Changing the Guard Windsor - 6.4.2024 Band of the Irish Guards 

Thanks mate! I had no idea it was the micks band until the morning. I loved the march List today and happy to hear ‘Paddy Mcgintys Goat’.

Ah paddy mcginty's goat, my day becomes better when I hear it

Hi Ann, If you're ever in need of a Good laugh, Google Paddy McGinty's Goat. There are a Couple of Great Vocalists, incl. The Great Val Doonican singing it & depending how good your ear is at understanding the Various Irish Accents, You'll enjoy the "Story" of Paddy McGinty's Goat. I was laughing that much I almost had an Accident! I think the Lyrics match The Irish to a Tee & those kind of Songs says it all really. The only trouble is it's the kind of Music that Sticks in Your Brain & it always take me a couple of Days to get Rid of it lol.

@vickyRoyalHistory Val Doonican, in his comfy sweaters and sitting on his rocking chair, are familiar memories. His rendition of Paddy McGinty's Goat must have been the first I heard. I don't suppose, at the time, I ever imagined a military band playing it! But I'm so glad they do😊 I wonder when it was first played by a marching band? 🤔 Is this a question you can answer Vicky, or do we need to set Delvin on the task?🤭

@@AnnofWales21 Hi Ann! I admit to being a Strange Person & I do some Strange things. With Regards to Military Music & in Particular Music that The Band of The Irish Guards or The Pipes & Drums of The Irish Guards Put into their March Lists, I've done some Even More Strange things. I blame it on an inquisitive Mind. As I've spent the Last 10 or so Years of my Life Researching all Manner of things for University, I tend to dive into Various Sources to find out about anything I wonder about. Most Recently, it's been Music that the Bands of the Household Division Play. At Christmas it was the Wassail March, there's been a Number of others too, mostly on Mr Bs Channel & I've Posted short Histories about various Marches. Mr B seems to like it & a Number of Others have said they like it & Periodically I'll post the Odd one. Therefore, it probably won't Surprise you to know, I've actually got all the Gen on "Paddy McGinty's Goat" The Melody for Paddy McGinty's Goat can be traced back to the 19th Century & was one of those "Catchy" Tunes that had no Lyrics, but was Whistled by Many a Delivery Lad as he delivered Goods to Country Folk. Surprisingly, it was noted not only in Ireland, but also in Various Counties in the West of England. Strangely, it was not recorded as being known in Wales.During WW1, it was a Popular Marching Tune with the British Troops & was Whistled, played on a Mouth Organ or any other Instrument available & even the odd Army Band would play it. It was put to Sheet Music in 1910 & it's 4/4 melody is in D major on the original sheet music, with a D sharp diminished passing chord between the phrases. All of that means it's very easy to Play & Various Other Bands also used the Catchy little Tune, Bars, Music Halls & even Jazz Bands had a Version. In 1917, Two English songwriters Bert Lee and R. P. Weston Wrote the Lyrics as a Comedy Song. Although the Tune itself was a Popular Marching Song, the Lyrics Cemented it as a British & Allied Troops Marching Song, just as Popular with "Our Boys" as Long way to Piccadilly & Pack up your Troubles. As you would Expect it found it's way to the USA after WW1, taken back by Servicemen who'd Marched to it. It was released there by "The Two Bobs", however though it enjoyed some initial Success, it became less Popular because of the Link to the War & the USA like Most other Countries at the time was headed into the Worst Depression in History. It was fully embraced in Ireland for Obvious Reasons & The British Army refused to let it go, with many Regular Soldiers remembering it as a "Song that Got Them Through". As the "Troubles" in Ireland increased after the Division of Ireland, into The Republic & Northern Ireland in 1922, The Music & the March was quietly Filed away. It had a Brief resurgence in 1942, when the Irish Baritone, Mick O'Brien recorded it for use by Pathé News in the News Reels in Cinemas, but it wasn't until Val Doonican Recorded it as the 'B' Side of his hit "Delaney's Donkey" in 1964, that "Paddy McGinty's Goat" rose again in Popularity. As so often happens, the 'B' Side proved far more Popular than the 'A' Side & it climbed to Number 22 in the Hot 100 for 1964. The mention of Killaloe, a Village in East County Clare & references to the Irish Guards fighting on the Western Front & the Irish Militia Chasing Submarines off the Irish Coast During WW2, in the Verses was all it took for it to become an Irish Song. The First time it appears on a March List in the UK, was in 1969, during the St Patrick's Day Parade. So you can choose when it was first played by a Marching Band, whether it was as a Tune with no Words pre-1900 & The Formation of The Irish Guards, True Marching Music Whistled by Men Marching in WW1 1914-1918, a Marching Song from 1917-1918 or 1969 when Played by The Band of the Irish Guards on St Patrick's Day. Regardless of how it got Started, it's a well liked March Now.

