Jordanian Armed Forces Band
The Jordanian Armed Forces Band (Arabic: فرقة القوات المسلحة الاردنية) is the main musical unit of the Royal Jordanian Army made up of musicians who perform in official settings usually in the presence of the Jordanian royal family. When performing, all band members wear red and white checked Keffiyehs alongside their full dress uniform.[1] The band was established in 1921, with a core of 10 musicians who served with the Arab Army. In 1929, bagpipes from the area that is now Egypt and Syria were first introduced to the band.[2] In 1982, Hussein of Jordan approved the use of the band for purely ceremonial purposes. Today, the full band is composed of over 500 musicians who are arranged in a similar fashion to the Bands of the Household Division.[3][4][5][6][7]
The band maintains the following units:
- Marching Band
- Symphonic Band (founded in 1977)
- Pipes and Drums (located at the front of the formation)
- Brass Band
- Wind Band
The National Music Conservatory of the King Hussein Foundation often trains personnel of the band in a musical course aimed at preparing them for their inclusion in the band.[8][9]
Tasks
Events that the band participates in includes following:
- State Visit Ceremonies – The band has the honor of performing at state arrival ceremonies at the Raghadan Palace for visiting head of state and government. During the ceremony, the band is located to the rear of the honour guard and performs The Royal Anthem of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and anthem of the visiting countries.
- Flag Parade – The massed bands provides musical support at the Flag Parade, also more commonly referred to as the Trooping of the Colour, held annually on Al Rayah Square (Square of the Emblem) near the royal court.
- Beating Retreat – The band takes part in a massed pipe and brass band and performs in a military tattoo in the presence of the King and Queen of Jordan
- Independence Day – Performs ceremonial songs on the occasion, which is a public holiday in Jordan. The Great Arab Revolution March is a common piece that is played during the holiday.[10]
- Military Tattoos – These international events include the Virginia International Tattoo and the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo[11][12]
- Other events – Musicians of the band constantly invited to ceremonies of important official guests and public figures. The band often accompanies the King during his international trips.
Sources
- "Jordanians Celebrate Their Culture : Royal Army Band's Parade Appearance Initiates Festivities". 1 January 1987 – via LA Times.
- Massad, Joseph Andoni (11 June 2019). Colonial Effects: The Making of National Identity in Jordan. Columbia University Press. ISBN 9780231123228 – via Google Books.
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-04-23. Retrieved 2019-05-21.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- britisharmy (16 July 2013). "Raising music from the dust".
- "Королевская музыка будет звучать в сердце России - пресс-релизы на Турпроме". www.tourprom.ru.
- https://arabic.rt.com/photolines/68352-الفرقة_الموسيقية_للقوات_المسلحة_الاردنية_وحرس_الشرف/
- "موسيقيات القوات المسلحة..تاريخ عريق وأثر فني خالد". Alrai. 22 March 2013.
- https://alghad.com/المعهد-الوطني-للموسيقى-ينظم-دورة-لتدر/amp/
- britisharmy (16 July 2013). "Raising music from the dust". The Official British Army Blog.
- https://www.alarabiya.net/ar/amp/last-page/2016/05/26/الملك-عبد-الله-يشارك-باحتفال-عيد-استقلال-الأردن
- Tattoo, From Virginia International. "2019 Virginia International Tattoo: Courage & Commitment – A salute to women in the military". Military News.
- "::Embassy of The Hashemite Kingdom Of Jordan, The Hague - NL::". www.jordanembassy.nl.