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Thursday 27th August 2020


Music & the Military

Other artistes include: Phil O'Neill, bugle • Drum Corps AKPOL, Tiruna, Indonesia • several UK Military Bands • Danish Royal Life Guard Band • Fanfare et Orchestre de la Garde Républicaine, Paris • Chœur de l'Armée de France • Musique de la Légion Étrangère • Chilean Army Band • The New Zealand Army Band (Puoro Puoro Ngāti Tūmatauenga) • Massed bands of the Indian Defence Forces • Bersaglieri

Music by: Hans Hass • Hubert Giraud • Vincent Scotto • Georges van Parÿs • François-Nicolas Wilhem • Charles Trenet

Starts: when you are ready
latecomers will be admitted at your personal discretion

Listening position:

Relax with your choice(s) of beverage, in a place of your choosing, alone, or with company

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Music & the Military


Programme

Reveille

introduced and performed by Phil O'Neill, bugle


Kirab Drum Corps AKPOL Cendrawasih Tradisi Penyambutan Taruna AKPOL Tingkat 1 Den ‘53 Tahun 2018

Procession of Taruna Police Academy Drum Corps, with Traditional Bird of Paradise Dancing, to welcome 2018's Level 1 Den '53 Cadets


1st Battalion Grenadier Guards Corps of Drums
Windsor Parade Changing of the Guard


UK Military Bands
Start of the Parade from Wellington Barracks to the Cenotaph


Hans Niels Hass (1877-1913)
Marsch Siamese (1890)

composer info not found, possibly a former King
Royal Guard Marsch

Historic parade footage from the first outdoor film with sound

performed by the Danish Royal Life Guard Band


Fanfare de Cavalerie de la Garde Républicaine
    1 leaving their barracks
    2 performing on place Vendôme


Hubert Giraud (1920-2016)
text: Jean Dréjac (born Jean André Jacques Brun) (1921-2003)
Sous le ciel de Paris    Beneath the Paris Sky    (1951)

Vincent Scotto (1874-1952)
text: Jean Rodor (born Pierre Philippe Jean Coulon) (1881-1967)
Sous les ponts de Paris    Under the Bridges of Paris    (1913)

Georges Eugène Émile van Parÿs (1902-1971)
Jean Renoir (1894-1979)
La complainte de la butte    Lament of the Hill (ie, Montmartre)    (1955)

performed by the Chœur de l'Armée de France and the Orchestre de la Garde Républicaine


François-Nicolas Wilhem
Le Boudin    Black Pudding    (1860)

Louis Charles Augustin Georges Trenet (1913-2001)
La Mer    Beyond the Sea    (1943)

played by the Musique de la Légion Étrangère


Johann Gottfried Piefke (1817-1884)
Preußens Gloria Marsch


The New Zealand Army Band (Puoro Puoro Ngāti Tūmatauenga)

performing at the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo 2016, held in the Etihad Stadium, Melbourne, Australia


29th January Beating the Retreat Celebration

performed by massed bands and troops of the Indian Defence Forces


ENCORE

Bersaglieri
Italian street parade

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For most Commonwealth defence forces the day begins with Reveille and/or Rouse.

You will find several versions on youtu.be.

I have chosen to wake us all up with this naval Reveille, expertly played by Aussie bugler Phill O'Neill:

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After a bugle call, I searched for a Drum Corps and found this enthusiastic procession.

Does a Police Academy count as military? It all depends which country you are in.

See what you think of this mix of drum corps, marching, and traditional dance.

Don't be afraid to correct the translation if your Indonesian is up to it. Mine clearly is not.

Kirab Drum Corps AKPOL Cendrawasih Tradisi Penyambutan Taruna AKPOL Tingkat 1 Den ‘53 Tahun 2018   (3m38)

Procession of Taruna Police Academy Drum Corps, with Traditional Bird of Paradise Dancing, to welcome 2018 Level 1 Den '53 Cadets

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Next we have something closer to home. If London seems too hectic to enjoy a Changing of the Guard you might try the more compact Windsor.

We shall hear the pipes and drums of the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards Corps of Drums leading in the New Guard and then leading out the Old Guard at Windsor Castle. The running officer turns out to be intentional, although running in boots on sloping rainy tarmac looks like poor risk assessment.

