancing. The 42^nd’s regimental dancers will perform either the Highland Fling or the Sword Dance.

*What kind of events does The 42^nd perform at?

PRESTON-

Being such a unique group, the 42^nd can fit in just about anywhere – many of our regular performances are at historical festivals like the Feast of the Hunter’s Moon, Mississinewa 1812, or the Fort DeChartres Rendezvous. The band will also perform at civic events around central Indiana, parades, and pub performances.

On occasion, the 42^nd will appear at large fife and drum gatherings (a “muster”), or will appear at a Highland Games, which are always interesting. We’re not quite a fife and drum corps, and not quite a regular pipe band, so for either of these audiences, the 42^nd is something new and unique.

*How does a person become a member of The 42^nd?

PRESTON-

There’s a number of different ways to be involved with the 42^nd – men interested in 18^th century music or military life can participate in the band of music; anybody interested in Scottish Country Dancing can take classes with our partner group “The Whole 9 Yards”. In recent years, our camp life at festivals has even begun to incorporate civilians in support of the band and military.

If volunteering is more your speed, the Forfar Bridie booth at the Feast of the Hunter’s Moon is one of our major fundraisers – volunteering for a shift is an excellent way to contribute.

Or if you just like to be involved in things Scottish, you can sign up for the 42^nd’s mailing list or Facebook page, and participate in cultural events – we’ve hosted a Robert Burns Supper every January for nearly 30 years, we hold events like Whisky tastings, golf outings, hold concerts, or arrange trips to see Scottish performers. All of these things can’t happen without volunteers!

*Can you tell us a little bit about the CD’s you have out and where we can find them? 

PRESTON-

In 2010, we released our 2^nd recording – “No Matter What the Season”, featuring 22 tracks of music of the pipes, fifes, and drums. It’s available for purchase via mail, iTunes, or Amazon MP3, and features many of our newest arrangements that you can hear today when we perform live. If you visit our web site, you can preview all of the tracks on the CD.

Here is a link to our performance of “Highland Cathedral” at Freezer Jam 2011 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDZMF3930vs

We also have our first (1996 – self-titled) CD available on iTunes or Amazon MP3.

*To learn more information about The 42^nd Royal Highland regiment, where can you be found? 

PRESTON-

You can find us on the web at http://www.42ndRHR.org, or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/42ndRHR

Preston, I want to thank you again for taking the time to talk with us today. I look forward to watching The 42^nd perform soon and wish you all luck in the future.

PRESTON-

You’re very welcome – I hope to meet some of your readers as we perform around the Midwest this season!