Coldstream Guards Band
Encyclopedia
The Band of the Coldstream Guards is one of the oldest and best known bands in the British Army
, having been officially formed on 16 May 1785 under the command of Major C F Eley, reflecting the fact that the Coldstream Guards
regiment is the oldest of the guards regiments. Although the band is not technically the oldest in the Army, it has the longest standing tradition of music, as from its earliest days the officers of the Coldstream Guards hired eight musicians to provide music for the regiment during the changing of the guard. This is an event which still occurs today, every day at eleven thirty in the summer outside Buckingham Palace
.
The Coldstream Guards Band was one of the very first British army bands to make a recording before World War I
.
On 18 June 1944 over one hundred twenty people were killed in the chapel
at Wellington Barracks when a German flying bomb hit the chapel. The director of the band was included in those killed, prompting Captain Douglas Alexander Pope to be appointed.
In 1960, the band started a new tradition, to tour from coast to coast of the United States of America, each ten years. This tradition still takes place.
In 1985, during the band's two hundredth anniversary year, the Coldstream Guards kicked off the Live Aid
conecrt at Wembley Stadium
, preforming "God Save The Queen
"
The band is currently based at Wellington Barracks
in St. James's
London
along with all of the other guards bands, although the Coldstream Guards Band moved in as soon as the barracks was completed, making it the first official home of the band.
Band plays regularly for ceremonial occasions and events. Some are listed below but this is not a comprehensive list.
The band also performs at other non-military events in the same way as other military bands such as the Grenadier Guards Band
or another civilian professional organisations.
.
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
, having been officially formed on 16 May 1785 under the command of Major C F Eley, reflecting the fact that the Coldstream Guards
Coldstream Guards
Her Majesty's Coldstream Regiment of Foot Guards, also known officially as the Coldstream Guards , is a regiment of the British Army, part of the Guards Division or Household Division....
regiment is the oldest of the guards regiments. Although the band is not technically the oldest in the Army, it has the longest standing tradition of music, as from its earliest days the officers of the Coldstream Guards hired eight musicians to provide music for the regiment during the changing of the guard. This is an event which still occurs today, every day at eleven thirty in the summer outside Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace, in London, is the principal residence and office of the British monarch. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is a setting for state occasions and royal hospitality...
.
History
The band received the first British bandmaster in 1835 called Charles Godfry, as previously most bandmasters had been foreign, such as the first who was German.The Coldstream Guards Band was one of the very first British army bands to make a recording before World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
On 18 June 1944 over one hundred twenty people were killed in the chapel
Chapel
A chapel is a building used by Christians as a place of fellowship and worship. It may be part of a larger structure or complex, such as a church, college, hospital, palace, prison or funeral home, located on board a military or commercial ship, or it may be an entirely free-standing building,...
at Wellington Barracks when a German flying bomb hit the chapel. The director of the band was included in those killed, prompting Captain Douglas Alexander Pope to be appointed.
In 1960, the band started a new tradition, to tour from coast to coast of the United States of America, each ten years. This tradition still takes place.
In 1985, during the band's two hundredth anniversary year, the Coldstream Guards kicked off the Live Aid
Live Aid
Live Aid was a dual-venue concert that was held on 13 July 1985. The event was organized by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure to raise funds for relief of the ongoing Ethiopian famine. Billed as the "global jukebox", the event was held simultaneously in Wembley Stadium in London, England, United Kingdom ...
conecrt at Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
, preforming "God Save The Queen
God Save the Queen
"God Save the Queen" is an anthem used in a number of Commonwealth realms and British Crown Dependencies. The words of the song, like its title, are adapted to the gender of the current monarch, with "King" replacing "Queen", "he" replacing "she", and so forth, when a king reigns...
