Footguards Massed Bands Drill Rehearsal for Trooping The Colour - 13 May 2013

[@markevans6973]

One of the best Guards music I have ever heard. Simply love it. X

[@christopherfisher6293]

Don't care what any one says, I'm really proud and glad that these lads are on my side!! Go guards, go!!!

[@yasmin49]

Ohhh my ohhhh my !!! made me feel very nostalgic, I attended the Trooping of the Colour in 1996 as a guest of the Welsh Guards, it was as spectacular then as it is now, Excellent Billy (GSM) very proud of you

[@markevans6973]

Brings tears to the eyes. Can't beat the guards at music

[@emutemusic]

Yep! Amazing, enjoyed the video ! Music is the prime invention of our species isn't it? I'm very thankful to be a musician!

[@cynthiasetter8200]

WOW! As the Daughter of an RSM I agree with the comments about the GSM----and as the "ex" of a Guards DoM, I also agree with the remarks about how good the Bands are sounding under the direction of Col. Barnwell. Bodes well for Trooping the Colour.

[@hovanti]

Thank you very much for sharing this video; I enjoy it immensely! The marches are all quite stirring, my favorite being the "Grand March-Rienzi."

[@pasqualepellicoro6261]

Well done. Thank you so much

[@ronaldweasleyfan55]

It's always wonderful to see the work and preparation that goes in to make the Ceremony o so smoothly. THank you for posting this! Gotta love the Sergeant Major's command presence. The band sounds great, but that's nothing new!

[@1chish]

@5:43 Billy Mott getting the Pace Stick into use... on the march. Guys a legend.

[@aislingmichaelaoneill1028]

1chish Mind you, all GSMs London District are legendary, as are all Academy Sergeant Majors at Sandhurst.

[@expatmartin]

"When the Sgt Major's on Parade!" and in this case the GSM. Outstanding projection. Just fabulous thank you.

[@babbadudl]

Really a beast on the drill square :D Farewell GSM Mott!

[@JohnnyNorfolk]

I enjoyed that. Thanks so much for posting.

[@troopingadmin]

The march is called "Heroes' Return" by Arnold Steck and was used for the Quick Troop in this year's parade.

[@조금성-c8n]

고맙습니다.

[@drummajor2000]

Always a pleasure to see your videos. Keep them coming

[@arbuckle123]

Excellent video, as always, troopingadmin. Thank you for uploading. It's nice to see the GSM in action and those marvelous massed bands of the Household Division.

[@erickotlyarov2724]

Great drum major! You can tell he's musically inclined!

[@rodentum44]

Now that's a GSM!, Must be Billy Mott!

[@troopingadmin]

The drummer singled out performs a solo known as the "Drummer's Call". The Trooping of the Colour phase is initiated by the lone drummer's eight-bar "Drummer's Call", signalling the Captain of No. 1 Guard to cede his command to the Subaltern of No.1 Guard before the Escort move to obtain The Colour.

[@troopingadmin]

The final two ranks of the massed bands consist of the Corps of Drums of The Grenadier Guards and Welsh Guards together. These soldiers play drums and flutes and are not professional musicians but are part of their infantry regiments.

[@troopingadmin]

It is known as a pace stick. It can open so that the tips separate at fixed distances, corresponding to various lengths of marching pace, such as "double march", "quick march", "step short", etc. When opened to the correct pace length, the pace stick can be held alongside the holder's body by the hinge, with one leg of the stick vertical to the ground, and the other leg pointing forward. By twirling the stick while marching, the stick can be made to "walk" alongside its holder at the proper pace

[@NancyCampbell-rk9rm]

Thanks for the info, and the video of course.

[@adelaide102]

There used to be eight Guards battalions, three based in London for ceremonial duties, now reduced to five battalions with only 2 for ceremonial duties.

[@BismarcksOtto]

Trooping the Colour has been one of two must-see annual live television events since I was about twelve. And while I'm always delighted when a German march is picked for the ceremony (pretty sure the wonderful rendition of the Möllendorfer in 2009 will stay with me for the rest of my life), this simple choice of playing Rienzi during Wagner Year just doubled my fondness for Her Majesty's Armed Forces. Thanks for the vid, troopingadmin - and the best of greetings from Germany!

[@arbuckle123]

Thank you very much for your information, troopingadmin. I just corrected my records-

[@t3h8d9]

Life of a Guardsman is not easy....Jolly good show of pageantry.

[@aislingmichaelaoneill1028]

t3h8d9 “Alice is marrying one of the Guard, A soldier’s life is terrible ‘ard,” said Alice.

