Czech Army Central Band
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TheCzech Army Central Band(Czech:Centrální Ústřední Hudba České ArmádyorÚstřední Hudba AČR) is a unit of theCzech Land Forcesresponsible for providing musical support to theArmy of the Czech Republicand theArmed Forces of the Czech Republic.Its parent organization is the Army Music Service of theCzech Armed Forceswhich heads all bands in the CAF. The band currently consists of 46 active musicians who are based inPrague.As of September 2018, the band is led by the Chief Director of Music, Gustav Foret and his deputy, Captain Richard Czuczor.
Duties
[edit]The mission of the Czech Army Central Band is to provide the musical accompaniment needed for all types of national and private events. It specifically engages in activities related to thePresident,the Government Office, theParliamentand theArmy.Its main activities are centered in the capital and itsarea of responsibilityinPrague.[1]In its professional activities, it performs during the following events:[2]
- State Funerals
- Provides honours for thePresident of the Czech Republic,thePrime Minister of the Czech Republic,theParliament of the Czech Republic,members of theGovernment of the Czech Republic,theMinister of Defence,theChief of Staff,and the Chief of the Land Forces
- The presenting of credentials of ambassadors of foreign countries and organizations
- Plays the national anthem of foreign nations followed by the playing ofKde domov můjduringState Arrival Ceremonies
- Works with theHonor Guard of the Czech Armed Forcesduring its events.
- Participates in military parades of theArmed Forces of the Czech Republic
Brief History
[edit]The army band dates back to theAustro-Hungarian Empire.Following theFirst World War,theMinistry of Defense of Czechoslovakiadecided to create a medium sized music band. After a number of reorganizations, the band began to serve as the band of the 4th Infantry Regiment in 1945. Just 5 years later on 1 December 1950, the Central Music Service of theCzechoslovak People's Armywas founded with close to 160 musicians in its ranks. Its first commander was Colonel Hynek Sluka, with his deputy being Major Karel Stastny. At the time, the Bands of the ČSLA was made up of three smaller groups of musicians (the other two groups being based inHradec KrálovéandOlomouc). The new band became an independent unit within the 80th Infantry Battalion"ThePrague Uprising".[3][4][5]During this period, the band served as one of the ideological tools of theCommunist Party of Czechoslovakiafrom the 1950s until November 1989.[6]
Repertoire and musical training
[edit]| External videos | |
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 Ústřední hudba AČRon Youtube |
Besides classical music for the wind orchestra and marching music for the brass band,[7]the army band performs melodies from popular films and songs from musical groups such asQueenand theBeatles.During concert activities, the Czech Army Band uses the works of many Moravian authors (notably Miloš Machek, Mojmír Zedník, František Maňas, and Jiří Volf).[8]
Notable pieces include:
- Intro ofBedrich Smetana'sLibuše(Fanfare ofPresident of the Czech Republic)
- Fanfára číslo 1
- Pochod "K Defilé"
- Uvítací pochod
- Slavnostní pochodbyVáclav Dobiáš
All members of the band are graduates of many military and national conservatories in the country. Most musicians are graduates of theJanáček Academy of Music and Performing Arts(JAMU) orPrague Academy of Performing Arts(AMU). The training the band receives from JAMU and AMU is often reflected in the artistic quality of the band and the complexity of their performances.
Collaborations
[edit]The band often cooperates with many national organizations that provide musical accompaniment during its events. The most notable Czech organizations the band has worked with includesCzech Radio(ČRo), where the band often playsKde domov můjduring newshours, as well as theMoravian Philharmonic Orchestra,of whom the band usually performs in joint concerts. As aNATOmember, and a member of theEuropean Union,the band also frequently toursEuropeto be participants in many international festivals and performances that are held in countries likeDenmark,Poland,Austria,Scotland,[9]Germany,Norway(Norwegian Military Tattoo1998, 2004 and 2012),[10][11]andItaly.The Band of the ČSLA made its first foreign performance inBrusselsatExpo 58.[12]
Ensembles
[edit]The band also provides activities of smaller ensembles such as:
- Wind Quintet
- brass quintet
- Sextet
- Big Band
- Brass Band
- Concert band
See also
[edit]- Band of the Castle Guards and the Police of the Czech Republic
- Prague Garrison Command
- Armed Forces of the Czech Republic
- Military Band Olomouc
References
[edit]- ^"O nás | ustrednihudba.army.cz".Archived fromthe originalon 2019-07-22.Retrieved2019-07-22.
- ^"Ustrednihudba.army.cz".Archived fromthe originalon 2019-07-22.Retrieved2019-07-22.
- ^Central Band of the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic.Ministerstvo obrany ČR - Prezentační a informační centrum MO. 2010.ISBN9788072785537.
- ^Wright, Al G.; Newcomb, Stanley Peter (1970)."Bands of the world".
- ^"Z historie orchestru | ustrednihudba.army.cz".Archived fromthe originalon 2019-07-22.Retrieved2019-07-22.
- ^webtodate.cz, WebContentManagementSystem: Macron Software | WebToDate."Ústřední hudba slaví 70. Její hudba rozechvívá lidská srdce i opravdové mosty".acr.army.cz(in Czech). Archived fromthe originalon 2021-06-06.Retrieved2021-06-06.
- ^"Brass Ensemble of the Czech Army Central Band | RUNDEL".
- ^http://vholomouc.army.cz
- ^"Central Band and Ondras Ensemble excel at the Edinburgh Tattoo Festival | Ministry of Defence & Armed Forces of the Czech Republic".
- ^"THE UNITED STATES ARMY BAND" PERSHIng's OWN "- News".Archived fromthe originalon 2018-08-29.Retrieved2018-08-29.
- ^"Norwegian Military Tattoo 2012".
- ^Horn, David (2017-10-05).Bloomsbury Encyclopedia of Popular Music of the World, Volume 11: Genres: Europe.Bloomsbury Publishing USA.ISBN9781501326103.