The honors music for a person, office or rank is music played on formal or ceremonial occasions in the presence of the person, office-holder, or rank-holder, especially by a military band. The head of state in many countries is honored with a prescribed piece of music; in some countries the national anthem serves this purpose, while others have a separate royal, presidential, or, historically, imperial anthem. Other officials may also have anthems, such as the vice-regal salute in several Commonwealth realms for the governor-general, governor, or lieutenant governor. Ruffles and flourishes may be played instead of, or preceding, honors music.
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Current honors music
Countries where the national anthem is also the royal anthem include Jamaica, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Norfolk Island, Spain, the United Kingdom, Jordan, Brunei and Cambodia. Additionally, the royal anthems of both Denmark and New Zealand have co-official status as national anthem along with a separate national anthem.
Instances of honors music other than the relevant national anthem include the following:
Historical anthems
From the nineteenth century, a new Ottoman imperial anthem was usually composed for each Sultan of the Ottoman Empire.