Commonwealth Day

Monday 8th March 2021

Established in April 1949, The Commonwealth is a voluntary organisation of 54 sovereign nations, which are spread across all inhabited continents of the world: Africa, Americas, Asia, Caribbean, Europe and The Pacific.

The Commonwealth Nations include 31 small island states and with national populations ranging from 9,000 to 1.3 billion, the 21st Century Commonwealth, is an opportunity for engaged diversity on a vast international scale.For 69 years Her Majesty The Queen has been Head of The Commonwealth. 

The Regimental Bands of the Household Division include many highly talented musicians from across The Commonwealth.

Please click on the link to watch a State Ceremonial Music ‘Real Lives Interview’, with Australian musician, Lance Sergeant Ben Beavis, who performs in the Band of the Grenadier Guards.

 

---

 

Great and Glorious Track Feature - Pomp & Circumstance March No.1

Thursday 4th March 2021

As part of the latest release of 'Great and Glorious' by the State Ceremonial Musicians of the Household Division, today we feature one of the tracks that is on the album.

Read More 

 

---

  

Great and Glorious Track Feature - Crown Imperial

Thursday 25th February 2021 

As part of the latest release of 'Great and Glorious' by the State Ceremonial Musicians of the Household Division, today we feature one of the tracks that is on the album.

Read More 

 

---

 

Scala Radio Broadcasts - Great and Glorious CD

Tuesday 23rd February 2021

Two of the tracks from the State ceremonial Musicians latest album featured on Scala Radio over the weekend. If you would like to hear them again then click the links below.

Trumpet Voluntary - John Stanley

Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1 - Sir Edward Elgar OM GCVO 

 

To find out more about the latest release Click Here

To purchase Click Here

 

---

 

Great and Glorious CD Release

Saturday 20th February 2021

The State Ceremonial Musicians of the Household Division have released their latest album Great and Glorious.

 

For more information Click Here

To Purchase Click Here

 

 

---

 

Scala Radio Broadcast - Great and Glorious CD

Friday 19th February 2021

A feature of two of the tracks on the new album release 'Great and Glorious' by the State Ceremonial Musicians of the Household Division, will be broadcast on Scala Radio on Friday 19 and Saturday 20 February:

Read More

  

---

  

Great and Glorious Track Feature - Trumpet Voluntary

Tuesday 16th February 2021

As part of the upcoming new release of 'Great and Glorious' by the State Ceremonial Musicians of the Household Division, today we feature one of the tracks that is on the album.

Read More 

 

 

---

 

Great and Glorious - One Week to Launch

Saturday  13th February 2021

Pre-order now

 

---

 

Great and Glorious Track Feature - La Calinda

Thursday 11th February 2021

As part of the upcoming new release of 'Great and Glorious' by the State Ceremonial Musicians of the Household Division, today we feature one of the tracks that is on the album. 

Read More

 

 

---

 

Great and Glorious Track Feature - Jupiter: The Planets

Tuesday 9th February 2021

As part of the upcoming new release of 'Great and Glorious' by the State Ceremonial Musicians of the Household Division, today we feature one of the tracks that is on the album. 

Read More

 

 

---

 

Great and Glorious - A Collection of Triumphant Music

Saturday 6th February 2021

 With two weeks to go to the launch, we are pleased to announce the tracks that are available on the latest album by the State Ceremonial Musicians of the Household Division. 

Read More

 

 

---

 

Free Download Music Library - Burns Night

Monday 25th January 2021

Today is Burn’s Night and the annual Band of the Scots Guards Burn’s Concert in the Guards Chapel will unfortunately not be taking place this year. Read More

 

---

 

A Gift to The Nation - Free Download Music Library

Saturday 23rd January 2021

The State Ceremonial Musicians of the Household Division present a free, online library of recorded music, as a gift to the United Kingdom and all International audiences.  

Find out more

 

 

---

 

Happy New Year

Friday 1st January 2021

This short video, set to the Fanfare ‘Salvation’ from Songs of Peace, highlights the body of work from the Bands of the Household Division in 2020, offered in the hope that our music has helped, and perhaps more importantly, with our sincere wish to you for a brighter year in 2021. 

