AN INITIAL FUNCTION: TRANSMITTING ORDERS
Since ancient times, musical instruments have been used on the battlefield to convey orders from a distance. This is known as celeustic music, in other words the art of conveying commands by means of sound signals.
In France, the regulated use of ringtones dates back to the reign of François Ier (1515-1547), when the drum says prescription was introduced into the army. Its essential mission was to transmit orders. Each battery - in other words, each drum signal - had a specific rhythm and designation to avoid any confusion. These drums could be played at a standstill or on the march, accompanied by oboes, fifes or, later, bugles.
In the French army, bells were used to signal "entry", "charge" (on horseback or on foot) or "chamade" (intention to surrender). Since the Great War, however, the drum and bugle have ceased to be used to signal a charge. These instruments were essential when troops in battle formation had to move around the battlefield and there was no other way of transmitting orders. As historian Thierry Bouzard points out in a France Culture seriesUnder the Empire, musicians were nicknamed "far from the bullets" because their role was mainly to transmit commands by sound signals.
This function has continued into modern times: the first "ceasefire" in 1918 was sounded by a bugler a few days before the armistice.
There are also other signals, known as regimental bellsThese ceremonies are designed to bring together soldiers from the same regiment or to give them specific orders. Military life is punctuated by ceremonial occasions. Some of the best known are the reveille, the raising of the colours and the Last Post.
SINCE LOUIS XIV, MILITARY MUSIC IN THE AGE OF ENTERTAINMENT
It was under Louis XIV that music truly entered the military arena. Concerned with prestige and staging, the Sun King decided to introduce music into his regiments to provide a soundtrack to manoeuvres. At the instigation of the composer and oboist of the Mousquetaires, André Danican Philidor, military marches were composed to accompany the troops. It was no longer a question of celestial music, but rather of accompanying ceremonies and affirming the cohesion of the armies through a unified repertoire, while at the same time generating popular enthusiasm. Military music thus moved into the realm of entertainment.
This function came into its own during the First World War. To soften the blow of life in the trenches, newspapers published songs for the soldiers. Soldiers often took up popular tunes, modifying the lyrics to make them easier to disseminate in the regiments. Trench bands were formed, and artists were sent to the front to perform for the soldiers and the surrounding population. The themes covered were hope, camaraderie, women, the memory of loved ones... or, more rarely, revolt.
MILITARY MUSIC, A UNIVERSAL AND PATRIOTIC LANGUAGE
Military music plays a fundamental role in building and expressing patriotism. Far more than just an ornament to the sound of official ceremonies, it embodies the collective memory, national unity and republican pride.
One of the events where this symbolic dimension is strongest is undoubtedly the 14 July parade on the Champs-Élysées. Every year, this solemn moment captures the attention of millions of citizens, focusing their eyes on the soldiers and their ears on the military music.
Through the marches, songs and bells that accompany the cadenced marching of the regiments, the music becomes an aural representation of the nation as a whole and also contributes to the link between the nation and the army, a vector of national cohesion. During major ceremonies, military music becomes a powerful collective moment, shared between citizens and soldiers. This is obviously the case with the Marseillaise, sung at major events such as 14 July, which embody the republican identity.
Military music also helps to preserve historical memory. Marches, war songs and chimes are veritable living archives: they recall past conflicts, victories and the values defended by previous generations. These repertoires, handed down and replayed from generation to generation, help to anchor a common narrative.
Musical groups are also key players in diplomacy. During state visits, international commemorations or even official dinners, they are often the first contact that foreign delegations have with France. Military music then becomes a cultural ambassador, contributing to the influence of the nation and between nations.
LA MARSEILLAISE AT WEMBLEY, OASIS AT THE STADE DE FRANCE
For example, in June 2017, a few weeks after the attacks in Manchester and London, the French Republican Guard performed "Don't Look Back in Anger" by Oasis at the Stade de France at half-time of the France-England match. This gesture of tribute and solidarity echoes that of the British public, who sang the Marseillaise at Wembley in November 2015 after the attacks in France. Through these moments, military music becomes a tool for dialogue and cohesion between peoples.
Music still plays an important role in the armed forces today. Each army has its own official orchestra, and its music and songs go far beyond the purely ceremonial: they are used in charity concerts, solidarity projects and memorial actions.
It helps to raise the profile of the armed forces, maintains links with the public and continues to pass on a living memory. In recent years, military music has been revitalised with new compositions and collaborations with contemporary artists. By combining tradition and innovation, it is enriching its repertoire and keeping in step with today's audiences. A case in point is the collaboration between the Garde républicaine and Aya Nakamura for the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
