Military and Processional music

Music which is designed to fulfil necessary functions in a military environment, and which accompanies pageants, parades, ceremonies, processions. The origin and development of such music.

The Origins of Military And Processional Music

Military music has been associated with war, battles, and grand occasions since at least since Joshua, at the Battle of Jericho, breached the city walls with the sound of the trumpet. Illustrations on pyramids, and descriptions of Roman and Greek emperors show 'bands' of MusicAL INSTRUMENTS. In this entry on military and processional music, I deal primarily with the music of the British Armed Forces, from the earliest accurate accounts of music, bands, and instruments, from the development of the modern Army prior to, and following the official status of military bands in England, in 1762.

Processional music is not confined to that which accompanies marching troops, but also has a separate history within the Church, as well as in pagan societies.

The role of military music is not only to entertain, or raise the morales of fighting troops while (as with the Scottish war pipes) striking terror into the hearts of the enemy, nor simply assist them to keep in step when marching, but it also allows troops to communicate with each other over distances, including at night. Bugle, pipe, and trumpet calls are still relevant in the modern army.

Within a typical military band, are found various ensembles which perform separately as the occasion demands. These may include a brass ensemble, a brass band, a woodwind ensemble, a dance band, or even a big band, or a pop group. Until the end of the Second World War most bands could provide a small orchestra, if they had musicians who could also double on a stringed instrument. In the cases of the Royal Artillery's, and the Royal Engineer's bands, all musicians were required to be double-handers. Both the Royal Artillery, and the Royal Engineers always maintained a full symphony orchestra, but today, the only band capable of providing a full orchestra is the Royal Artillery Band. The Royal Marines, the Guards, and the Household Cavalry have salon orchestras, and are able to combine forces to make up an orchestra if required, although there is no requirement for their musicians to be double-handers. During the Second World War, the Royal Air Force Symphony Orchestra was founded, taking advantage of the civilian symphony orchestra musicians from across the nation, who were called up into service. The RAF Symphony Orchestra ceased to exist once the war was over, with the musicians returning to their civilian orchestras.

The trumpet has long since been associated with royalty, with the sound of the trumpet being very much the prerogative of the kings. In the Middle Ages, military musicians known as waits existed in fortified towns, who kept watch in towers, where they could communicate by horn or trumpet, the threat of danger, or the arrival of dignitries. Until the eleventh century, only horns and trumpets were used in western Europe by military musicians.

By the time of the battle of Halidon Hill in 1333, instruments such as reedpipes, horns, drums, and shawms were used together. Woodwinds (especially double reed instruments) and brass instruments were quickly found to be most useful outdoors, while brass instruments (especially trombones) were particularly effective in churches and large halls. Prior to the nineteenth century concert halls did not exist, and music for entertainment was reserved for the spacious chambers of the large homes of noblemen, or in palaces, where early stringed instruments such as viols, and lutes were gradually replaced by the more powerful violins (including violas and violoncellos) and guitars.

By the sixteenth century woodcuts and other illustrations showed mounted fifers, and mounted bombard players and trombonists, especially in The Triumph of Miximilian (1512). In his eulogy Arte of Warre (1591) Garrard explains that "According to the stroke of the drum,...so shall they go, just and even, with a gallant and sumptuous pace..."

Until the rise of the New Model Army, military musicians were solely employed as servants by the nobility, who often maintained their own private armies of armed men, and their minstrels. At times of war, both groups were deployed in battle, dressed in uniforms. The role of the 'bandsmen' was to support the fighting troops by boosting their morales, typically advancing (walking, not marching) onto the battlefield ahead of the columns of troops, and acting as stretcher bearers. The role of stretcher bearer is found with musicians and bandsmen worldwide, however, in the British Army, they are properly-trained medical assistants, able to serve in field hospitals, and performing minor surgery (as required), as well as first-aid, and administering injections and medicines.