Read More

 

---

 

The Queen's Speech - Behind the Scenes

Monday 28th December 2020

A look behind the scenes of the recording day for Her Majesty The Queen's Speech.

Read More

 

---

 

The Queen's Speech

Sunday 27th  December 2020

Watch The Band of The Household Cavalry performing on this year’s Queen’s Christmas Message from Windsor Castle.

 

---

 

Musicians Working over Christmas

Tuesday 22nd December 2020

With many of the Household Division musicians on annual leave, the Band of the Scots Guards stay behind to fulfil the Christmas Duties.

Read more 

  

---

 

Fanfare Competition Results

Friday 18th December 2020

A Fanfare Competition was held to provide a fitting musical tribute to mark the granting of Royal status to the Corps of Army Music. The competition was open to all serving members of the Corps and the response was excellent with over 30 entries.

 

Read More

 

---

 

National Violin Day

Sunday 13th December 2020

Today is National Violin Day and we feature the leader of The Countess of Wessex’s String Orchestra, Lance Corporal Katie Davies. Learn about her musical background and her path to joining the British Army as a professional violinist.

 

 

---

 

Sovereign's Parade

Saturday 12th December 2020

The Sovereign’s Parade at The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst is the culmination and pinnacle of any Officer Cadets training in the British Army, it is essentially their ‘passing out’ parade from a years worth of intensive training. This year the Band of the Grenadier Guards were there.

Read More

 

---

 

Cheese and Cake Ceremony

Thursday 10th December 2020

Each year, The Royal Hospital Chelsea celebrates a variety of Christmas traditions of which The Countess of Wessex’s String Orchestra has had the pleasure to perform at for a number of years now.

Read More

 

---

 

New Release

Saturday 5th December

Oceans

Composed by Lieutenant Colonel S N Haw MBE. Dedicated to all who are working to save our Oceans.

Released now!

Read More

 

---

 

Saxophone Masterclass

Friday 4 December 2020 

Join Lance Corporal Stephen Shepherd, Principal Saxophonist of the Band of the Welsh Guards on Saturday 5 Dec at 10:30am as he discusses saxophone techniques and performance.

To register your interest, please complete this form.

 

---

 

World Premiere Charity Recording Release

Monday 22 November 2020

On 11th November 2020 State Ceremonial Music of the Household Division released the World Premiere Recording of Cenotaph Requiem, to commemorate the Centenary of the unveiling of The Cenotaph and the burial of The Unknown Soldier in Westminster Abbey on 11th November 1920.

100% of proceeds of sales of the recording of Cenotaph Requiem are being donated to the following Service Charities:

This week, each day one of the five Service Charities benefiting from the sales of Cenotaph Requiem Recording will be featured.

Read More

 

---

 

Launch - State Ceremonial Music Free Download Library

Saturday 21 November 2020

 A Gift to The Nation 

Recordings of music performed by the State Ceremonial Musicians of the Household Division have been curated into a Free Download Music Library of tracks which are freely available to all. 

These tracks can be downloaded for use for any occasion, but for strictly non-commercial purposes. 

For access to the State Ceremonial Music Free Download Library Please click here 

 

---

 

For Those In Peril On The Sea

Wednesday 18th November 2020

Today, Wednesday 18th November 2020, the funeral of Mr Frederick Hall,  who died last week, one month before his 95th Birthday, will be held in Bridport, Dorset. The family of Mr Hall requested the track above, For those in Peril on the Sea, to be played at the funeral.

Read More

 

---

 

World Premiere Release

Thursday 12th November 2020

World Premiere release in Remembrance Week 2020, to commemorate the Centenary of the unveiling of The Cenotaph and the burial of The Unknown Soldier in Westminster Abbey on 11th November 1920.

State Ceremonial Music New Charity Recording Release with 100% of proceeds of sales to be donated to the following Service Charities: 

Read More

 

---

 

Remembrance Day 2020

Wednesday 11th November 2020

Last Post performed at The Cenotaph

Lance Sergeant Stuart Laing from 1 Welsh Guards will play The Last Post on a bugle recovered from the mud and blood of the Somme in 1915.

