RTÉ Brainstorm article on music at JFK's funeral

On the 60th anniversary of JFK's assassination in Dallas, Texas in November 1963, I have written a short article for the RTÉ Brainstorm website on how a Scottish military band played at his funeral. Read it here.

 

The band of the Scottish Black Watch regiment performing on the South Lawn of the White House, 13 November 1963. Image source.

JFK receiving the officer's dirk from the commander of the Black Watch regiment on the South Lawn of the White House on 13 November 1963. Image source.

 

Music was an important element of the funeral with classical music, military music (such as Taps) and religious hymns, being the predominant sounds that was heard in Washington D.C. on the day. You can find out more about the music that was heard on the day of the funeral here.

There is a recording of the visit of the Black Watch band to the White House on the website of the JFK Library. You can watch it here. It shows JFK welcoming the band on the White House lawn and making a speech before the assembled crowd of schoolchildren from local schools, at the end of which, he was presented with the officer's dirk by the regiment's commander.