At the battle of St. Quentin in 1557, English regiments of foot and artillery had their drum and fife bands of up to twelve players. Such bands existed among French and German troops as well. Of these bands, only one provides us with a continuous and well-documented history up and until the present day: the Royal Artillery Band - in permanent existence since 1557, and the first to become an official Army band in England in 1762 (all other existing bands in Britain became official in 1763). Apart from those original eight artillery musicians, each of whom was required to also play a stringed instrument in addition to either oboe or bassoon, all other regiments hired musicians as and when required, but laid them off when not. The Marines hired players to form bands of drums, fifes, and oboes in 1693, and in 1678 the Horse Grenadier Guards enlisted a band of hand-picked musicians modelled on the Royal Artillery's band, which although officially recognized within the Regiment, was not officially recognized by the Army, and was disbanded with the demise of the Horse Grenadiers in 1788. Troops from the Horse Grenadiers formed the Life Guards, but although they are included in the history of that regiment, the Band of the Life Guards is not itself a continuation of the Horse Grenadiers Band. In 1783 the Coldstream Guards hired players to play from Horse Guards Parade in London, to St. James's Palace and back, who subsequently refused to play, at the request of an officer for a party on the Thames. The officers complained in writing to their Colonel-In-Chief, asking for their own band, which he granted, having sent from Hanover a band of twenty-four players, including three black men who specialized in Turkish music. In all cases, musicians were civilians, but properly trained instrumentalists, who wore the uniforms of the regiments by whom they were hired. In Hungary, for example, musicians were hired from local gypsy communities.

The earliest formal military bands were the Ottoman, or Turkish Janissary bands (descended from the Saracen bands), which were quickly emulated by Hungarian regiments, and the modern military band we see today in Britain, is a descendent of these, although the Americans had their official bands before ours were founded. In 1700 the Sultan of Turkey presented a Janissary band, from his personal guard, to the King of Poland. The Janissaries played primitive instruments such as fifes, shawms, serpents, drums, and cymbals, and an instrument that remained in army bands for a considerable time, the 'Jingling Johnny' (originally a brass crescent on a pole, with numerous small BElls hanging from it). This developed into the precursor of the pole-mounted xylophone still seen in foreign military bands. Gradually, the Turkish bandsmen were replaced by black, or 'negro' bandsmen.

The Industrial Revolution brought significant wealth to entrepreneurs, who set up rapidly expanding companies and factories all over the North of England, and later elsewhere. Business were run by men who often had military experience, in a way that reflected the Services, with its own system of rank. The wealthiest factories, and coal mines provided such comforts as living quarters, and entertainment for their workers, and small bands of musicians were employed, comprising only brass and percussion instruments. The brass instruments were all related, having a conical bore, and the musical notation was written in treble clef for all instruments, except the tuba. Brass instruments are robust, and because of their conical bore (cornets, rather than trumpets, with their straight bore) this meant that the musicians could easily switch instruments, should a shortage arise of a particular instrument. There was no requirement for them to learn to read the bass clef, so the transition was all the more simple. The effectiveness of such bands in all weathers conditions, both indoors and out, was noted by military musicians, and brass instruments were quickly adopted by them, to augment the fifes, and oboes, and such instruments such as the shawm and the serpent were gradually dispensed with, for more powerful brass. The flute, and its smaller relative the piccolo, soon replaced the weaker, and limited fife.

In 1845, Bombardier Henry Lawson, one of the finest trumpeters in the country, and principal trumpet of both the Royal Artillery Band and the Royal Artillery Brass Band, was appointed as Trumpet-Major of the Royal Horse Artillery Band in 1845. Lawson, who joined the RA Band in 1823, was frequently compared with Koenig, The Famous cornet player of Julien's band. The Band improved considerably under his direction. He was succeeded, after his retirement in 1852 by Trumpet-Major George Collins, the brother of William Collins, bandmaster of the Royal Artillery Band. Collins introduced to the band, an instrument that he had helped to develop many years earlier, the 'keyed bugle' [a link to a history of the keyed bugle May Be found in §7 below see esp. P.21]. The first bandmaster of the RHA band was James Browne, who was formerly principal flautist, and a violinist in the RA Band at Woolwich, who succeeded Collins in January 1870. Meanwhile, by the year 1869, so many brass instruments had been added to the band of buglers, that the title was changed to the Royal Artillery Brass Band. The RA Brass Band entered the lists of the Crystal Palace Band Contest in 1871, where it won the first prize of £50.

In most cases prior to 1762 (except in the Royal Artillery), drummers, trumpeters, fifers, and buglers were enlisted soldiers, rather than trained musicians, and did not belong to the bands. Instead, they were trained soldiers. This tradition was still evident in such regimental bands of the line, such as those of the Foot Guards, and Fusiliers, by the destinct differences in the pattern of their uniforms. In 1994 the Corps of Army Music was founded, and from that period, all regimental bands (except those of the Guards and Household Cavalry) became staff bands. Staff bands always recruited professionally trained musicians, who were subsequently accorded, at basic rank level, the appointment 'Musician', and whose officer commanding is a commissioned officer known as 'Director of Music'. (= 'Private', 'Gunner', 'Sapper', etc.). Regimental bands comprised talented, though not always formally-trained musicians, known as 'Bandsmen' under the command of a warrant officer, known as 'Bandmaster'. The appointment 'Bandsman' no longer exists in the British Army, since the Corps of Army Music was formed, and it does not exist in either the Royal Marines, or the Royal Air Force. The appointment 'Bandmaster'has been retained by the Corps of Army Music; the Bandmaster's role being chiefly as a band training officer, performing musician, and assistant conductor.

