XN000022-1996-11-08 — Page 14

-

12 -

CAS Band to hold Beating Retreat on Sunday

The Civil Aid Services (CAS) Band is to hold its Beating Retreat 1996 on Sunday (November 10) evening at the Gun Club Hill Barracks in Tsim Sha Tsui.

The biennial event will comprise a series of performances by the CAS Pipe Band and Brass Band as well as the Hong Kong Boys' Brigade Band.

The programme includes traditional band marching and pipes and drums parades. The highlight of the hour-long evening performance is the finale - Beating of Retreat.

The principal guest at the performance is the Deputy Secretary for Security, Mr Alex Fong.

The CAS Band, which is financed by the Government, was first formed in 1976 when the bugle and drum bands of the CAS Aberdeen and Sham Shui Po Cadet Units amalgamated into a brass band. It was expanded in 1977 by including one pipe band which can perform either independently or together with the brass band as a marching band.

In addition to staging performances at CAS events and major government functions, the band is becoming more and more popular by providing concert and martial music for the public on various occasions both locally and overseas.

The "Beating Retreat" is generally believed to have originated in the 16th Century. At that time, it was signalled by sounds made from drums, trumpets, pipes or other instruments on ramparts, half an hour before closing gates of a garrison town at night. The purpose of which was to recall troops within the walls, and to warn civilians as well.

At the same time, the night watch was set or guards mounted and the flag was lowered at nightfall. A ceremony was later set up to regulate these duties.

Nowadays, at places where troops are stationed, the Beating Retreat becomes the basis of military spectacles and serves as an entertainment for the public.

End