I once had to march in a greatcoat while playing the tuba. It was 22nd November 1976, St Cecilia's day. Playing or marching uphill in winter uniform is one thing, I'd prefer not to do both as they are doing here. Even though it was cold and wet that day, I was definitely overheating.

1st Battalion Grenadier Guards Corps of Drums
Windsor Parade Changing of the Guard    (6m44)

video courtesy of Doug Barrett, BMB Basil's Military Bands

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UK Military Bands
Start of the Parade from Wellington Barracks to the Cenotaph    (10m27)

video courtesy of Doug Barrett, BMB Basil's Military Bands

The next sequence takes us into London, close to Buckingham Palace. We will hear several British military bands as they proceed from Wellington Barracks to the Cenotaph, ready for the annual Service of Remembrance.

The first, mixed, group to leave the barracks seem to be the medics. Next come shots of Royal Marines Band members, seen through the railings. They soon lead out the Royal Navy and Royal Marines contingents.

The next band, holding their instruments, have the same 'tactical recognition flash' on their music cards as all the bearskin-wearing units (except the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards) which does not help identify them. However, a red plume on the right side of the cap means they are Coldstream Guards. Playing behind them is the Band of the Irish Guards, with their St Patrick's blue plumes.

Spurs on their boots give away the red-coated Life Guards Corps of the Household Cavalry. Next, the Kings Troop, Royal Horse Artillery with headwear that is properly named  'busby'.

Wearing their white-green-white plumes on the left are the Welsh Guards. Did you notice there was one, holding his cornet, among the Irish Guards Band? The trio from the Brigade of Gurkhas wear a Kilmarnock Cap, while their officer is in Green No 1 Hat.

Lack of plumes marks out the Scots Guards, carrying their instruments, followed by the Pipes and Drums of the Royal Regiment of Scotland, and they are accompanied by the Band of the Grenadier Guards (small white plume, left side).

There is a slight overlap as the Central Band of the Royal Air Force begins to play, leading out the RAF Regiment, followed by the civil contingent, pilots, merchant navy, and London Transport. Unlike the other participants, the RAF have taken a wide turn and arrive right in front of the camera, rather than parading down the centre of the road. You will see that is soon put right.

Which do you think would be the oldest British Military Band? The Royal Artillery Band dates back to c1557, the same as Hampton School (and a few others). The Band of the Grenadier Guards was not heard until around 1685, and the Band of the Scots Guards was somewhat later.

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Let us head overseas now, beginning with close neighbours, Denmark.

It is the 5th of December 2016 and the Band of the Danish Royal Guard, in concert formation, play Hans Hass' Marsch Siamese as a birthday tribute to the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand who had died on the 13th of October.

Hans Hass, bandmaster of the Danish Coastal Artillery Band, composed the march in 1890, dedicating it to HE Prince Satarn Klang of Siam. The Prince had been sent to Denmark, with his brother Prince Pheen Leck, to train with the Royal Life Guard, where he was known as Garder 1000. They stayed for 10 years and were invited to dine with the royal family most Sunday evenings.

Prince Pheen Leck became a Navy cadet. Both lads were popular among their fellow recruits as they were modest and keen to fit in.

The march was one of 20 Hass compositions passed to the Royal Life Guard Band in 2006 by the composer's great-grandson.

Hans Niels Hass (1877-1913)    (7m03)
Marsch Siamese (1890)

composer info not found, possibly a former King
Royal Guard Marsch

performed by the Danish Royal Life Guard Band
on Amelienborg Square, Copenhagen, in honour of the recent death of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, in the presence of HE Vichit Chitvimarn, Thailand's Ambassador to the Danish Court, with some of his staff and other Thai nationals.

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Let's follow that with a piece of historic footage, from the same place, in front of the Amelienborg Palace, and the same band.

This recording is believed to be the oldest outdoor film with sound. Not just in Denmark, but the oldest, full stop.

The band itself is fairly long-established. It goes back beyond 1670 and has withstood a whole series of (money-saving) military music re-organisations during the late 19th and the 20th centuries.

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We've come closer to home now. It's Paris, and the Fanfare of the Cavalry of the Garde Républicaine. This is an honour guard based in Paris, the most senior military music-makers in the country. A unit of the Gendarmerie Nationale, its 120 musicians come from the finest national music conservatoires.