[@FFEMTB08]

I love looking this stuff up on here to watch and enjoy it. I hope to one day be able to travel over the pond and witness this in person.-An American

[@kennethsewell4245]

Its live on tv you should be able to pick it up via internet

[@jamesweigh3178]

FFEMTB08 Same!

[@johnbilby6835]

the massed bands are a set size and all those left over provide spares. the coldstreamer without an instrument is just standing in for someone who was missing for the rehearsal. the space will have a 'blower' in it on the day. hope this answers your question.

[@Insperato62]

I wonder if any "tourists" watching this realise that the man "doing all the shouting" is Billy Mott, the same guardsman emblazoned all over Heathrow Airport :)

[@LtHades]

I am not sure. I know it him because he told me it was him.

[@Aeoline]

The Heroes Return (Arnold Steck) at the beginning is wonderful. Some of the British marches have a slightly 'cheeky' quality about them. From 1:40, and 2:15, it's reminiscent of one of those slightly bawdy music hall songs: you can almost imagine the missing words! Given that Steck/Statham was born in 1905, it's likely that he was familiar with the popular music hall tradition.

[@emptyangel]

Lovely! Thanks!

[@troopingadmin]

Thanks, I will update the list.

[@MGHLOVER]

Yeah Garrison seargent major Bill Mott can yell its rumored he is the most feared man in the British Army

[@bobanderson3453]

Damn good, even with Billy Mott roaring down their necks!

[@drummajor2000]

Again great stuff mate!

[@Giggles154242]

Oh Les Huge Nuts (as we like to lovingly refer to Les Huguenots) ;-) Great slow march.

[@expatmartin]

Talking of RSMs, I have performed these wonderful English songs such as the Sgt Maj on Parade and The Changing of the Guard all my career, people love them. On a trip to Australia last year my cousin gave me a very old song book called The Pick of The Bunch" of Soldiers' Songs with songs dedicated to all NCO ranks and the foot soldier. It is I'm sure a collector's item.

[@OSkyFireO]

Best (or worst) blocking of my life came from Billy Mott....holy shit could that man make you shit yourself.

[@Jackwylde68]

OSkyFireO what for?

[@patriot4786]

7:47 officers cant come close to a senior NCO's command voice

[@johnross7679]

im 1st btn scots guards right flank 1983 ____1990 rosco i loved the band of brothers we meet every year reunion in union jack waterloo

[@GH-lo8vl]

John Ross - The union jack Waterloo, now that brings back memories. I was in training in 1979 and my Glaswegian mate pestered me to go and watch some rock band who were playing at the hammersmith odeon, and we stayed in the union jack. It was the best night of my life, being one of the very few people to have watched Bon Scott sing with ACDC.

[@timothynorris7984]

BRAVO THE MUSICIANS, BOTH GUYS and GALS, OF THE BANDS of HM HOUSEHOLD DIVISION ! THE VERY BEST, and THE MOST " EXPENSIVE" SOUND IN THE WORLD !

[@Insperato62]

@Rick H - the colours of the hand bands are: Grenadiers - red, Coldstreamers - white, Scots Guards (NOT Highlanders!!!) - chequered (red and white, not a tartan - the plaid is worn over the shoulder), Irish - green, Welsh - Black (I think). The regimental emblems on the caps also help (also shown on the collar of their red tunics), and the number of buttons on the tunics worn by the Drum Majors. Easier to work out who is who when they're wearing full ceremonial summer dress - bearskins and red coats - plumes, insignia, button groupings all clearly visible (even on the back of the coats). You're buggered in the winter, as they all wear grey greatcoats, so you've only the plume in the bearskin to help you. The regiments in the British Army are continually being shrunk, amalgamated, renamed, ancient identities blurred, but so far the Government hasn't dared touch the Household Division (the Guards and the Household Cavalry).

[@Jackwylde68]

Insperato62 Irish has a blue plume

[@Jackwylde68]

Insperato62 and the Welsh is white-green-white, it's meant to look like a leek or something

[@neilwimperis3181]

Great stuff !!!!

[@tralens]

Thanks for this great video and naming the Marches. I think at the end we heard a few bars of 'The Welshman' if I am not mistaken.

[@AndrewSmart1960]

You wouldn't wanna go missing with that sargeant major lol Great upload ty :)

[@etionshrdlu]

I find rehearsal videos such as this one more interesting than the ceremony itself. Especially enjoy the commanding presence of the sergeant major. Another question from an American unfamiliar with the British military. The troops in the final rank seem to be carrying some object in their left hands--perhaps piccolos?--but they appear just to be following along with the rest of the band, except when they lead a side-step maneuver at one point. What is their purpose?