"
The band is currently based at Wellington Barracks
Wellington Barracks, London
The Foot Guards Battalions on public duties in London are located in barracks conveniently close to Buckingham Palace for them to be able to reach the Palace very quickly in an emergency. In central London, a battalion is based at Wellington Barracks, Westminster, about 300 yards from Buckingham...
in St. James's
St. James's
St James's is an area of central London in the City of Westminster. It is bounded to the north by Piccadilly, to the west by Green Park, to the south by The Mall and St. James's Park and to the east by The Haymarket.-History:...
London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
along with all of the other guards bands, although the Coldstream Guards Band moved in as soon as the barracks was completed, making it the first official home of the band.
Current personnel of note
- Director of Music: Lt Col Graham Jones MBE DMA MMus FTCL FRSA ARCM psm. He is also Senior Director of Music Household Division.
- Bandmaster: WO1 Gregory Machin MA BMus (Hons) ALCM.
- Band Sergeant Major: WO2 Peter McErlean
- Composer in Residence: Dr Martin Ellerby
Ensembles
There are several ensembles within the band of the Coldstream Guards:- Concert Band
- Marching Band
- Orchestra
- Brass Quintet
- Function Band
- Jazz TrioTrio (music)Trio is generally used in any of the following ways:* A group of three musicians playing the same or different musical instrument.* The performance of a piece of music by three people.* The contrasting section of a piece in ternary form...
- Fanfares
- Woodwind Quintet
- Rock Band Monck
- 18th Century Band
Events
The Coldstream GuardsColdstream Guards
Her Majesty's Coldstream Regiment of Foot Guards, also known officially as the Coldstream Guards , is a regiment of the British Army, part of the Guards Division or Household Division....
Band plays regularly for ceremonial occasions and events. Some are listed below but this is not a comprehensive list.
- Changing of the GuardGuard MountingGuard Mounting, or Changing the Guard , refers to a formal ceremony in which sentries providing ceremonial guard duties at important institutions are relieved by a new batch of sentries...
- The Festival of RemembranceRemembrance DayRemembrance Day is a memorial day observed in Commonwealth countries since the end of World War I to remember the members of their armed forces who have died in the line of duty. This day, or alternative dates, are also recognized as special days for war remembrances in many non-Commonwealth...
- Trooping of the Colour
- Beating the Retreat
The band also performs at other non-military events in the same way as other military bands such as the Grenadier Guards Band
Grenadier Guards Band
The Band of the Grenadier Guards is the oldest of all of the bands in the British Army, with a history dating back over three hundred & twenty five years.- History :In 1685 Charles II allowed the band to maintain 12 Hautbois players...
or another civilian professional organisations.
Album and Record Deal
In June 2009 the band signed a record deal with Universal Music imprint Decca, reportedly worth £1million. Their debut album 'Heroes' was released on November 30, 2009 and was nominated for Best Album of the Year for Classical Brits. The Band of the Coldstream Guards performed at the Classical Brits Awards gala at the Royal Albert HallRoyal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall situated on the northern edge of the South Kensington area, in the City of Westminster, London, England, best known for holding the annual summer Proms concerts since 1941....
.
See also
- Grenadier Guards BandGrenadier Guards BandThe Band of the Grenadier Guards is the oldest of all of the bands in the British Army, with a history dating back over three hundred & twenty five years.- History :In 1685 Charles II allowed the band to maintain 12 Hautbois players...
- Irish Guards BandIrish Guards BandThe Band of the Irish Guards is one of five bands in the Foot Guards Regiments in the Household Division whose main role is to guard the British monarch...
- Scots Guards BandScots Guards BandThe Band of the Scots Guards is one of five bands in the Foot Guards Regiments in the Household Division which primarily guards the British monarch....
- Welsh Guards BandWelsh Guards BandThe Band of the Welsh Guards is the youngest of the five bands in the Foot Guards Regiments in the Household Division which primarily guards the British monarch.-Band membership duties:...
- Household DivisionHousehold DivisionHousehold Division is a term used principally in the Commonwealth of Nations to describe a country’s most elite or historically senior military units, or those military units that provide ceremonial or protective functions associated directly with the head of state.-Historical Development:In...