@vickyRoyalHistory oh wow, Vicky, that's superb!😊Thank you. Funnily enough, it didn't surprise me that you'd have all the info, but the amount of info is a surprise! I suppose because I hadn't considered it would have such a history. But, as you say, regardless of how it began, it's a gem of a march now. It lightens the mood and the heart whenever you see and hear the Band of the Irish Guards playing it (& especially if the DM happens to be our favourite 🤭) Thanks again Vicky👍

@@AnnofWales21 Hi Ann! You're most Welcome. In the General Scheme of things, I suppose I didn't need all that History, but when you're taught to do History Research, because in a lot of things there are few Written Records & even those may not be Contemporary but Years after the Fact, you need to get several Sources of the Subject to get the Real information. The Sources should Corroborate each other but invariably there'll be an even older Source emerge so you repeat the process & eventually you'll get to the Root of it all. That's why my favourite Band is the Irish Guards, they have a touch off Irreverence & a bit of a Maverick Streak. I mean how many Regiments of any Army would March up a City Road to "Whiskey in the Jar" by Thin Lizzy or March into a Royal Palace playing a Comedy Song about Someone's Goat? Only the Irish & you've got to Love 'em for it.

Thanks for your comments. Me moving to the centre could be more permanent but we shall see.

@@David.Lockwood Hi Sgt Lockwood, I hope for it to be Permanent for 2 Reasons. The First is for Your Sake, obviously such a Move would be a Well Deserved Nod for your Talent & Ability as a Musician & it's always nice to be noticed in that way. The Second is purely Selfish on my Part, as Silly as it Sounds, it makes it a bit easier to see you & know what's coming next. You may be Pleased to know you now have a New Nickname, You are now known amongst us Regulars as, "The Man with the Lungs of Kevlar". Your old one, "The Man with the Lungs of Steel", now belongs to a Certain Bass Trombonist in The Band of The Welsh Guards". He's Very Good but In my Opinion for what it's Worth, You still have the Edge & Kevlar is much Stronger than Steel. The First time I actually saw him, I thought you'd Changed Regiments & Sighed a Great Sigh of Relief when I found out why. Thanks for Giving me & others great enjoyment with your Music, you really do sound like more than 1 Bass Trombone & it's Brilliant! If ever your DOM is at a loss for the March List, it would be Fantastic to hear "It's Yer Day" again. Good Luck with your Prep for Trooping The Colour, it's Scary how Quick this Years Flying By. Have a Great Week & Stay Safe.

Hi Charlotte! Yep You Got it, that Duty Sergeant Major in the Welsh Guards has Lungs Like Dolly Parton's! 😅😂

I can assure you the Director of music is there on the way up to the Castle. There’s no other way he could have got to the Castle

Spotted on March in behind bass drum red stripe on trousers

@@user-lw8xb3oi9mbeside the bass drummer

@avryllsistus3429, he’s a tad hard to see but I could see his gloved hands swinging 🙂look around the 3:14 mark

Found the "shy DOM..rather his stripey ankle. Great marches today.....Used to live in Windsor as a child and always loved the music of the Guards band. Sometimes the H/Cav on their horses were on parade as well..brother was in Grenadiers but I joined the WRNS nicer uniform than Khaki....my girl 1st girl admitted to NZ Army Band, clarinet and Saxaphone...

Hello, are you referring to DOM and SDM? If so, they stand for Director Of Music and Senior Drum Major. The DOM is the Highest Ranking Musician in the Band, usually holding the Rank of Major or Captain. He can be seen marching without an instrument. Senior Drum Major is the Appointment held by the Principal Drum Major of the Household Division. He's the one seen leading the Band in this video. His name is Gareth Chambers. His full title is Senior Drum Major (WO2) Gareth Chambers MVO. The WO2 is his rank, that being Warrant Officer Class 2. The MVO at the end denotes he is a Member of the Royal Victorian Order, a Honour bestowed upon him for the Great Service he's provided to the Monarch. He's led the Massed Bands in the Late Queens State Funeral, and the Coronation of Charles III. He's the Top Man! Where he leads others will follow. I do hope this helps!

Jolly red tunics are back tomorrow I believe 😎

Thanks, Ms. Wales. @@AnnofWales21

They Usually Go into Summer Order (Red Tunics) the Same Sunday the UK go onto British Summer Time (The Clocks go Forward 1 hr. That's usually the Last Sunday in March). It was postponed for a Week as the Average Temp for March was 10% less than Usual. They were wearing Summer Order on Monday 8th June & wore it for the Entente Cordiale Parade.

@@vickyRoyalHistory Tango Yankee for the information.

@@michaelhouck8985 Hi Michael, Yankee Victor Whisky. Enjoy the rest of your Week.

They are back in them as of today, Sunday April 7th