Beating Retreat~2012

On a beautiful summer evening last June, we saw another spectacular example of the wonderful pageantry that is so common in London. The origin of Beating Retreat (or Sounding of Retreat) was in the 16th Century when it was used as a signal to recall troops to the barracks at the end of the day.  During campaigns, it was often difficult to gather troops together after a day's fighting.  Beating Retreat provided a signal to regroup, enabling a unit to be led as a single body to a safe encampment.   It is always held around dusk, which is when they called in the troops in the field.  

"Half an hour before the setting of the sun, The Drummers and Port-Guards are to go upon the ramparts and Beat Retreat to give notice to those without that the gates are to be shut.  The Drummers will not take more than quarter of an hour to Beat Retreat."

The Household Cavalry  ~ They act as the Queen's personal bodyguard

The history of the Household Cavalry, began in 1659 at the court of the exiled King Charles II in Holland.  It is thrilling to watch the kettledrummer and trumpeters as they enter Horse Guards Parade on their horses for the beginning of the festivities which included mounted (and unmounted) bands playing marches, fanfares, film music  and more.  

2012 Beating Retreat also included the Royal Cavalry of Oman, founded to revive the country's equestrian tradition. All the horses in the Royal Omani band are Arabians (my favorite), except for the drum horses and one Hanoverian ridden by the conductor.

Beating Retreat 2012 included the Royal Omani mounted band and pipes and drums

 The musicians were dressed in Omani dress. The Arabian horses wore beautiful silver neck collars and breastplates.

Besides the mounted bands there were also bands on foot.  The Foot Guards Regimental Bands include:  Band of the Grenadier Guards, Band of the Coldstream Guards, Band of the Scots Guards, Band of the Irish Guards and Band of the Welsh Guards. They all were the red coats and black hats.  It's pretty hard to tell them apart unless you really are into the British Military.

One of the big hits of the London West End theater is War Horse.   I loved the way the puppeteer's used their talents to make the audience feel like the life size puppet is a real horse.   The mounted bands played the music from the War Horse film  (Only Remembered)  as the puppeteers galloped the horse onto the middle of the parade grounds.   It's hard to see this scene without thinking of the emotion of that play. 

 The King's Troop~ Royal Horse Artillery

The Royal Horse Artillery soldiers (many of them women) are superb equestrians that pull the 'thirteen pounder' Guns, all of which were fired in action during the First World War.  Its duties include the firing of Royal Salutes in Hyde Park on Royal Anniversaries and State Occasions, and providing a gun carriage and team of black horses for State and Military funerals.

The Moscow Militia was also performing at Beating Retreat.  They were invited to London on the 200th anniversary of Napoleon retreating from Moscow in the War of 1812.  Their uniforms closely copied those worn by the Russian soldiers who defended Moscow against Napoleon's armies.

Some of the muskets used were the type used at the time of the first performance of Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture (which was performed at the end of the evening, complete with fireworks)

                         

At the end of the show, all the foot guards, mounted bands and visiting Royal Cavalry of Oman paraded their way off Horse Guards Parade, into the darkness of the evening.  The pageantry and spectacle of Beating Retreat has ended for another year.