Concert Band
Royal Salute: Concert March
Grade 3 | 6 Mins
Most countries with a tradition of military bands have developed their own characteristic march style. It’s quite easy to tell an American march from a French one, or a German march from a Spanish one; within the fairly rigid framework of the march form it is possible to recognise subtle differences of rhythm, harmony and tempo that distinguish one country’s march tradition from another’s.
There is definitely an English march style – in fact two. There is a distinction between the military march (such as those by Kenneth Alford) and the ceremonial or concert march, which reached its zenith in the orchestral marches of Elgar, Walton and a host of others.
Royal Salute is an attempt to continue this latter tradition with a march for intermediate band. It has the recognisable hallmarks, with broad melodies and counter melodies and a nobilmente trio.