Great Military Concert at Bruhl, 1845. Creator: Unknown.

Great Military Concert at Bruhl, 1845. 'Grand Military Concert, given in front of the Palace of Brühl [in Germany], on the arrival of her Majesty [Queen Victoria]...600 musicians, composed of thirty of the bands of different regiments in the Prussian service, joined their efforts to produce a...musical salute of welcome. The effect of such an enormous mass of sound...and accomplished with the most perfect precision of execution, was more grand than any to which we are ordinarily accustomed...This monster band performed the English National Anthem and "Rule, Britannia," besides some of the marches of Beethoven and Meyerbeer...Among the vast body of musicians there was an enormous number of drummers, whose skilful playing produced an effect that we do not often associate with the idea of that instrument'. From "Illustrated London News", 1845, Vol VII.