 |
The Scots Guards were formed by King Charles I in 1642 for service in Ireland. The Regiment returned to Scotland in 1650 but was disbanded during the exile of Charles II. It was reformed at the restoration of the King in 1660 and came to England in 1685.
The earliest trace of any music in the Scots Guards seems to be of Drum, Fifes and Bagpipes in the year 1662. At this time, music was more developed in France where a "Band of Hautbois" (the forerunners of today's oboe family) of 4 to 6 players existed. King Charles II, during his enforced stay on the Continent, took a liking to this form of music making and after his return to England he introduced it into the King's Regiment of Foot Guards in London.
The Band of today numbers some 49 players, all of which are among the finest instrumentalists to be found in the services. Stationed in London, it shares with the other 4 Foot Guards Bands the duties of daily Guard Mounting at Buckingham Palace. It is also present at various State Occasions throughout the United Kingdom, two of the most notable being the ceremony of the Trooping of the Colour on Horse Guards Parade and the Remembrance Parade at the Cenotaph in Whitehall. A fair proportion of the musicians are "double-handed", capable of playing both a string and wind instrument, as the Band is often called upon to produce an orchestra to play at investitures and State banquets in Buckingham Palace.
|
|