Royal Music Chapel of the Guides of Belgium and its history

The Royal Music Chapel of the Guides of Belgium - screenshot

On 9 November 2018, their majesties the King and the Queen of the Belgians
offered a gala concert on the occasion of the centenary of the end of the first
World War. The concert was graced by the Royal Music Chapel of the Guides
of Belgium and commemorated the key moment in European and global history
with a tribute to all victims. The guests of the concert were mainly compatriots
who have dedicated themselves during the past memorial year to the theme of
war, peace and memory. The program contained pieces of music that were 
composed around the theme  of the first World War by prominent Belgian and
foreign composers. 

This Gala Concert took place at the Royal Palace in Brussels. It was attended
by King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of the Belgians and Princess Astrid and
Prince Lorenz of Belgium (more pictures see the Allaboutroyalfamilies
facebook page or on the Twitter section on this blog).

Royal Palace of Brussels - own picture

The King and the Queen of the Belgians - screenshot

The Royal Music Chapel of the Guides makes lots of official performances inter
alia they take care of the music on the National Day of Belgium. But what's their
history?

Well their origin went back since 16 August 1832, on that day, King Leopold I
of Belgium married Princess Louise-Marie d'Orléans, the daughter of the King
of France. This royal wedding took place at Compiègne.

A few days later, King Leopold I of Belgium and his newly bride, entered
Belgium. During a luncheon at Edingen, offered by the Duke of Arenberg!,
a few music orchestras played some pieces of music for the King and his
company.

On his return in Brussels, King Leopold I of Belgium wanted to found his
own orchestra, connected to the royal guard. His choice felt on the orchestra
of the 1st Linie regiment under the direction of Jean-Valentin Bender, the one
he admired on 16 August at Compiègne. This orchestra accompanied the Royal
Couple of Belgium during its official tours.

Since its foundation the Royal Music Chapel of the Guides has a great
reputation, it had performances in London, Glasgow, Liverpool, Edinburg,
Paris, and many more.

Royal Music Chapel of the Guides of Belgium - screenshot

In 1929 the Royal Music Chapel of the Guides was received at the
White House by President Herbert Hoover of the United States of America.

On 4 September 1944, at the end of World War II, the Royal Music Chapel
of the Guides had the honour to resume the musical broadcasts at the
Belgian channels.

Nowadays the Royal Music Chapel of the Guides contains 84 musicians.
Some of them won lots of awards at the Conservatorium. They still have
a good reputation national and international. The current dirigent of the
Music Chapel of the Guides of Belgium is Yves Segers.

On Youtube there are lots of movies about the Royal Chapel of the Guides
of Belgium. See next links:

1 Royal Music Chapel of the Guides of Belgium
2 in Rotterdam, The Netherlands
3 in Moscow, Russia

symbol of the Royal Music Chapel of the Guides of Belgium

The pictures of the Royal Music Chapel of the Guides of Belgium are
screenshots.