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Military bands as cultural event July
A contradiction in itself to bring together culture and military demonstration of power, it seems that here another understanding of culture can subsume many things under this general concept.
Military Band Festival - general information
In Riga, the current European Capital of Culture, held a major international festival of military bands, bringing together orchestras of the Dutch, German, U.S., Georgian, Norwegian and Latvian Armed Forces in July 2014 .
The festival marked the 95th anniversary of the National Armed Forces of Latvia. It was organised by the “Riga 2014” foundation and the Ministry of Defence. Running on the 4th and 5th July, all concerts of the festival were free of charge.
Important comment was added:
"At a time the practical importance of military bands has changed, they still remain a symbol of power and demonstrate the close relationship between freedom, power and culture."
The festival’s programme for the 5th of July included a parade through Riga’s Old Town and the festival’s opening concert at the Freedom Monument.
On the 6th of July, the orchestras performed in concerts at the culture chalet “Esplanade 2014”, Riga Railway Station Square near the “Origo” shopping mall, and in Sigulda, Jelgava and Ogre. The festival’s gala concert was held in the Ķīpsala Hall on the 6th of July, free invitations to the concert were available from the culture chalet “Esplanade 2014”.
Festival participants were: Staff Band of the Norwegian Armed Forces, Orchestra of the National Reserve of the Royal Netherlands Army, Orchestra of the Neubrandenburg Land Forces of the Bundeswehr, Central Orchestra of the Georgian Armed Forces, U.S. Army Europe Band, as well as the Home Guard Orchestra and the Staff Orchestra of the National Armed Forces.
In the festival’s closing concert in Ķīpsala Hall on the 6th of July, they were joined by the National Armed Forces’ Big Band, men’s choirs “Gaudeamus” and “Frachori”, and the Armed Forces’ dance group “Bramaņi”.
For the full programme see the official RIGA2014 website.
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