[@1chish]

@ 14.32 How the hell do they manage that 'Wheel'. Closely guarded secret no doubt. Magnificent and makes me wish I hadn't peeled onions ..

[@fitnessisgood4u]

The Corps of Drums at the rear of the band don't train at Kneller Hall. They attend the Infantry Drummers Course at the ITC in Catterick, Yorkshire. Regards.

[@skillet2331]

Garrison sergeant major billy monte what a guys

[@GeorgeRMcFarlane]

Whats the first piece of music called

[@troopingadmin]

Current Coldstream BSM is Adrian Beckett who plays cornet.

[@troopingadmin]

It is called 'Grand March - Rienzi' by Wagner.

[@troopingadmin]

That is "The British Grenadiers", Regimental Quick March of The Grenadier Guards.

[@frankpatton5978]

get em in line billy.

[@paratropers]

the tall one(last row) has a good few over the massed band

[@rodolfojude4902]

Beautiful music only the British can .!

[@jimmymyers8753]

Check out the Bi Centenary Parade Kings Royal Rifle Corps with Liz and all!

[@troopingadmin]

The first section of the video is not part of the drill rehearsal but is a music "warm-up" for the band. and, at that point, they had not been given any order to stand at ease or at attention.

[@GenociderF65]

Gran trabajo. Enhorabuena. Los mejores músicos militares del mundo junto con los Royal Marines.

[@Callum0996]

it is indeed, I wanna meet him so bad!!

[@SuperNutkin]

Kilbraur, for your information, half of the Massed Bands are facing the "wrong" way until the musical signal is given for them to about turn, to be facing the same way as the other half of the Massed Bands. We can only see one lone trombone player in the video, but its half of the Massed Bands facing the "wrong" way. Thanks. Supernutkin.

[@arbuckle123]

I might be totally wrong but I thought the Coldstream Guards BSM Hamilton is a clarinet player, whereas the soldier in question is standing in for a cornet player. Just a thought.

[@Mick685]

A sea of slashed peaks. Notice" the pain with the cane" or the "Dick with the stick"... it's a Purbright thing! they are tailor-made.

[@retrofan1]

hi troopingadmin This is Retrofan1 here I love the music featured in the Video Clip GSM Bill Mott is on the case checking The drill is Right & there a few minor things that are wrong people talking & a Musician in the Coldstream Guards is marching but No Instrument how has that come about? The Welsh Guards have just marched through PontyPridd as Part of the Freedom of Rhondda Cynon Taff Parade keep it up fr Retrofan1

[@louislungbubble]

it has a link in fact, the composer Arnold Steck was the pen name of Leslie Statham , a former DOM Welsh guards.....marty

[@Coldstreamer17]

Heroes return is probably the best quick march ever especially the piano part (piano meaning soft)

[@NancyCampbell-rk9rm]

Pianissimo.

[@rickhall4318]

Ok, I figured out that the hat bands represent the Irish Guards (Green), the Highlanders (Tartan Plaid) I would assume maybe the Coldstream Guards... what do the braids on the visors indicate? rank? Very Cool. Saw the Highlanders her in St Louis a few years ago and Loved it!! God Save the Queen and God Bless America

[@semajbronson21]

Rick H I'll explain the Forage Caps: Grenadier Grds: Red Band Coldstream Grds: White Band Scots Grds: Plaid Band Irish Grds: Green Band Welsh Grds: Black Band

[@Coldstreamer17]

Rick H there are no highlanders here, those are the scots guards, and they have plaid

[@rhogeterp]

Yes,Yes,Yes

[@erickotlyarov2724]

What was said at 2:49, to signal the bass drummer to hit the drum?

[@troopingadmin]

The command given is: "Troop!"

[@erickotlyarov2724]

Thank you :)

[@Guardsfriend]

Thank you from Germany Warm Up: Lt Col. Stephan Barnwell ( Welsh Guards) Senior Director of Music Household Division. GSM Billy Mott - The Voice of the British Army-

[@GUARDSMAN133]

Impressive !!

[@BudFieldsPPTS]

By what measure do you absolutely KNOW your formation is square and lines are ramrod straight? It's a secret reserved only for bandsmen, and their Sergeants Major. (Never let the word "diagonals!" escape your lips!) This formation is ramrod straight and square! How do I know? I could tell ya, but then I'd have to kill your reed, mouthpiece and sticks. Diagonals, dammit! These are beautiful to see, and a joy to watch. BTW: That outstanding young man carrying the pacing stick is the greatest bandsman of them all! Ultimate admiration and respect, GSM Billy Mott!

[@MrXBOXGAMER25]

Does anyone know what the song the band is playing between 4:02 - 4:22?

