Changing of the Guard, London I

[tobiasf1]

I was genuinly disappointed with the changing of the guard. Where is the military music? Seemed to be more Star Wars they were playing when I went.

[emptyangel]

@tobiasf1

The music they play on Forecourt at Buckingham Palace during the Changing of the Guard, and at Wellington Barracks before it, is all incidental and popular music for the tourists.

If you want to hear the real stuff you should have followed them down the Mall from St. James's Palace and back.

[sodakind]

A little off step and off tempo. Command was a bit too fast.

[Someloke8895]

@sodakind I think it might be the sound travelling issue you get. It seems the camera is quite a distance from them.

[SnickleFritz79]

These soldiers look so feminine and gay.

[worshipme213]

@SnickleFritz79

Think that at your own peril. They are a part of the army, they carry loaded automatic rifles and live ammunition.

Contrary to popular belief, you cannot do whatever you want to a guard whilst he stands completely still. Make any threatening move and you will be ordered to "step away from the queen's guard" and they are trained to react to any threatening movement.

[leklek69]

these security guards look like fags. why dont they march to the tune of nobody but you by wondergirls??

[TortoiseWayfarers]

I find it very amusing that a British military band at Buckingham Palace is succumbing itself to playing an American military march at tthe end of this video... National Emblem!

[emptyangel]

@TortoiseWayfarers

The Guards Bands have a large collection of military music and go through that collection throughout the year, that is to say they don't play the same set of marches everyday all year.

They also play German and Russian marches regularly, as well as American TV themes and popular music on the palace forecourt.

So I don't see how playing an American march would mean that it is 'succumbing' to America.

[maggytec]

splendid!

[GREATERLEON]

esa es una marcha de carabineros de chile.....

[moldyoreo]

Lies, this was written by Mozart for The Marriage of Figaro.

[GREATERLEON]

Yes...that march was written by motzart, but also it is interpreted by Chile in changes of guard. This is very solemn to see the Buckinggahm palace guards. Good..very good.

Greetings from Chile.-

[moldyoreo]

I hope all is well in your country - we have been praying you for!

[DonPedroRegalado]

Regarding to the old post, what is made in US nowadays anyway? US corporations go overseas to manufacture things for cheaper wages. Good job for these Lilly Whites though,

[LtRic32]

Don't be too hard on the USA. They are tying to clean up the parts of the world where Old Europe...and particluar the UK screwed up. The Middle East....Balkans....Africa.

[VaD3rTM]

Ha there just out for themselves like they always were, the Americas were better when England ruled the lands.

[artman479]

@LtRic32 the yanks couldnt win a war if they tried

[CorporalOgilvie]

"Break into quick time... Quick march"

lol pretty smart though btw wat guards regiment is it cause i am joinin scots guards soon

[emptyangel]

Band of the Irish Guards leading the Coldstream Guards.

[emptyangel]

You can see a bit of the blue hackle on the right of the band's bearskins.

Then on the bright red plumage on right of the officer's bearskin as he does the traditional 'eyes right' salute upon exiting the palace grounds.

[k0smon]

And then they played "NationalEmblem", an American march.

[tooltalk]

just out of curiosity? Who's paying for these men?

[DomesticImplications]

I am

[Guyisaritelegend]

taxes, they are combat troops, that why half of them have Iraq and Afgahnistan service medals

[82648947]

Love the right turn signal from the bandmaster!

[Ahnenerbedienst]

yes i noticed that too, it is very flambouyant,

[CeremonyConnoisseur]

The quick march is definately National Emblem by Edwin Bagley.

[noskcajluap]

Tis The Irish Guards Band and Troops from The Coldstream Guards. Trombone player may look a mess but is a brilliant jazzer. Is real bear bought from the canadians.

[TehMike]

Am I the only one who thinks the guard doesn't look quite as crisp as it used to?

[YogaNate79]

I wonder if their hats are made of real bearskin or if they are replicas. Does anyone know?

[0000mitch0000]

they are real

[YogaNate79]

Is this the Irish, Welsh, Grendier, or Coldstream guards? It's funny how at the end of this video how a British military and ceremonial band is playing an American military tuneThe Washington Post, a song usually played in a Fourth of July or Memorial Day parade in the USA.

[louislungbubble]

a good march is a good march,its origins dont matter much, the quick march is american and no doubt played on the 4th of july,but it is called national emblem by bagley, not the sousa march to which you refer.

[Someloke8895]

Same as how your National anthem was actually a tune composed by an Englishman :-)

[YogaNate79]

To Sameloke8895: The American National Anthem was composed by Francis Scott Key, and American businessman from Washington who was held prisoner on the HMS Surprise during the Battle of Baltimore as part of the War of 1812. The words he composed were put to the old English drinking song to Heaven from Anacreon. The music, not the words.

[Someloke8895]

I was talking about the tune, thereby the tune was composed by an english, the words came from Francis Key.

But I was merely making a point, not trying to say "blah blah england is better than the USA".

Glad to have the yanks on our side.

