Artillery Music

Music of
The Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery

You've been appointed President of the Mess for an upcoming Artillery dinner. Problem is that the Regimental Band has been tasked out for another gig. What can you do? Check out the following music. Maybe you can download it into the appropriate music system. At guest nights and concerts all of the marches may be played. If marches are played, The Royal Artillery Slow March will normally be played first. Other music closely associated with The Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery includes The Screw Guns and The Post Horn Gallop, which are normally played on such occasions.

God Save the Queen

Royal Artillery Slow March - for dismounted parades, concerts, and dinners by all artillery units. This is the principal artillery march. Played at Metronome Mark half note (65). It is the primary gunner music on Guest Nights - its stirring chords evocative of the soul of The Regiment.

British Grenadiers - for dismounted parades. Played at Metronome Mark quarter note (120). The British Grenadiers dates to 1779 but the tune is older still. It was one of several marches used by the Royal Artillery in the first half of the l9th century along with The Artillery Grenadiers, Geary Owen, I'm Ninety Five and Highland Laddie. By 1855, however, custom had determined the British Grenadiers to be the regimental quick march.

Keel Row - for RCA mounted parades. Played at Metronome Mark half note (86).

Bonnie Dundee – for RCHA mounted parades. Played at Metronome Mark quarter note (120).

St. Barbara's Day - Composer: Pipe Major H.D. Macpherson, CD. Canadian Forces, 1984.

Roast Beef of Old England

The Screw Guns - Notwithstanding the pride with which The Regiment views its official marches, The Screw Guns is a very popular gunner tune, albeit with no official status. Wherever Gunners gather, they sing The Screw Guns by Rudyard Kipling. It is a description of an elite force, the Mountain Artillery, whose feats were legendary. First published in The Scots Observer on 12 July 1890, the ballad has come to symbolize the elan and spirit of all Gunners. It is sung to the melody of The Eton Boating Song.

Post Horn Gallop -

Commanding Officer's Trumpeter
A commanding officer of a regiment or independent battery may employ a trumpeter. The trumpeter will parade four paces behind the commanding officer and will conform to his movements. Both trumpet and bugle are carried. The trumpet is normally carried in the hand. The bugle cord is slung over the left shoulder; the bugle hanging on the right side.

Officers Dress for Dinner (2 hour call)