RAF trumpeters to honour Queen with special Jubilee fanfare
Members of the Central Band of the Royal Air Force will play a specially composed fanfare in honour of Her Majesty The Queen at St Paul's Cathedral in London on 5 June, as part of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations.
The Fanfare Trumpets of the Central Band of the Royal Air Force rehearse on the roof terrace of One New Change which overlooks St Paul's Cathedral [Picture: Senior Aircraftman Gareth Little, Crown Copyright/MOD 2012]
The Fanfare team, made up of eight trumpeters, will play ‘Jubilante’, written by Wing Commander Duncan Stubbs, Principal Director of Music for the Royal Air Force, to open a Service of Thanksgiving. Wing Commander Stubbs said:
I was delighted to be asked by Andrew Carwood, Director of Music at St Paul’s, to write a fanfare in honour of our Queen.
The acoustics of the building meant that I had to accommodate a nine-second echo which gives the music that extra poise and gravitas. There is also a peal of bells, so when it all comes together it will be quite exciting.
The team will also play a fanfare that leads into the National Anthem.
Members of the Fanfare Trumpets of the Central Band of the Royal Air Force [Picture: Senior Aircraftman Gareth Little, Crown Copyright/MOD 2012]
The trumpeters will be joined by members of all three Services at St Paul’s Cathedral to offer their congratulations and support as the Queen celebrates her 60-year reign.
And military personnel from the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force will be lining the steps of the cathedral.
Inside, the RAF musicians will be joined by State Trumpeters and a Household Division Band.
For some of the RAF trumpeters this is not the first time they have played at a royal ceremony.
Senior Aircraftman Adam Smith has been with the Central Band of the Royal Air Force for five years:
We have quite a regular interaction with Her Majesty; we cover events like changing the guard at Buckingham Palace and the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall,” he said.
The team were the only military musicians to be present in Westminster Abbey for the marriage of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge which was another great experience, so it has been quite a special couple of years for us.
It is a once-in-a-lifetime experience to play for the Queen as she celebrates her 60-year reign.
The Service of Thanksgiving is the first of a number of Diamond Jubilee celebrations on Tuesday 5 June which will also include a ‘People’s Lunch’ at Westminster Hall.
Later, members of the Royal Air Force, Royal Navy and Army will line the streets as the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh make their way back to Buckingham Palace with a Sovereign’s Escort.
Bands from the Armed Forces will be positioned along the route, with the Central Band of the Royal Air Force playing in Trafalgar Square.
The day’s celebrations will end when the Royal Family make their way out onto the balcony at Buckingham Palace to witness a flypast by Royal Air Force aircraft.
Wing Commander Stubbs added:
The Royal Air Force Band is delighted to be taking part in this event. All the Services are represented; we are just so proud to be involved in the celebration.