VIII International Festival of Military Brass Bands started with the World Best Bands show at the Yubileiny Sports Palace on May 30.

About thousand musicians from 20 military brass-bands of Russia, CIS-countries, Europe and the US took part in the gala-performance. Some of the participants of the show were: Drummers Corps of Swedish Academy, Royal Navy Infantry of Netherlands Band, Defense Forces of Finland Band Swiss Army Band, Royal Navy Infantry of Great Britain Band and Admiralty Band of Leningrad Navy Base.

The repertoire includes not only military marches, but the also the hits of such groups as the Beatles, Abba, Scorpions, Queen and music from the soundtracks to such films as "Titanic", "Star Wars", "Indiana Jones" and "James Bond".

Military Bands march on Saturday, May 31 was another important event of the festival. The musicians marched along Nevsky Prospect to Kazan Cathedral. Afterwards the bands gave a performance in Peter and Paul Fortress.

The first military brass bands were created by Peter the Great during the Northern war. The first Military Bands festival was held in St. Petersburg in 1996. At that time the bands performed in the Alexander Hall of the State Hermitage, in the Summer Gardens, in Tsarskoe Selo, at the opening of the fountains in Peterhof.

News source: www.ipc-spb.ru
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