[YogaNate79]

No harm taken. It's just many do not know the history behind the tune, an anthem that glorifies battle and war. It seems quite befitting for an American Republic so motiviated by war even today sadly.

[Someloke8895]

Indeed, but every country has it's fair share of songs centered around war and battle

[YogaNate79]

Not the UK's. Their national anthem is dedicated exclusively to an 82 year old woman.

[Someloke8895]

Ah, but we have Jerusalem (on about Jesus being an englihsman), British Grenadiers (men throwing grenades), Heart of Oak (Men in ships, throwing canonballs etc)

But it's life i suppose.

Gotta love Non Piu Andrai in this vid

[YogaNate79]

Battle Hymn of the Republic Civil War tune), Semper Fidelis (Marine's), Army Goes Rolling Along, Yankee Doodle Dandy, (Revolutionaey tune), Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy (WW2 patriotic tune), Over There (WW1 American Patriotic tune), Courtesy of the Red White and Blue (911 Patriotic song by Toby Keith).

The UK and USA are obviously war mongering nations

[Someloke8895]

And proud, lol

[dazzledog6]

You can say that again!!

[YogaNate79]

Jesus was not an Englishman, He was a carpenter from Judea who spoke Aramaic.

[Someloke8895]

His mum was also knocked up by God.

But i think that brings our mini discussion to an end :)

[pimptastic666]

LOOOOOL!!!!

[hongbao]

Yog, my friend,

Listen a minute.

The song "Jerusalem" takes its words from a William Blake poem, which refers to the folk tale that Jesus visited England (Albion) as a child:

"And did those feet in ancient times once walk upon England's green and pleasant land?"

[emptyangel]

Because music is limited to the country you are in. D: Don't be so daft.

And yes, the bearskins caps are from Canadian Brown Bears. Many are culled by Inuit hunters, this is the British Army's main source of bearskins.

[YogaNate79]

Don't you find it a bit inhumane that you are killing our wildlife in North America for the sake of you putting on a good show in London? I think it is cruel.

[emptyangel]

@YogaNate79

These bears are culled to keep their population down, if not Canada would be overrun by Brown Bears. Out of the thousands culled, the British Army only take a hundred.

[YogaNate79]

FYI..... Brown, black, and grizzly bears are also native to the United States, and especially in State of Alaska, and not just the Canadian wilderness.

[Guyisaritelegend]

But the MoD doesnt buy US bears, like all thinks from the US, they are bad quality

[lkqazwsx]

@Guyisaritelegend they get them from canada T-T Our Bearsss!

[letmeusethisnamenow]

no n they arent bearskin btw wrong regiment

[Guyisaritelegend]

They are bearskins, the Grenadier guards, the Coldstream Guards, the welsh Guards and the Irish Guards all wear bear skins

[Talbot6832]

Yoganate is a chronic anglophobe, listen to him at your peril.

[accordionman1950]

I don't really know but I know that Princess Anne wouldn't take part in blood sport and fox hunting has been banned in Britain so I don't think killing of bears would be allowed these days, cheers.

[paulett33]

He's not a chippy, he's "blue red blue", and a stunning jazz trombonist, for your info.

[guardsman32]

I think he is from a chippy band and was not orig in the guards. or he would know better. I hate grave digging as 17 said itlooks awful and there is no need for it. Just am other example of the now low standards at K.H

[guardsman32]

Best Band there is the micks shame that trombone player thinks he's on skates and can't slow march. I wonder if Jenkins was ON cLARINET THAT DAY.

[cwecub]

lol..i noticed that he looks like he's ice skating!! i say behead him!

[marengo17]

He also seems to be "digging his grave" with the trombone slide (as one of my old band directors used to say).

[emptyangel]

That was the first thing I noticed when I watched the video.

[paulett33]

Irish guards, actually

[laerad]

One story is that the eight year old Mozart, visiting England in 1764, saw the Changing the Guard and proceeded to write a march for the Coldstream Guards, who were playing on that occasion. Later, it is said, he used the same march in his famous opera. In June 1812 when the opera was first played in London, the audience were puzzled by the reminiscent effect of 'Non piu Andrai' until they realized that for several years the tune had been played by the bands at the Changing the Guard.

[01MarchHare]

I was in Chelsea the other day and one of the old gentlemen at the Royal Hospital there told me about how he (Mozart that is) lived just down the road when he was 8 years old, where he did write a piece (or pieces) and that, at one time, he performed at the Royal Hospital in a (now demolished) theatre that was built there for the entertainment of the residents of the Hospital.

[laerad]

Good Lord! 'He must have been a VERY old gentleman.'

[01MarchHare]

Oh yes. Him and Mozart were very good childhood friends 264 years ago.

[crazygrainger2006]

What band is this?

[ozziavi80r]

Band of the Coldstream Guard.

[oreillyfan360]

The main song you hear is definitely from Mozart... but I have no idea which one...

[fkalfus]

Non piu Andrai from Marriage of Figaro

[rmorecook]

The slow march - wait for it!