The Royal Navy does not employ, as foreign navies do, professional musicians. Instead it depends on the services of the Corps of Royal Marines (originally an army detachment from the Honourable Artillery Company to provide an amphibious infantry service), who today, together with the Royal Fleet Auxhiliary form the Naval Service. As soldiers, they were the logical choice when it came to providing music.

All other ranks within bands follow the standard military designations, for example: Lance Corporal / Lance Bombardier; [Band] Sergeant; Colour Sergeant / Staff Sergeant, and Band Sergeant Major. Rank has its prerogatives, and applies as in any military situation. Music as an art form however, does not respect rank as such, but rather ability. Therefore, instrumental sections and ensembles are generally headed by the most accomplished musician on his instrument, and on certain occasions the conductor may not be as high in rank as some of the musicians within the band. It is quite common to see a section leader without a badge of rank, giving artistic commands to sergeants or warrant officers within his section, and leaders (principal first violinists) of the Royal Artillery, and Royal Engineers orchestras have more often been ordinary private soldiers, than otherwise.

Military Band

The term military band does not only describe a musical ensemble in today's armies, navies, and air forces, but is the correct description for a specific instrumentation in musical composition. Military bands are frequently wrongly categorized, at least in the United Kingdom, where ignorant vendors typically file collections of albums by various army, air force, and marines bands, together with those by various brass bands, as if they were alike.

Military bands comprise both woodwind, and brass instruments with percussion, compared to brass bands, which do not include woodwinds. The development of the brass band is vastly different from that of the military band. Owing to the enormous popularity of military bands since the days of Queen Victoria, especially outdoors, where the general public could experience free of charge, concert performances of music which they would likely never otherwise encounter, combined with the more popular melodies of the day, composers have continued to write for the military band instrumentation, which has long since become standardized. There is no requirement for the musicians who perform military band music to themselves be uniformed members of the armed forces. An important musical development which is also derived directly from the military band, is the 'symphonic wind ensemble' (also known in the United States, as the 'concert band') which includes wind instruments not associated with marching bands (such as bass clarinet, contrabassoon, harp, and double bass), and which is modelled on the standard symphony orchestra, but without conventional stringed instruments. Both 'military band' and 'symphonic wind band' describe current ensembles which may be found throughout the world. In some American high schools, both ensembles might exist, together with both the traditional symphony orchestra, and the big [dance] band.

Current Instrumentation for British Military Bands

The precise instrumentation of a band depends on the number of players on the payroll, and such factors as performance space, and cost to the hirer. Certain instruments, such as the double-reed instruments (oboe and bassoon) are not used in the marching band (in their case because they are difficult to play when marching on unequal terrain, such as grass, and because they may prove hazardous to the player because of their exposed reeds, in place of a normal mouthpiece. For this reason they are also not used in mounted bands). In concert performances, additional symphonic wind instruments, and percussion are employed, and in some bands the instrumentation may include one or two harps, and double bass. Only one conductor is required, but the conducting may be shared between the Director of Music (a commissioned officer), and the Bandmaster (a non-commissioned officer). The Drum Major is not required in concert formations, and is usually employed as an instrumentalist within the band itself. Ever more frequently, electronic instruments are being used in concert performances, which often include a violin, and occasional use of the soprano saxophone is known. Currently, the Royal Artillery, Royal Marines, Royal Air Force Central, and Foot Guards bands exceed 40 players each, while most other bands comprise 29 players each. Massed bands belonging to the same service branch as each other will sometimes augment their parent band, to give the appearance of a much larger band. These may include similarly attired volunteer bands from the Territorial Army. While there is no definitive size for a military band, because their circumstances vary, standards are observed, and the following lists are as accurate possible be within the expected parameters.

