Holst/Grainger/Schmitt – The Staff Band of the Norwegian Armed Forces

Music for military orchestra

The Staff Band of the Norwegian Armed Forces is the official band of the Armed Forces, taking part in state visits, parades and in concerts connected with the changing of the guard at The Royal Palace and at other formal occasions under the direction of the Government, the Parliament or the Armed Forces. In recent years the band has also become more involved in the civil musical and cultural life of Oslo, with public concerts and performances at institutions, schools and concerts held in parks and churches as well as other performances at cultural events of various kinds. On this album they perform, under conductor Eivind Aadland, highlights from the European history of military music.

The military bands of today are based on the Latin tradition and can be described as a symphonic wind and percussion ensemble. However, there was never any great tradition among the so-called “serious” composers to write music for the military orchestra. Nevertheless, on this album we are treated with fantastic works in this tradition by renowned composers such as Percy Grainger, Florent Schmitt and Gustav Holst.