Scots Guards Band

Infobox musical artist
Name = Scots Guards Band


Img_size = 250
Background = Military Band
Alias = Band of the Scots Guards
Origin = flagicon|UK Scotland, United Kingdom
URL = [http://www.army.mod.uk/music/corps-band/472.aspx Home of the Scots Guards Band]

The Scots Guards Band, often referred to as the "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.

The band is based at Wellington Barracks in St James's London, which is the same place as all of the foot guards bands.

Regimental Marches

The Regimental Quick March is the "Hielan' Laddie". The Regimental Slow March is "The Garb of old Gaul", although similarly to the Grenadier Guards they may march to the "British Grenadiers" Quick March, which is often played by the Grenadier Guards Band as it is the Regimental Quick March of the Grenadier Guards.

History

The Scots Guards are a band that was formed by King Charles I in 1642. It is known that in 1716 a small band of "hautbouys" existed; however, the precise origins of the Band of the Scots Guards are unknown.

The band grew in strength during the early part of the 19th century and by 1838 could boast some 32 performers. Throughout the 19th century the band expanded until, in 1888, there was an establishment of 44.

During 1916 they entertained troops at Ypres and the Somme. During World War II they were again entertaining troops on the home front. This was sometimes through the medium of wireless, an example being March 18, 1942 when at 1 am, the band reported for a BBC Overseas Broadcast at the Paris Cinema. Musicians also found themselves on Fire Watch duties based at Egerton House, Buckingham Gate.

The Scots Guards were the only Foot Guards Band to be deployed on active service during the Gulf War in 1990 (with three of their colleagues from the Irish Guards Band). Many different aspects of hospital duties attached to the various departments of 33 General Hospital based in Al Jubail, Saudi Arabia were involved in their work there. In 1992, the Colonel of the Regiment, HRH The Duke of Kent presented Gulf War Medals to them, many of which are still worn by their owners.

The band played at the handover ceremony in Hong Kong in 1997 and completed an extensive 10-week tour of the United States and Canada in early 1998. In February and March, 2000, they performed at concerts in Perth, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, all in Australia, before travelling on to Wellington, New Zealand to take part in the first performance of the Edinburgh Tattoo abroad.

The band visited Brisbane again in October, 2000 to participate in the Brisbane Festival 2000 international Military tattoo.

The band currently has 49 members, at least three of whose fathers served with the band in the 1970s.

Ensembles

There are several ensembles within the band of the Scots Guards:
* Concert Band
* Marching Band
* Dance band
* Fanfare Trumpeters
* Brass Quintet
* Wind Quintet
* String Quartet
* Orchestra
* Jazz Ensemble

Events

The Scots Guards Band play for occasions and events of state. Some of these events that are most famous are listed below, although this is not a comprehensive list.

* Changing of the Guard
* The Festival of Remembrance
* Trooping the Colour
* Beating the Retreat
* Royal Ascot

The band also performs at other non-military events.

Key personnel

*Director of Music: Lieutenant Colonel R J Owen, ARCM psm. He is also Senior Director of Music Household Division.
*Bandmaster: WO1 W Fitzpatrick.

See also

* Coldstream Guards Band
* Grenadier Guards Band
* Irish Guards Band
* Welsh Guards Band
* Household Division

External links

* [http://www.army.mod.uk/music/corps-band/472.aspx Home of Scots Guards Band]
* [http://www2.army.mod.uk/bands/scots_guards/index.htm Former website]
* [http://military-bands.co.uk/scots_guards.html Band History]