[@troopingadmin]

It's Les Huguenots by Meyerbeer

[@neville592]

Les hugenots

[@mommyx3ify]

Does anyone know who composed The British Grenadiers March?

[@RandomNickyDee2]

You don't really get "better/worse" regiments to be honest. It's a big public misconception. All recruits will have done the same phase 1 training programme and all officers will have done the standard 52 week Sandhurst course. Different regiments (and more precisely different battalions) have different roles, but for the most part the qualtiy of those units is uniformly good. These days words like elite really just mean specialist role, but virtually all units are in specialised roles.

[@jacobkeppler1984]

Massed bands of the household division in Wellington barracks Jacob keppler

[@tayspuddy]

Ha Ha in more ways than one mate!. I think a few idle Bandsman heard a few bars of the Welshman alright. Good Ol Billy!.

[@troopingadmin]

If you watch carefully (@ 8.22) you'll see that the band's change of direction is carried out by means of half of the band facing one way and the other half the opposite way. At a command from the bass drum, the opposing half about turn to complete the wheel manoeuvre.

[@semajbronson21]

Senior Drum Major WO2 Matthew J. Betts, Grenadier Guards

[@louislungbubble]

the foot guards will say they are better im sure of that but gone are the days of the "tall guardsman", bigger than the rest of the army and all that .in war fighting i think one infantry soldier does the same as the next, handles the same weapons and uses the same tactics. in depot maybe the training is harder for the guards perhaps a higher standard is expected ,im sure morale would be higher just to be in the guards ,but all infantry i know "belong" to their regiment and are proud of it

[@etionshrdlu]

What is the device--looks like a large navigational divider--that the sgt. maj. is wielding?

[@LadySpartan]

at 6:15 it looks like the flowers at dancing and cheering

[@MikeBell20]

The Barracks dress that the band is wearing. Do all ranks up to Colonel wear those too with the same type of colour?

[@Coldstreamer17]

Mike Belluomini I don't believe so I thought it was the summer dress :/

[@steveellis9065]

That is British Army number 2 dress uniform minus jackets. All ranks can wear that.

[@FerdinandLiem]

Is there any video showing bird eye cam of the spin wheel?

[@troopingadmin]

Trooping the Colour 2006 - Spin Wheel

[@Sam-vr3ss]

does anyone know what the slow march past is called?

[@etionshrdlu]

Why was that one drummer singled out and later made to stand on the sideline? Was he punished for doing something wrong?

[@londonmadeleineux]

Can someone tell me what is the march played after 12 minutes? Thank you.

[@troopingadmin]

'The Champion' by Arthur Graham

[@londonmadeleineux]

Thank you, Sir.

[@smoko64]

Has sizing gone out the window, Opening scene half the Lilly whites were at ease yet the rest of the parade were at attention. That chap in rear ranks fifes ( Irish Guards ? ) was big big bloke. For the first practice not bad.

[@Pre114]

Damn, the guy giving the orders can yell!

[@Asoveth]

what is the Title of March on Beginning of this Video?

[@troopingadmin]

+Axel B. 'The Heroes Return' by Arnold Steck

[@Asoveth]

+troopingadmin It's a great March

[@imkampjoep]

Axel B. THE heroes return by Meyerbeer

[@tralens]

I think he's in the Welsh Guards COD but anyway he stands out in the rear rank!

[@m1ke242]

7:52 - 9:22

[@meadowlands1937]

And let me add my thanks.

[@MilitaryBandsSouthWestUK]

whats the march??

[@Insperato62]

I guess that would be no talking then Mr Mott!!!!! When's he going to start courses for newly qualified teachers - give them some "presence".

[@orathaifreby2287]

Feel good dear Thanks again sir yes sir how are you today i holp you're doing fine take care right

[@gavsky23]

Drives me nuts...just like "Oh, see the two soldiers running to catch-up when the new guard leaves Buckingham Palace - they were late, lol!". My mantra is: research first, comment later.

[@jackgymlad819]

I get really angry at that as well. I'm like it's a command for gods sake!

[@MGHLOVER]

If it's a drill rehearsal why is some stood to attention and some stood at ease

[@troopingadmin]

I should have said that they are 'not full-time musicians' rather than 'not professional musicians', sorry!

[@adelaide102]

Probably not true today as cuts in the infantry mean more pressure on all the soldiers. As well as performing as combat infantry the Guards have to make time for ceremonial duties and the time to practise The Queens Birthday Parade is getting shorter and shorter. Ceremonial duties are becoming more of a burden on The Guards as they have lest time to practise. More wars and less troops is putting more strain on The Army, 20,000 less troops in 2020 is another big cut.

[@Sam-vr3ss]

he has me scared just watching this