Las músicas de viento en los regimientos suizos: legislación y repertorio durante el reinado de Carlos IV de Borbón (1788-1808)

Abstract

The Spanish Infantry during the decline of the Anciene Régime was divided into a series of units made up of national troops and mercenary troops. This contribution aims to approach the wind music existing in the Swiss mercenary regiments during the reign of Charles IV of Bourbon.
Thanks to the file preserved in the General Military Archive of Segovia, new data is revealed about the legislation that regulated this music, such as the Real orden del 11 de octubre de 1787, which went on to stipulate the number of musicians who should form them except for the colonel I would like to pay them from your funds.
Along with archival data, the historical press reports on the participation of these musicians between 1787 and 1807 in different events where they were hired to perform in theaters, municipal and private events. Furthermore, an evolution is observed in terms of its organology, as well as news about the different repertoires performed.
As a musical complement, we highlight two pieces preserved in the BNE collection: the «Retreta de Suyssos» [1764] and the «Himno patriótico y guerrero con la orquesta military» [1809ca] by Fernando Sor.