We shall hear them setting off from their home at Caserne des Céléstins, on boulevard Henri IV, then playing on place Vendôme.

(3m30)

&

(2m25)

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We may think of marching and cavalry bands as synonymous with 'Music & the Military'. The French are equally proud of their Chœur de l'Armée de France. Here they are, with the Orchestre de la Garde Républicaine, singing three popular French tunes, a medley they call Valses de Paris:

Hubert Giraud (1920-2016)    (5m22)
text: Jean Dréjac (born Jean André Jacques Brun) (1921-2003)
Sous le ciel de Paris    Beneath the Paris Sky    (1951)

Vincent Scotto (1874-1952)
text: Jean Rodor (born Pierre Philippe Jean Coulon) (1881-1967)
Sous les ponts de Paris    Under the Bridges of Paris    (1913)

Georges Eugène Émile van Parÿs (1902-1971)
text: Jean Renoir (1894-1979)
La complainte de la butte    (1955)
Lament of the Hill (ie, Montmartre)

performed by the Chœur de l'Armée de France and the Orchestre de la Garde Républicaine

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One French military band has a completely different tradition. It is that of the Légion Étrangère, the French Foreign Legion. Instead of recruiting from the great music academies, the Musique de la Légion Étrangère trains its own musicians from among those French and other nationals who volunteer for the Legion.

There is another big difference between the Legion and the rest of the French military which has an impact on their music. Soldiers march at 116 paces per minute, legionnaires march at 88.

The Legion still use fifes, the small flute-like instrument other French troops have abandoned. Their band also includes a 'Chinese hat' or 'jingling johnny' - a set of jingling bells mounted on a pole. Other bands use this too, so the Legion have a further 'adaptation'. They add the tails of horses lost in battle, representing the bravery of the legionnaire who survived the attack.

Here is the official video in which the Legionnaires play and sing the Legionnaires' March, Le Boudin, named after the tent roll which is part of every legionnaire's backpack. That is followed by Charles Trenet's La Mer played on the Place de la Concorde in the 2020, socially distanced, 14th July Parade. From cymbal player to mere cymbal-stand. What a come-down for one player.

François-Nicolas Wilhem
Le Boudin    Black Pudding    (1860)   (2m00)

performed by the Musique de la Légion Étrangère, the Band of the French Foreign Legion, at their base in Aubagne

Louis Charles Augustin Georges Trenet (1913-2001)
La Mer    Beyond the Sea    (1943)   (1m30)

played by the Musique de la Légion Étrangère, as part of a tribute to Charles de Gaulle, during the 2020 14th July Parade

Charles Trenet wrote La Mer in some twenty minutes during an inspiring train journey along the Mediterranean coast. Later he and Léo Chauliac worked on the musical arrangement together. Jack Lawrence wrote the American version, Beyond the Sea. By the time of Trenet's death in 2001 La Mer had sold over 70 million records.

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This concert has been a little light on attribution. What did they play, who wrote it, when was that? Next comes a short piece with a clear attribution. From Holst's Second Suite for Military Band, comes the third movement, based on the folk song A Blacksmith Courted Me:

Gustav Theodore von Holst (1874-1934)
from Second Suite for Military Band in F  H106 (1911)   (1m20)
3 The Blacksmith's Song

performed by the US Coast Guard Band

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Prussia's Glory is a march celebrating Prussian victory over the French. The Bundeswehr still play this tune, as does the Royal Swedish Army Band.

But here is an army lost in time and place. The very Prussian traditions of the Chilean Army are explained in the first video.

After that, do take a look at a formal parade in Santiago.

At the opening you will see a rolled backpack similar to the Boudin (black pudding) mentioned earlier in the Legion video.

I think everything else we see and hear has Prussian or Wehrmacht origins - uniforms, helmets, march style, gun carriages, music.

One odd question came to my mind. Is this the only army whose women are allowed lipstick? I don't remember noticing it in the earlier clips of British, Danish or French parades.

Feel free to skip parts of this if you find yourself as bored as the senior Chilean civilian at the parade. Maybe he is named in the accompanying Spanish commentary (ie, Spanish speakers, please tell me more so I can update this.)

