The Parachute Band (french: Musique des Parachutistes) is a
Toulouse-based
military band of the
French Army. It is stationed in the
Balma District of
Toulouse. Composed of 55 musicians, in consists of all professional musicians under a chief music director (currently Philippe Ballada). Its field of action represents 20 departments across the
Aquitaine,
Midi-Pyrénées,
Limousin and
Poitou-Charentes regions. It is administratively attached to the
11th Parachute Brigade
The 11th Parachute Brigade (french: 11e Brigade Parachutiste, 11e BP) is a unit of the French Army, predominantly infantry, part of the French Airborne Units and specialized in air combat and air assault. The brigade's primary vocation is to proj ...
.
History
The band's origins date back to 1888, and has for more than a century, had various names and numerous restructurings. In the 1920s, it was housed in the Niel barracks with a considerable staff of more than 120 musicians. In 1945, it became the musical name of the
5th Demi Brigade. In 1946, following further modifications, this musical formation became the Band of the 14th Infantry Battalion before being dissolved in 1949 following the reorganization of the musical formations. In 1955, with the creation of regional music, Toulouse had its own band, called Band of the 5th Military Region.
From 1 September 1991, the military music of Toulouse took the nomination of divisional band of the in
Bordeaux. As of 1 August 1996, a new reorganization of the musical formations of the army, it became the band of another army unit with a staff of 55 musicians. In 1999, after an army reorganization, the band appeared among six professional military musical formations of the Army and took the role of the Band of the South-West Army Region, subsequently being placed under the authority of the commanding officer of the RTSO. Since 1 January 2011, the band has taken the name of the Parachute Band. Since 1 August 2016, it has been under the immediate command of the
Army Music Command
The Army Music Command () is an organization under the direct authority of the Chief of Staff of the French Army. It is based in Satory.
It consists of a headquarters, 5 wind bands, a brass band and a string ensemble - the only one in the Armed F ...
.
See also
*
191st Army Band
The 191st Army Band, popularly known as the Band of the Wild West, is a military band of the U.S. Army Reserve posted at Camp Parks, California. Activated in 1943 as the 91st Infantry Division Band, the unit deployed to Europe in World War II wher ...
References
{{Reflist
External links
Official Website
French military bands
Military parachuting in France
Military units and formations established in 1888
1888 establishments in France