March from Scipio

Handel?s opera Scipio was written in 1725 and performed the following year in the King?s Theatre, London. Following Handel?s death his operas fell into obscurity until the 1960?s when they experienced a major revival. This famous march from Scipio has however remained popular since its first performance and has been the Regimental Slow March of the British Grenadier Guards since the 18th century. The march is fairly simple and gives young bands the opportunity to play a well-known baroque melody which should be well within their technical ability.