Heritage Structure | Section 4 – Marches

SECTION 4 - MARCHES

REGULATION

1. An authorized march is a musical composition and/or arrangement in March format that musically identifies a unit or other organization. Marches may be in slow, quick or double time. Authorized marches are listed in Annexes A and B.
2. Branch/corps marches and calls shall apply to all functional units within each branch/corps. There is scope for branches to permit an Army Corps (C Int C or RCCS as examples) within the branch to have a specific corps march or call. Corps such as The Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery, The Royal Canadian Armoured Corps and The Royal Canadian Infantry Corps may permit units of these branches to have their own marches and calls, as this permits the ability to use those for clear musical identification.
3. Normally, only one march, in quick time, will be authorized for any unit. Exceptions may be approved in the following circumstances:
   1. established traditional usage;
   2. as a result of amalgamation or re-designation of units; or
   3. alliance with Commonwealth units.
4. A second march, in slow time, is authorized only where a unit or other organization has established a traditional right to and continual usage of such a march. A second march, or third in some cases where a quick and slow march are previously authorized, in double time, is authorized only for light infantry, rifle and voltigeur regiments that traditionally march past in quick and double time on those ceremonial occasions where others march past in slow and quick time. Units and other organizations that already have additional marches authorized for special occasions, e.g., mounted parades, may continue their use. Such multiple marches are no longer authorized for the reason noted in paragraph 2. Within regiments, separate battalion marches are no longer authorized for the same reason. The adoption of an additional march or marches may be authorized by DHH where a unit’s authorized band is unable, because of its instrumentation, to play the march or marches specified. Such additional marches shall not supersede the primary march or marches authorized.

REQUESTING OR CHANGING A MARCH

5. All requests for authorization of a march must be approved by the respective L1 and forwarded to DHH for approval. It is highly recommended that the requesting organization contact DHH-7 (Music) for guidance on an appropriate march prior to the selection of an existing march or initiation of a new composition.
6. Marches are often not unique to a particular unit or organization by regulation. Since they are signature tunes, units or other organizations should first consider other CAF users when selecting marches and in most cases, a separate march should be considered. As a guide, compositions that are technically impressive but fail to linger in the average listener's memory should be avoided. Often, folk or popular melodies are the best. All marches must be suitable for a brass and reed military band, including music originally composed for pipes and drums.
7. It is the responsibility of the requesting organizations to secure Intellectual Property (IP) rights prior to seeking approval. The Senior Intellectual Property Rights Advisor with Director Material Policy and Procedures (DMPP 8) is available for more information on securing IP rights.

PROTOCOL

8. Authorized marches are played on occasions such as march pasts, when the Colours are marched on and off parade, when entering or leaving camp or barracks, at the end of concerts, and on all other ceremonial occasions where the unit or other organization is to be identified. A unit shall formally march past to its own primary march, and never to the march of another unit. During the march past of a Scottish or Highland regiment the pipes and drums may play its quick march.
9. Traditionally, marches are often played at mess dinners. If the host decides to follow a mess dinner with a parade of marches, the President of the Mess Committee (PMC) shall ensure that the order of precedence in Chapter 1 is followed. Below are some things to consider:
   1. Marches shall be played for the most senior guest in attendance only;
      1. Command marches will be played only when a flag/general officer or command chief warrant officer of a command headquarters is a guest, or at command functions; and
      2. Area and formation marches will be played only when a senior representative of the headquarters is an official guest, or at area or formation functions.
   2. Marches of allied units or other organizations may be played in a position within the order of precedence as deemed appropriate by the host; and
   3. Private guests are not normally recognized.
10. Instructions for the authorized shortened mess dinner version of a march can be found at A-PD-202-001/FP-000, CF Band Instructions (soon to be replaced by A-DH-202-001/FP-000, Canadian Armed Forces Music Instructions, Volume 2, Marches, Calls and Protocols).