The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards and the Band of the Coldstream Guards Debut at the Kimmel Center with Lively Performance of Ceremonial Fanfare on January 12
December 20, 2007
The pipes and drums of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards share the stage with Band of the Coldstream Guards to perform a spectacular fare of regimental marches as part of their Kimmel Center debut in Verizon Hall on Saturday, January 12, 2008 at 3pm. The Coldstream Guards is one of the oldest regiments in the world with origins based in Oliver Cromwell’s "New Model Army" in 1650, and carries on the rich musical traditions of British cavalry military marches. Forty nine band members will join The Royal Scots Dragoon’s 30+ members in a display of bagpipes, military marches, drum solos and Celtic dancing that has inspired soldiers over the past two centuries- from the battle of Waterloo to the present-day wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards’ performance will also include classic pipe tunes and modern arrangements from their November 2007 release Spirit of the Glen, as well as their chart-topping version of "Amazing Grace" and a tribute to America.
This concert is the thirteenth concert in the World & Pop Series scheduled for the Kimmel Center Presents 2007/2008 season. The next concert in the series will be Ladysmith Black Mambazo on Sunday, January 20, 2008 at 3pm in Verizon Hall.
Tickets for Royal Scots Dragoon Guards and Band of the Coldstream Guards are $33, $52, $62, $72, and can be purchased by calling 215-893-1999, online at www.kimmelcenter.org, or at the Kimmel Center box office open daily from 10am to 6pm and later on performance evenings. (Additional fees may apply.) For group sales call 215-790-5883.
A limited number of $10 tickets are available for every Kimmel Center Presents performance at the Kimmel Center. Tickets go on sale the day of the event and can be purchased at the Kimmel Center box office beginning 2.5 hours prior to curtain time and 11:30am for matinees. Limit one ticket per person.
The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, Scotland’s senior regiment and only regular cavalry, was formed in 1971 from the union of two famous regiments, the 3rd Carabiniers and the Royal Scots Greys. The pipers and drummers of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards describe themselves as part-time musicians and full-time soldiers. Their November 2007 release Spirit of the Glen includes versions of Paul McCartney's "Mull of Kintyre" and Rod Stewart's "Sailing" as well as traditional Scottish ballads and "Amazing Grace," which was number one on the UK pop charts for six weeks and also reached number one around the world when the regiment first recorded it in 1972. The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards have served in all the major theatres of war during the past two centuries, including Iraq, where they suffered two fatalities. Currently based in Northern Germany, the regiment has managed to perform and record between tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Although the Coldstream Regiment, one of the oldest regiments in the world, had drummers in its earliest days to provide music for the changing of the guard at St. James' Palace, the 12 member Band of the Coldstream Guards was officially formed in England in 1785. Now comprised of 49 members, the band has experienced the most intense period of international travel in its entire history during the past decade. Their most recent album, The Music of Christopher Eley, was released on December 14, 2007 on the Bandleader label as part of a historical five-volume set known as the Royal Heritage Series. The first military band to visit North America when it traveled to Canada in 1903, the Band of the Coldstream Guards has frequently returned to North America since 1960 for a coast to coast tour, which has become a regular ten yearly event.
Kimmel Center Presents 2007/2008 season is sponsored by Citi. Support for the Mellon Jazz Series comes from The Bank of New York Mellon. The Great Orchestra Series is supported by ARC Wheeler. Additional support is provided by the University of Pennsylvania Health System and American Express. American Airlines is the Official Airline of Kimmel Center Presents. Toyota is the Official Vehicle of Kimmel Center Presents Mellon Jazz, Mellon Jazz Up Close and World & Pop.
The Kimmel Center also receives support from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, The William Penn Foundation, The Wachovia Foundation, Verizon Foundation, PNC Foundation, The Philadelphia Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, and the Philadelphia Music Project and Dance Advance, Initiatives of The Pew Charitable Trust administered by The University of the Arts. In-kind support is generously provided by Deloitte. NBC-10 is a Media Partner for Kimmel Center Presents, and additional media sponsors include WDAS, WRTI, WJJZ, Afro-Pop, WXPN and WXPN's Kids Corner 20th Anniversary.
Free in the Plaza programming and subsidized tickets offered to the community and social service groups for $10 are made possible through the Wachovia Gateway to the Arts Community Access Program, supported by a generous grant from Wachovia Foundation.
KIMMEL CENTER PRESENTS SPONSORED BY CITI
Saturday, January 12, 2008 | 3pm
Verizon Hall
World & Pop Series
Royal Scots Dragoon Guards
Band of the Coldstream Guards
FREE AT THE KIMMEL:
Saturday, January 12, 2008 | 1:30pm and 5:30pm
Commonwealth Plaza Stage
TBD
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