Band performs tribute to America

By Wade Allen
Editor
January 28, 2010

Photo by Wade Allen

The Band of the Irish Guards performs at GPAC to a crowd of 450 people. The band offered an American tribute along with traditional British celebration music on Jan. 19.

When the Band of the Irish Guards and the Sutherland Highlanders 5th Battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland performed in GPAC on Jan. 19, patrons were treated to a rare sight as members of these legendary bands performed traditional European music dressed in full regalia.

The Band of the Irish Guards, also known as “Queen Elizabeth’s Band” is world-renowned for their impeccable sound and precision marching.

The bands traditionally only play in Europe and are currently embarking on their first tour within the United States.

“We are thrilled that they chose this town for their inaugural tour,” GPAC Executive Director Patricia Fields said. “This is their 10th stop and they have 80 more.”

The Band of the Irish Guards performed a special tribute to the United States with the playing of “The Star Spangled Banner” and a special tribute to the branches of the United States armed forces. An audio narrator explained the special bond shared between the United States and Great Britain before the band performed John Philip Sousa’s “Hands Across the Sea.”

The band, consisting of horns, woodwinds and percussions, played for two hours. They were often joined onstage by the Sutherland Highlanders bagpipe and percussion band for an effect that left some audience members in awe.

“I’m really, really enjoying it,” said Diane Neal of Fayetteville. “My husband’s in the military and it’s what I expected. The bagpipes are super.”

The audio narrator explained that the band stays busy performing at Buckingham Palace and fulfilling command performances from Queen Elizabeth II. The Band of the Irish Guards performs for state occasions such as the Queen’s Birthday Parade, coronations, royal weddings and state dinners honoring visiting world leaders.

Along with the American tribute offered by the band, they performed traditional British celebration music and the National Anthem of Great Britain with so much pride and gusto that many members of the audience had their mouths open.

Although only 450 people showed up to watch the performance, GPAC sold over 600 tickets for the show and, according to Fields, would have loved to have seen more people in the audience.

“We would always like to have more people in the audience,” Fields said. “Some of our longstanding patrons have said that it’s the best show they’ve ever seen here.”