'''TYPICAL MARCHING BAND OF THIRTY PLAYERS:

Cymbals x 1 Pair

'TYPICAL CONCERT MILITARY BAND OF 42 PLAYERS:''

Director of Music, and / or Bandmaster

Tympani x 1

DRUM MAJOR: The Drum Major, as the figurehead, and leader of the marching band, historically always wore a more flamboyant uniform to emphasize his special status. He carries a mace, which is used to signal his commands to the musicians, in conjunction with vocal commands as required. The signals are closely observed by the bass drummer, who then administers a drum signal which is audible to every musician. This is necessary, because the musicians must concentrate on reading from their [sheet music] parts. The Drum Major at all times sets an example, both in appearance, and in drill. These virtues aside, he is usually selected because of his commanding voice, and height. In his role, there is no allowance for error. Following the Drum Major's command a mace signal indicates to the drummers (bass and side drums)when to commence the drum rolls.

Music, Processional and Ceremonial

Ceremonial music is by nature, occasional, and usually in honor of a dignified person such as a head of state, or a nobleman. The arrival of a king, for example, is normally heralded with a fanfare - a declamatory and often brief musical announcement, which is far more effective and audible than a vocal announcement. Such music has evolved to accompany the splendour of the personage for whom it was meant, in a suitably dignified style and tempo (majestic; stately, etc.). An anthem will extol the virtues of a nation, or a monarch, and originally was conceived as choral music, but in the case of the National Anthem, is more likely to be heard played by a military band, or an orchestra. The arrival of a monarch is processional.

Also processional, but for a different reason, is the march. Marches exist in various styles and tempi, and include the concert march, which is directly related to the military march, but is a military style symphonic piece to be listened to, rather than have any practical value. The standard 'Quick March' tempo varies from between 116 beats to 120 per minute, to accompany the disciplined way of moving men from one place to another. A well-written march assists the troops by raising their spirits, helping to keep their minds focussed on the matter in hand, and embuing them with a sense of pride. Marches may also be triumphant. Marches are written in four beats to the bar, two beats to the bar, and in 6/8 time, which is an elaborate or stylized version of two beats, or steps (and also used to accompany the 'Two Step' on the dance floor).

On more solemn occasions, the 'Slow March' accompanies troops with its distinct feeling of two beats to the bar, at around half the tempo of a quick march. It is the most stately of all marches. The Slow March is often used by the Cavalry and Artillery at a walk past by their horses, and on those occasions is referred to as a 'Walk March'.

References & Bibliography

¹from "Royal Artillery Band" (Wikipedia) In the assembling and collating of information for this article, I have drawn upon the following sources and publications, as well as archive material in the possessions of the Royal Artillery Band, the Royal Military School of Music, Kneller Hall, and in the former possession of the Royal Artillery Mounted Band, during my time in the service of that band, and also from personal recollections of its ex-musicians and their accounts, and my own private collection of past programmes, posters, photographs, memorabilia, and various other documentation in my possession:

♦ Seven years of service in the Royal Artillery Mounted Band ♦ Eighteen years as a musician in the Royal Regiment of Artillery ♦ My own research into the history of military music, during my three-and-a-half year posting at the Royal Military School of Music, Kneller Hall, Twickenham, as an instructor, and as Reference Librarian ♦ Information related to me by the various directors of music, RA ♦ The valuable assistance, anecdotes, and corrections, for which I am truly indebted, from my former RA Mounted Band, and RA Band colleagues ♦ The copious amounts of information in the writings of former RA Band musician and author Henry George Farmer in his now extremely rare, authoritative, and erudite volumes of band history: "Memoirs of the Royal Artillery Band" (Boosey & Co. London - 1904); "Cavaliere Zaverthal and the Royal Artillery Band" (Hinrichsen Edition Limited - 1951); "History of the Royal Artillery Band" (Royal Artillery Institution, London, S.E. 18 - 1954), and "Military Music" (Max Parrish & Co Limited - 1950) ♦ The exhaustive, and thoroughly detailed information assembled and documented, by Gordon Turner, in his unsurpassed three volumes (now highly sought-after, expensive collectors' items) of "The History of British Military Bands" and in his "The Trumpets Will Sound" ♦ "Military Bands and their Uniforms", by Jack Cassin-Scott and John Fabb (Blandford Press, Poole, Dorset - 1978) ♦ "Instruments of Processional Music", by Lilla M. Fox (Lutterworth Press, London - 1967) ♦ "The Grove Dictionary of Music" & "The New Grove Dictionary of Music" ♦ "The Oxford Companion to Music", edited by Percy Scholes & "The New Oxford Companion to Music", Edited by Denis Arnold ♦ "The Grove Concise Dictionary of Music", Edited by Stanley Sadie ♦ "Lectionary of Music", by Nicholas Slonimsky ♦ "Military & Processional Music" (Wikipedia), by Franck Leprince ♦ "Royal Artillery Mounted Band" (Wikipedia), by Franck Leprince ♦ The Royal Artillery Mounted Band on 'Facebook' [Group] (an ex-members' of the Royal Artillery Mounted Band online networking site) ♦ The Corps of Army Music, Kneller Hall, Twickenham ♦ The Kneller Hall Museum ♦ The Rotunda Museum, Royal Artillery Barracks, Woolwich, London ♦ The Royal Artillery Museum, The Arsenal, Woolwich, London ♦ The Regimental Band of the Life Guards ♦ The Band of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Arborfield, Berkshire ♦ The Band of the Army Air Corps, Middle Wallop, Stockbridge, Hampshire ♦ The Band of the Royal Logistic Corps, Deepcut, Surrey

