Is This Historical Highland Attire ?

**gordontaos** · 17th February 10, 11:03 PM

I have been watching this video, and truly enjoy the music. The group, "Albannach", frequently plays in the US as well as Scotland.
The question that I have is about their kilts. Are they historically accurate? Also, if the kilts are accurate, are their boots historically accurate to the same time frame?
Finally, is the music in any way historically accurate?
ThankYou.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IxKM77KM64&feature=fvw

**Jock Scot** · 18th February 10, 03:14 AM

I am no expert on this, just an observer of old pictures. I don't think that any of it is historically accurate-----apart from, perhaps, the long hair. Good fun to watch, but at least 300 hundred yards between me and the music(?) would suit me just fine.

**Phil** · 18th February 10, 03:31 AM

Very much one for the tourists during the Edinburgh Festival, I would say. For some reason people drape themselves in old blankets and strut about the city pretending they have just stepped out of "Braveheart" at that time of year. The tourists like it though.
The bagpipes sound genuine although I'm not sure if the tune doesn't come from the Last of the Mohicans - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWGRnHOhGiE - the drums are about as Scottish as roast beef and Yorkshire pudding apart from the celtic one which owes more to Irish culture and the Corries.

**M. A. C. Newsome** · 18th February 10, 04:28 AM

No. No. And no. :-)

I call their look "post-apocolyptic Highland."

**Radge** · 18th February 10, 04:59 AM

Aye, the tune was used in 'Last of the Mohicans', it's called 'The Gael'. Saw some punters similar to 'Albannach' (may have been them, 'cept they were wearing more 'Braveheart' style rags and had grubbier simmits) at Murrayfield during the Edinburgh Sevens. They performed after the 'Scottish Rockettes' routine - from the sublime to the ridiculous

**Schiehallion** · 18th February 10, 05:55 AM

Agree with you there Matthew....NO NO and NO and the comment "post-apocolyptic Highland." sums it up for me. I have discovered that I am a traditionalist through and through! As far as can be said in kilted circles maybe ?

**MacRob** · 18th February 10, 06:02 AM

Originally Posted by gordontaos

I have been watching this video, and truly enjoy the music. The group, "Albannach", frequently plays in the US as well as Scotland.
The question that I have is about their kilts. Are they historically accurate? Also, if the kilts are accurate, are their boots historically accurate to the same time frame?
Finally, is the music in any way historically accurate?
ThankYou.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IxKM77KM64&feature=fvw

To answer your questions, in order: no, no and definitely no. Albannach is very popular with the younger folks at Highland games and elsewhere but there is nothing "authentic" about them.

**M. A. C. Newsome** · 18th February 10, 06:22 AM

Originally Posted by Radge

Aye, the tune was used in 'Last of the Mohicans', it's called 'The Gael'. Saw some punters similar to 'Albannach' (may have been them, 'cept they were wearing more 'Braveheart' style rags and had grubbier simmits) at Murrayfield during the Edinburgh Sevens. They performed after the 'Scottish Rockettes' routine - from the sublime to the ridiculous

Just for the record, "The Gael" was written by Dougie MacLean, not Albannach.

**MacMillan of Rathdown** · 18th February 10, 08:59 AM

...it's Hysterical Highland attire, not historical Highland attire.

**Alan H** · 18th February 10, 11:41 AM

AS others have said...no, no and no.

That doesn't mean they're not good fun, though.

Honestly, for myself all their tunes sound pretty much the same to me. I can only deal with pounding drums and a simple melody for so long. On the other hand, you only listen to them at the Games, probably after drinking a beer or two and at that point, what's not to like?