History was made on Monday 13th September 2021. The British Army Band Tidworth became the first brass band ever to perform at the Changing of the Guard Ceremony in Buckingham Palace, London.

British Army Band Tidworth

British Army Band Tidworth is one of three full-time Royal Corps of Army Music brass bands, formed in September 2019.

The band is made up of many musicians with backgrounds in the brass band movement, as well as Musicians Akampulira and Bogere, who were supported by Brass for Africa. Click here to read one of our previous blog posts on Brass for Africa. The band’s musicians were also joined by Musicians Namugera and Ssegawa from The Band of the Household Cavalry for the occasion. This occasion was not only a testament to the players themselves but also the Brass for Africa organisation.

The band were invited to provide musical support for a local battalion of mechanical engineers who had been given the honour of mounting guard in London. This was an opportunity for British Army Band Tidworth to showcase their musical excellence.

Changing of the Guard

The Changing of the Guard has been enjoyed by millions of spectators at both Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle. It is usually carried out by active-duty soldiers from the Foot Guards. These Guards have protected Sovereign and Royal Palaces since 1660. Due to Covid restrictions, the Changing of the Guard ceremonies at Buckingham Palace, St James’ Palace and Wellington Barracks were suspended between March 2020 and 23 August. Instead, the handover was carried out administratively.

Up till now, the ceremony has been accompanied by a full military band. This made this particular Changing of the Guard on Monday 13th September a landmark occasion. Army Band Tidworth‘s musicians proudly led soldiers from the 4 Battalion Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers – REME out of Wellington Barracks and onto the Palace forecourt. The music featured included:

• Philip Harper’s ‘The Night of the Tiger’
• Paul Lovatt-Cooper’s arrangement of ‘Nobody Does It Better’
• ‘Walking with Heroes’.

This is the first in a series of Public Duties British Army Band Tidworth will conduct. They will be performing at Royal Residences in both London and Windsor.