The Mounted Band of the Life Guards

Establishment

The Mounted Band of the Life Guards is stationed in the Cavalry Barracks in Stockholm, where the Life Guards' 80 horses are stabled. The band consists of 27 Brass Instruments and three percussionists. LDK play mounted, on foot and give formal concerts. Each year the band gives around 140 performances, 45 of which are mounted King's guard parades.

Mounts

LDK uses three horse breeds. The black Shires carry the kettle drums and are from the world's tallest horse breed. The Greys are of Altkladruber breed of the Imperial and Royal stud Kladruben -Kladruby-nad-Ladem in today's Czech Republic. The Greys carry the fanfare trumpeters. The Chestnuts of Swedish Warm blood carry the cornets, horns, bass trumpets, euphoniums and tubas.

Uniforms and accoutrements

LDK's full dress is Pattern 1895. Originally a battle dress, it is now worn in three different versions: Full Dress Ceremonials, No1 Dress and No2 Dress.

Repertoire and performances

The Band's repertoire spans many fields of music - the exceptional is normal for the mounted band; every day, all year round. During the summer you can watch the LDK on their way to the Royal Palace. At other times the band may spend a week in Afghanistan playing for the Swedish forces. LDK's many ensembles form the basis for the varied occasions required in the professional Armed Forces of today. The Mounted Band presents everything from single fanfare trumpet calls, through brass quintets and sextets up to accompanying music and all 30 musicians performing simultaneously in concert.

History

When Gustavus Vasa was crowned in 1521 his Life Guards (Swe: Livdrabanter) had 2 trumpeters. In 1526 King Gustavus Vasa raised the first regular regiment of horse in Upland with an establishment of 12 companies each company having 2 trumpeters. The Upland Horse (Swe: Uplands Ryttare) continued to serve in all Swedish campaigns and wars until 1927 when it they were amalgamated with the Life Guards under the new name the Royal Horse Guards (sw: Kungl. Livregementet till Häst) with a 5 squadron establishment and a mounted band of 16. The band was strongly influenced by Wilhelm Wieprechts great reform of the Prussian mounted military bands 1824-1840. Of the hundreds of mounted bands in Germany, France and Sweden reformed by Wieprecht or influenced by his ideas the Mounted Band of the Life Guards in Stockholm is the only one remaining.

In 1949 the Royal Horse Guards were disbanded. 1 squadron and the mounted band of 14 musicians formed the Life Guards. In 1971 all professional military bands were outsourced from the Armed Forces in a slightly changed establishment, the mounted band gradually expanded to Director of Music, kettle drummer and 16 musicians. 1990 conscripted musicians were allowed into the band and which in 1992 was transformed into a complete conscript establishment. As fewer and fewer conscripted musicians were available professional musicians were once again enrolled and in 2011-12 the band was once again a full time professional military band.

The Corps of Military Music

The Corps of Military Music serves the Royal Court, Armed Forces and Government. The Corps of Military Music heads the three professional bands within the Armed Forces: The Foot Guards Band and The Mounted Band of the Life Guards and the Royal Navy Band in Karlskrona. The Corps of Military Music musicians maintain a proud military music tradition as an important part of Swedish musical scene. Sweden’s military music is recognized for maintaining exceptional standards.

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