The 'Other' German Army - Chile's Prussian Tradition
Mark Felton Productions   (4m52)

Preußens Gloria

Johann Gottfried Piefke (1817-1884)
Preußens Gloria Marsch    (6m23)

performed during the historical section of a military parade in Santiago de Chile

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I feel evening drawing in, so let's head over to the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, on the Esplanade of Edinburgh Castle. Ah, apparently, this is just a copy, it's actually the Etihad Stadium, Melbourne.

Maybe their journey is less impressive, but their performance still lives up to expectations. This is the New Zealand Army Band who seem to take a little from every military band tradition there is, even the cavalry.

The New Zealand Army Band (Puoro Puoro Ngāti Tūmatauenga)    (6m35)

performing at the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo 2016, held in the Etihad Stadium, Melbourne, Australia

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Our closing item comes from Vijay Chowk (Victory Square) in Delhi.

It is 6pm on the 29th January and the end of four days celebrating 26th January's Republic Day.

The flag is lowered and the bands, soldiers, sailors, and airmen beat their retreat to music a UK audience recognises.

I particularly like the way the final notes of a bugle call are held. A pensive twist on those familiar sounds.

29th January Beating the Retreat Celebration    (5m10)

performed by massed bands and troops of the Indian Defence Forces

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Encore

Are you in a hurry?

If so, don't worry, because so are these fine fellows:

And the moral of that video is: be careful which regiment you sign up for because you (or your widow) will be following them at the same speed when you are a veteran ! They are the Bersaglieri (bear-sally-airy). You may have seen them in a tattoo. Perhaps they have swept past you in a dusty Italian side-street.

I love the little skip that means "OK, chaps, let's run." And wouldn't it be fun to put your arms out as if you were an aeroplane and lead them round a corner. Their leader reminds me of one of Russ Abbot's characters. Sorry, they make me laugh every time I see them, but I have always admired the sheer energy of their performance. I would love to run while making a bugle call.

OK, the serious bit. Bersaglieri are sharpshooters of the Infantry, created in 1836 by the King of Sardinia, and later to become the Royal Italian Army. The capercaillie feathers are part of dress uniform and they also go on their helmets in combat. "I think Jenkins was shot by that bird over there, Officer." Oops, I promised to be serious, didn't I.

Running from place to place was an important part of their tactics, although in WW1 some were given bicycles. They were also mountain specialists, like the French Chasseurs Alpins (white uniform, floppy white hats.) Latterly they have been active with UN forces in Lebanon, Iraq, former Yugoslavian states, and in Afghanistan. They are much respected by other specialist troops.

Today there are 9 Bersaglieri regiments based around Italy, all with mechanised transport.  They are obliged to run in their barracks too, and can be punished if they don't. Anyone recognise the town?

UPDATE: And someone did recognise this place. Those Roman statues in the wall were the giveaway. Once seen, never forgotten.

We are in Rome, and the parade begins in Via della Dataria, in front of those steps and the statues. The green 'hut' seems to be a gents toilet, a good place from which to begin a parade.

Roman Statues, Via della Dataria

The 'aeroplane turn' passes in front of Ecclesia (Church) San Ritale

Via della Dataria meets Largo Pietro di Brazza, where they stop before setting off bugling at a running pace

More Bersaglieri links:

The video above:  https://youtu.be/-N9NiEH9-vg

2-minute video, including cyclists, veterans, singers, and a very large feathered hat, on a van:
https://www.varesenews.it/2017/07/sfilano-i-bersaglieri-sulle-note-della-fanfara/636931/

The Royal 22nd Canadian Regiment and their band, in bearskins, demonstrating close formation drill, meet the Bersaglieri in the Quebec Tattoo, their directors exchange baton and whistle: https://youtu.be/yh6dY2e_QNU

History of the Bersaglieri: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bersaglieri


More bands:

9 Oldest bands in the world: https://www.oldest.org/music/marching-bands/

There are lots of band references on youtu.be, so pick a tradition - army, navy, marines, air force, police, cadets, - choose your country, and begin your search.

Presenter: Peter Steadman
Assisted by: Richard Miller, Jane Forrester, Diana Gale

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We hope you have enjoyed your Music & the Military  Concert Online


Watch your email and this website for next week's Choral concert

comments welcome:  [email protected]

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