Band of the Grenadier Guards and Eynsford Concert Band
A live massed bands performance featuring the Band of the Grenadier Guards with Eynsford Concert Band during our concert ‘For England and St George’ on 23rd April 2023 at The SPACE, Sevenoaks.
The Sword and the Crown by Edward Gregson – Movement 3: Battle Music and Hymn.
This featured 86 Musicians on stage, with 5 antiphonal trumpeters around the hall (only 2 can be seen in the video) as well as a 2nd Timpanist sitting in the darkened corner top left of the screen.
As you can imagine, in performance this was LOUD, so we recommend that you turn up your volume to get the full authentic experience!
This is an excerpt from a suite written by Edward Gregson. It was commissioned by the RAF in 1991 and is based on music originally composed for the Royal Shakespeare Company. Gregson says of this third (and final) movement: ‘The final movement starts with two sets of antiphonally placed timpani, drums and tam-tam, portraying the ‘war machine’ and savagery of battle. Trumpet fanfares and horn calls herald an heroic battle theme which, by the end of the movement, transforms itself into a triumphant hymn for Henry IV’s defeat of the rebellious forces.’
