Musical Unit of the Spanish Royal Guard

The Musical Unit of the Spanish Royal Guard (Spanish: Unidad musical de la Guardia Real España) is the official music service of the Spanish Royal Guard of the Spanish Armed Forces that is dedicated to providing ceremonial honours and music to the King of Spain, the Spanish Royal Family, and public officials. The musical unit is one of many battalion sized units in the regiment, with over 100 professional musicians in its ranks who are chosen from the non-commissioned officers of the Military Music Corps. It is one of the more senior and representative bands in the Spanish Armed Forces, with its repertoire covering a wide range of Army, Navy and Air Force music. The entire unit is currently under the baton of the conductor of the Military Band of the Royal Guard, Colonel Musician Enrique Damián Blasco Cebolla.

Musical Unit of the Spanish Royal Guard
Unidad musical de la Guardia Real España
The Mounted Band of Timpani and Bugles on parade.
Active1998–present
Country Spain
Allegiance Felipe VI of Spain
Branch Spanish Armed Forces
TypeMilitary band
Sizebattalion sized
Part of Spanish Royal Guard
Garrison/HQMadrid
MarchHimno de la Guardia Real
("Hymn of the Royal Guards")
AnniversariesOctober 12
Commanders
Current
commander		Colonel Musician Enrique Damián Blasco Cebolla[1]
Notable
commanders
Insignia
Guidon of the Musical Unit of the Spanish Royal Guard

History

The Musical Unit of the Royal Guard was first organized as a singular musical group on February 19, 1874, with its first director being Martín Elexpuru. Its current structure dates back to 1998 and since then it has been constituted by the Symphonic Band, Marching Band and the Fife Section.[2]

Present Day
The Military Band of the Royal Guard during an official welcome ceremony hosted by King Juan Carlos I for Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Among their obligations are the following:

  • Being present at military parades
  • Honoring foreign heads of state on their state visits to Madrid
  • Support the everyday ceremonial activities of the Regiment
  • Take part in the guard mounting ceremony at the Royal Palace of Madrid every Wednesday from noon to 2pm
  • Giving concerts at the Royal Palace on behalf of the regiment
  • Performing drill at military tattoos domestically and internationally

The marching band has performed it precision marching drill throughout Europe, with notable performances being in London, Paris, Cologne, Bucharest, and Moscow.[3][4]

Recordings
  • New Anthology of Military Music
  • Concert of Military Music
  • Soldiers for Peace
  • Relay in the Palace
  • Musical Memory of Spain
  • Spain in Pasodobles
  • Suspiros de España

Organization
  • Unit HQ and High Command
  • Military Band of the Royal Guard of Spain
    • Marching Band
    • Symphonic Band
  • Mounted Band of Timpani and Bugles, reports to the Royal Escort Squadron
  • Corps of Drums (composed of Drums and bugles)
  • Fife Section
  • Pipe band
  • Brass fanfare section
  • Royal Guard Big band
  • Royal Guard Chamber Ensemble
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References
  1. http://www.patrimoniomusical.com/bd-autor-885
  2. http://www.guardiareal.org/Menu/Organizacion/UnidaddeMusica/
  3. https://elpais.com/diario/1998/05/10/madrid/894799471_850215.amp.html
  4. http://www.utopiacontagiosa.org/2015/06/02/unidad-de-musica-de-la-guardia-real/
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