To find out more about Remembrance Day 2020 Read More

 

Service at Westminster Abbey

Interviews and coverage from the Band of the Grenadier Guards as they perform at the Centenary Service at Westminster Abbey.

To find out more about Remembrance Day 2020 Read More

To watch the service on BBC One click here

 

Tribute by British Army Musicians

A wonderful tribute from the National Memorial Arboretum by musicians from British Army Music to all who served and continue to serve with selfless sacrifice this special Armistice Day.

To find out more about Remembrance Day 2020 Read More

 

---

 

Cenotaph Requiem - Note from the Composer

Tuesday 10th November 2020

State Ceremonial Music New Charity Recording Release with 100% of proceeds of sales to be donated to Service Charities.

Read More

 

---

 

Nimrod performed by the Massed Bands of the Household Division

Monday 9th November 2020 

The Massed Bands of the Household Division conducted by Major M D Aldridge, Director of Music Band of the Scots Guards performed Nimrod from: Enigma Variations by Sir Edward Elgar OM GCVO in the Guards' Chapel on Sunday 1st November to start Remembrance Week and to mark the Centenary of the Burial of The Unknown Soldier in Westminster Abbey on 11th November 1920. 

Read More

 

---

 

Remembrance Weekend

Sunday 8th November 20

Church of England Remembrance Service

This online service marks Remembrance Sunday. Led from the Royal Military Chapel by Rev John Vincent CF, the service honours those who gave their lives for the peace of our nation. 

Watch Here

 

Cenotaph Parade at Whitehall on BBC One at 10.15am

David Dimbleby presents live coverage from the Cenotaph. The Royal Family, the government and the armed forces will gather in Westminster for the National Service of Remembrance. The ceremony this year has been adapted for social distancing, and the traditional march-past will not take place. The two-minute silence at 11 o’clock will be followed by wreath-laying at the foot of the Cenotaph as the nation remembers all those who died serving their country.

Read More

 

---

 

Remembrance Weekend

Saturday 7th November 20

Festival of Remembrance 2020 on BBC One at 9.10pm 

Huw Edwards presents the Royal British Legion's annual Festival of Remembrance from the Royal Albert Hall in London. In this socially distanced event HRH the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall will pay special tribute to the contributions of Her Majesty’s armed forces as well as the nursing profession.

Read More

 

Sky News Interview

Just 26 Veterans allowed at Cenotaph as Poppy Day hit by COVID restrictions and the Commanding Officer talks about the World Premiere release of Cenotaph Requiem in Remembrance Week.

Read More

 

---

 

Abide with Me

Friday 6 November 2020 

On 11th November 1920 the 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards escorted the Gun Carriage bearing the coffin of The Unknown Soldier, to the Unveiling of The Cenotaph ceremony, and then onwards to Westminster Abbey for the burial in The Tomb of The Unknown Soldier.  

At the end of the service The King stepped forward and dropped a handful of French earth onto the coffin from a silver shell as it was lowered into the grave. At the close of the service, the hymn "Abide with me" was sung by the Westminster Abbey Choir.

Click the track below to listen to: 

Abide with Me - William Monk arr. Lieutenant Colonel S N Haw MBE 
Recorded in the Guards' Chapel by The Regimental Band of The Coldstream Guards, Commonwealth Scholars' Choir, Conducted by Lieutenant Colonel S N Haw MBE.

 

---

 

Commanding Officer Interviewed by Sky News

Thursday 5 November 2020 

At 12noon today the Commanding Officer was interviewed on the upcoming Cenotaph Parade at Whitehall, Cenotaph Requiem Music Release and the National Act of Remembrance Music download.

Full interview to appear shortly

 

---

 

Forthcoming Releases  

Tuesday 3rd November 2020

Two new World Premiere recordings are released in Remembrance Week 2020, to commemorate the Centenary of the unveiling of The Cenotaph and the burial of The Unknown Soldier in Westminster Abbey on 11th November 1920.

Read More

 

---

 

BBC Radio Broadcasts

Sunday 1st November 2020

A moving performance by the Massed Bands of the Household Division will be broadcast on Sunday 1st November on Radio 2 and Radio 4.

Read More