Links To Related Articles And Sites

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kneller_Hall The Royal Military School of Music

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Air_Force_Music_Services The Royal Air Force School of Music

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Marines_Band_Service The Royal Marines School of Music

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Artillery_Band

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Artillery_Mounted_Band

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Band_of_the_Royal_Air_Force

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Marines_Band_Service

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grenadier_Guards_Band

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_band

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honourable_Artillery_Company

Hear The Great Bands

Presented here are some of the finest bands in the world. These are live recordings, mostly filmed, and include both concert performances, marching displays, and processional, or parade music. It should be remembered that outdoor conditions are rarely, if ever, ideal for bands. Not only are instruments affected in different ways by temperature and precipitation, but also outdoor acoustics vary tremendously, not least to the listener's exact location. Concert performances naturally lend themselves to fine performances, and studio recordings allow for the best 'takes' to be immortalized for collectors. Historic recordings and films also hold great value for the connoisseur, who realizes that circumstances affect even the greatest institutions, for better or for worse, and that the future may also bring prosperity, or poverty. The following bands have been selected because they have survived the tests of time better than most. Smaller bands will never have the advantages that are evident in the larger, and nationally significant bands, however, there are many fine small bands to be found worldwide, in which the musicianship is equal to that in the great bands. The emphasis here is always on the musicianship, rather than the standard of marching, the latter of which has brought many bands fame, where otherwise their musical standards remain unremarkable.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3Y-rUw6ECk Pershing's Own Band (USA)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqUsoniMdU0 United States Air Force Band (USA)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ns3OxLv4ItE&feature=related United States Navy Band (USA)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sdOzVFUbv0 The Royal Artillery Band [Woolwich] (UK)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30Yl5gfAMok The Royal Artillery Orchestra [Woolwich] (UK)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlaH-um6Mj0 The Royal Artillery Band [Woolwich] (UK)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cq8c9xq_mjg&feature=related The Royal Artillery Band [Woolwich] (UK)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wS95jtsv3Cs Band of the Corps of the Royal Engineers [Chatham] (UK)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqtTgJXeDeI&feature=related Band of the Corps of the Royal Engineers [Chatham] (UK)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTscb4yNeTE The Marine Band of the Royal Netherlands Navy (Netherlands)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LD-_NFi4Fw8 Band of the Republican Guard of Paris (France)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnWIwy4d_H0&feature=related Band of the Republican Guard of Paris (France)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJxDv8nt_0E Mounted Band of the Republican Guard of Paris (France)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIl9JmlBd0U&feature=fvwrel Heeresmusikkorps 1 (Germany)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sg7h2jx8aq0 Massed Bands of the German Federal Forces (Germany)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YDbGgO7r14 Mounted Band of the Household Cavalry [Life Guards & Blues And Royals] (UK)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbxUpgWMBwE Mounted Band of the Swedish Life Guards (Sweden)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCZCfxT3Vy8 Central Band of the Royal Air Force (UK)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_-IBifjLgo&feature=related Central Band of the Royal Air Force (UK)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVATg0Gl6Ss Royal Danish Life Guards Band (Denmark)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xgOK5OtaEY&feature=related Band of the Carabinieri Regiment of Rome (Italy)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdtYN-pRuIg Band of the German Air Force (Germany)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQybWIe9NTY Central Band of the Russian Navy (Russia)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Krc5IumXEDE Band of the Royal Engineers [Aldershot] (UK)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2VKWkBcxe4 Band of the Royal Marines (UK)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_nX2Qa52CI Band of the Honourable Artillery Company [London] (UK)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4387p9oHqs Band of the Grenadier Guards (UK)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YQHGqsQn78 Band of the Scots Guards (UK)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrAoQ_0iR6k Band of the Welsh Guards (UK)