Shortly after 10.30am yesterday morning the two mounted bands of the Corps of Army Music came together to perform for the first time as a fully merged unit, The Band of The Household Cavalry. The Band paraded through Windsor to support this morning’s Changing of the Guard at Windsor Castle – the first public event for the Army’s newest and biggest band, the newly merged Band of The Household Cavalry. A review of British Army Music, the Future of Army Music 2020, was undertaken in 2013 and was a milestone for the Army. Most importantly it gave a sense of certainty to the Corps of Army music for its future. In that future, Army Music will deliver more music, which is more relevant, to more people, more often both at home and abroad. The review, published in August 2013, led to the direction that The Band of The Life Guards and The Band of The Blues and Royals should merge to form the largest symphonic band in the Corps of Army Music, The Band of The Household Cavalry. The two bands have worked together at many major events over their long and illustrious histories, including the annual Queen’s Birthday Parade and major state visits. But this Guard Mount at Windsor Castle is the first official event of the merged Band of The Household Cavalry. The merged Band will be unique in the British Army as both bands’ uniforms, their historical traditions and activity will be maintained by the merged band. Director of Music, Major Paul Wilman said: “This is an exciting period for Army Music and for the musicians in the merged band. The Band will eventually be 64 strong, enabling us to produce a very high quality symphonic concert band, and a fantastic sound when marching or riding the horses. It will also give us the flexibility to release the musicians to support state ceremonial and other musical commitments in support of the wider Army.” The Changing of the Guard is one of the highlights of a visit to Windsor and a band usually accompanies the Guards. The Guards can be watched as they march up the High Street and into the Castle, but to see the actual ‘changing’ ceremony you need to have paid to go into the Castle. The Ceremony takes place outside the Guardroom in the Lower Ward of the Castle and occurs all year round, dependant on the weather. The Guards march on alternate days from August to March, and daily during April, May, June and July, but never on a Sunday. More information about the new band can be found on the website: army.mod.uk/music
Posted on: Thu, 04 Sep 2014 07:00:00 +0000
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