Jordanian Armed Forces Band Explained

The Jordanian Armed Forces Band (Arabic: فرقة القوات المسلحة الاردنية) is the main musical unit of the Royal Jordanian Army made up of musicians who perform in official settings usually in the presence of the Jordanian royal family. When performing, all band members wear red and white checked Keffiyehs alongside their full dress uniform.^[1] The band was established in 1921, with a core of 10 musicians who served with the Arab Army. In 1929, bagpipes from the area that is now Egypt and Syria were first introduced to the band.^[2] In 1982, Hussein of Jordan approved the use of the band for purely ceremonial purposes. Today, the full band is composed of over 500 musicians who are arranged in a similar fashion to the Bands of the Household Division.^{[3] [4] [5] [6]}

The band maintains the following units:

• Marching Band
• Symphonic Band (founded in 1977)
• Pipes and Drums (located at the front of the formation)
• Brass Band
• Wind Band

The National Music Conservatory of the King Hussein Foundation often trains personnel of the band in a musical course aimed at preparing them for their inclusion in the band.^{[7] [8]}

Tasks

Events that the band participates in includes following:

• State Visit Ceremonies  - The band has the honor of performing at state arrival ceremonies at the Raghadan Palace for visiting head of state and government. During the ceremony, the band is located to the rear of the honour guard and performs The Royal Anthem of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and anthem of the visiting countries.
• Flag Parade  - The massed bands provides musical support at the Flag Parade, also more commonly referred to as the Trooping of the Colour, held annually on Al Rayah Square (Square of the Emblem) near the royal court.
• Beating Retreat  - The band takes part in a massed pipe and brass band and performs in a military tattoo in the presence of the King and Queen of Jordan
• Independence Day  - Performs ceremonial songs on the occasion, which is a public holiday in Jordan. The Great Arab Revolution March is a common piece that is played during the holiday.^[9]
• Military Tattoos  - These international events include the Virginia International Tattoo and the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo^{[10] [11]}
• Other events  - Musicians of the band constantly invited to ceremonies of important official guests and public figures. The band often accompanies the King during his international trips.

External links

• Jordanian Armed Forces Band Greeting
• The massed bands rehearsing at Al Rayah Square

Notes and References

1. Web site: Jordanians Celebrate Their Culture : Royal Army Band's Parade Appearance Initiates Festivities. 1 January 1987. LA Times.
2. Book: Massad, Joseph Andoni. Colonial Effects: The Making of National Identity in Jordan. 11 June 2019. Columbia University Press. 9780231123228. Google Books.
3. Web site: Participants, Jordan . 2019-05-21 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160423064845/http://kremlin-guild.ru/kremlin-military-tattoo-en/participants/Jordan/detail.php?ID=2756 . 2016-04-23 . dead .
4. Web site: Raising music from the dust. britisharmy. 16 July 2013.
5. Web site: Королевская музыка будет звучать в сердце России - пресс-релизы на Турпроме. www.tourprom.ru.
6. Web site: موسيقيات القوات المسلحة..تاريخ عريق وأثر فني خالد. 22 March 2013. Alrai.
7. Web site: المعهد الوطني للموسيقى ينظم دورة لتدريب تلاميذ الموسيقى في القوات المسلحة . 25 July 2011 .
8. Web site: Raising music from the dust. britisharmy. 16 July 2013. The Official British Army Blog.
9. Web site: الملك عبد الله يشارك باحتفال عيد استقلال الأردن . 26 May 2016 .
10. Web site: 2019 Virginia International Tattoo: Courage & Commitment – A salute to women in the military. Virginia International. Tattoo. Military News. 19 March 2019 .
11. Web site:

    Embassy of The Hashemite Kingdom Of Jordan, The Hague - NL::

    . www.jordanembassy.nl.