THERE are few sights as stirring and evocative of Britain’s proud military history as a really proficient military band and that’s just what aficionados can enjoy next Sunday (Feb. 28th) when the Band of the Royal Marines and the Pipes, Drums, and Highland Dancers of the Scots Guards visit the Valley Performing Arts in Northridge.
The ensemble boasts some of the finest instrumentalists found in military service today and are known for captivating audiences with expertly delivered music and dance. Rich in heritage and culture, performing in uniform and traditional kilts, the performers evoke the same reverence that has enraptured audiences for hundreds of years. Indeed, when one gets lost in the music full flow it’s no great feat of the imagination to imagine the tredipidation Napoleon’s troops – or indeed any of Britain’s military foes over the years – may have felt at facing such a formidable outfit.
The development of music in the Royal Marines is inextricably linked with the evolution of British military bands. Lively airs and the beat of the drum enabled columns of marching men to keep a regular step. The drum was the normal method of giving signals on the battlefield or in camp. As long ago as the days of Drake and Hawkins the drummer’s rhythm would advertise the changing watches or beat the men to quarters. The band trace their lineage back to 1767, when Royal Marines Divisional Bands were formed at Chatham, Plymouth, Portsmouth and Deal. Today all Royal Marines Bands are required to provide every imaginable musical ensemble including orchestras and dance bands. To achieve this, most musicians, except solo specialists, are required to attain an acceptable standard on both a string and a wind instrument. As a result of this special amalgam of expertise, Royal Marines musicians are regarded as one of the most versatile in the military musical world. The Corps of Drums receive an equally thorough training and pride themselves on maintaining the highest standards of drill, bugling and drumming.
T he sound of the pipes has long instilled a great sense of pride and passion which has inspired Scottish soldiers in the heat of battle. Indeed, the effect that the pipes had on the highland warriors was such that they were banned following the Jacobite Rising by the supporters of Bonnie Prince Charlie in 1745. Equally, there are few more haunting and evocative sounds than a lament played on the pipes at times of mourning and remembrance.
The concert kicks off at 3pm and tickets are priced between $30-$65 and can be purchased by visiting ValleyPerformingArtsCenter.org or calling (818) 677-3000. Valley Performing Arts Center is located on the campus of California State University, 18111 Nordhoff Street, Northridge, at the corner of Nordhoff and Lindley.
[adrotate banner=”48″]
