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The Band of His Majesty’s Royal Marines Collingwood

(28 Posts)
surfingsal Sat 07-Dec-24 08:49:56

We took my 95 year old mother to the theatre last night to see The Band of His Majesty’s Royal Marines Collingwood, it was a lovely evening and I found it very moving , I was telling a friend that it always brings a tear to my eye to watch a band like that and she thinks I am really weird , do other people feel like me ?

Smileless2012 Sat 07-Dec-24 08:55:22

Oh yes surfinsgal, every time.

Witzend Sat 07-Dec-24 08:55:47

I love them, too! We once saw them in concert at a local theatre - of course the finale was their immaculate performance of The William Tell overture!
I’d go and see them like a shot at any time.

Greyduster Sat 07-Dec-24 09:07:27

I love our military bands and in IMHO the Royal Marines band is the finest by a country mile, for both musicianship and immaculate drill. They have wonderful string players too.

OldFrill Sat 07-Dec-24 09:13:22

I think it weird to not be stirred by music. Your friend sounds shallow

merlotgran Sat 07-Dec-24 09:18:10

HMS Collingwood is close to where I live and it was an unexpected treat hearing them rehearse for the late Queen’s funeral.

The Royal Marines playing Sunset always has me in tears.

ferry23 Sat 07-Dec-24 09:34:18

I live close to the site of the Royal Marines depot bombing in Deal which took place in 1989.

There is now a memorial bandstand on the seafront there and concerts are held every week there during the summer, with the highlight being the Royal Marines Band concert which is the most fabulous day out and always packed to the rafters.

Picnics, champagne, singing, cheering, flag waving...guest singers and conductors. It really is a spectacular event and it's a bit like the Last Night of the Proms, but outdoors.

It's impossible not to be moved by it, particularly as it's opposite the site of the bombing.

eddiecat78 Sat 07-Dec-24 09:42:03

Our some was in the Royal Marines and his passing out parade was accompanied by the Band - finished me off completely!

eddiecat78 Sat 07-Dec-24 09:42:19

Son not some obviously!

MissInterpreted Sat 07-Dec-24 09:49:15

Yes, eddiecat78, I understand that completely - my son was in the army and every time we went to a parade, the minute I heard the first drum beat, that was enough to set me off!

Aveline Sat 07-Dec-24 10:09:05

The Royal Marine band is coming to play at the care home where I volunteer. Everyone is really looking forward to it. smile

Allira Sat 07-Dec-24 10:11:18

Yes, love a military band.

My DB was at HMS Collingwood many years ago.

Baggs Sat 07-Dec-24 10:17:52

There is nothing weird about feeling emotional about music.

And, even if there were.... so what? It doesn't harm anyone.

Your friend is the weird one in the sense that she either doesn't want to understand or there is some reason why she can't understand.

The best response to a situation like this is a shrug.

escaped Sat 07-Dec-24 10:21:12

I find their playing very moving too. We attend their rehearsals at the camp before they do their concerts, (family member).

FriedGreenTomatoes2 Sat 07-Dec-24 10:26:31

Friends 25y son has made it through the tough physicals and started his training down south somewhere two weeks ago. She’s very proud of him joining the Royal Marines.

GrannyGravy13 Sat 07-Dec-24 10:30:32

I love a military band.

escaped Sat 07-Dec-24 10:38:45

FriedGreenTomatoes2

Friends 25y son has made it through the tough physicals and started his training down south somewhere two weeks ago. She’s very proud of him joining the Royal Marines.

Sounds like CTCRM Lympstone. Lovely views along the estuary and the train passes outside! Hope he enjoys it.

Georgesgran Sat 07-Dec-24 10:41:56

As an aside - Lord Cuthbert Collingwood is a local hero here in the North East. A monument dedicated to him overlooks the mouth of the River Tyne (at Tynemouth).

Greyduster Sat 07-Dec-24 10:44:07

I remember when I was approaching the end of my basic army training and we practiced for our passing out parade. The last practice was with the regimental band which we had never heard before. It was amazing. The minute they struck up, we stood taller, felt prouder and instantly knew we would put our feet in the right place! On the day, it was absolutely perfect. And at a later stage at our barracks in Yeovil, we had a parade where we actually marched to the Royal Marines band. That I shall never forget. The next day they were sailing off to do a tour of America.

Marg75 Sat 07-Dec-24 11:48:59

I feel the same, the Royal Marine Band always sets me off. Also seeing the military marching as well. I get very emotional.

Maggiemaybe Sat 07-Dec-24 12:02:21

We’re in brass band country and their music always brings a lump to my throat. In lockdown, when Poppy Day memorial services were cancelled, local buglers went to every cenotaph in the area and played the Last Post, whether or not there was anyone there to hear it. 😢

escaped Sat 07-Dec-24 12:11:53

We had several Marine Band musicians' offspring at our school, and occasionally all the children had a treat from them.
Our DD2 has ear defenders for the baby at concerts because the sound is very loud!

Elegran Sat 07-Dec-24 12:50:18

Baggs

There is nothing weird about feeling emotional about music.

And, even if there were.... so what? It doesn't harm anyone.

Your friend is the weird one in the sense that she either doesn't want to understand or there is some reason why she can't understand.

The best response to a situation like this is a shrug.

Making you feel emotional is what music is for. Surfingdal's friend has probably never really listened to good music, played by a well-rehearsed soloist, proper band or orchestra. See poems "Alexander's Feast" or "Ode to Saint Cecilia".

A lot of pop music tends to be an incoherent noise played at full volume by several "musicians" who are none of them connecting their part with what is being played by any other, so it only generates confused and destructive emotions.

Good music of any genre has been designed with chords and sequences that lead the hearer through a series of reactions that end in resolution and completion, whether or not the composer is aware that he is doing that.

AreWeThereYet Sat 07-Dec-24 13:08:43

Well I feel like you. I was brought up in a military family and spent a lot of my youth listening to military bands, if only because whatever was happening there was a band there.

There are some Royal Marines Band YouTube videos for anyone interested. Absolutely fabulous.

Hellogirl1 Sat 07-Dec-24 16:05:17

I do like military bands, but stay most loyal to brass bands, as my husband played cornet in one for most of his life. He was the one who always played at the local cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday.