Honors music
The honors music for a person, office or rank is music played on formal or ceremonial occasions in the presence of the person, office-holder, or rank-holder, especially by a military band. The head of state in many countries is honored with a prescribed piece of music; in some countries the national anthem serves this purpose, while others have a separate royal, presidential, or, historically, imperial anthem. Other officials may also have anthems, such as the vice-regal salute in several Commonwealth realms for the Governor-General, Governor, or Lieutenant Governor. Ruffles and flourishes may be played instead of, or preceding, honors music.
Current honors music
Countries where the national anthem is also the royal anthem include Jamaica, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Norfolk Island, Spain, the United Kingdom, Jordan, Brunei and Cambodia. Additionally, the royal anthems of both Denmark and New Zealand have co-official status as national anthem along with a separate national anthem.Instances of honors music other than the relevant national anthem include the following:
| Country | Office/rank | Music | Notes |
| Armenia | President | Presidential Fanfare | |
| Antigua and Barbuda | Monarch | "God Save the Queen" | |
| Australia | Monarch | "God Save the Queen" | |
| Australia | Other Royal Family members | "God Save the Queen" | First six bars only. |
| Australia | Governor-General, Governors | Vice-regal salute | The first and last four bars of "Advance Australia Fair", the national anthem. |
| Austria | President | "Österreich, du herrliches Land" | Also the anthem of the Austrian Armed Forces. |
| Argentina | President | ":es:Marcha de Ituzaingó|Marcha de Ituzaingó" | Presidential March |
| Brazil | President | "Continências ao Presidente da República" | Introduction and final chords of the Brazilian National Anthem. Only applicable at military ceremonies. |
| Canada | Monarch, consort | "God Save the Queen" | For a pipe band, "Mallorca" is played instead. |
| Canada | Other Royal Family members | The first six bars of "God Save the Queen" | For a pipe band, "Mallorca" is played instead. |
| Canada | Governor General, Lieutenant Governors | "Salute to the Governor General/Lieutenant Governor", commonly called the Vice Regal Salute | The first six bars of "God Save the Queen" immediately followed by the first four and last four bars of "O Canada", the national anthem. For a pipe band, a combination of "Mallorca" and "O Canada" is played instead. |
| Canada | High-ranking Canadian Forces personnel | "General Salute" | Played to render honors to high ranking personnel |
| Czech Republic | President | "Fanfáry z Libuše" | Fanfares from Overture of the opera Libuše |
| Colombia | President | "Honores al Presidente de la Republica" | Bugle fanfare by the Corps of drums then followed by the: 1. Introduction and Chorus of the National Anthem of Colombia 2. Introduction from the hymn of the National Army of Colombia 3. Introduction from the hymn of the Colombian Navy 4. Introduction from the hymn of the Colombian Air Force 5. First bars of the hymn of the National Police of Colombia, all by a military band If the President attends an event hosted by only either of the 3 service branches of the Military Forces of Colombia or the National Police, the Introduction and Chorus of the National Anthem are played first followed by the introduction of the specific service anthem. |
| Denmark | Monarch | "Kong Christian stod ved højen mast" | "King Christian stood by the lofty mast". Also one of the two national anthems, the other being "Der er et yndigt land" |
| Ecuador | President | "Honores al Presidente de la Republica" "Marcha Presidential" | 1. In the Army, Air Force and Police, a bugle fanfare followed by the chorus of Salve, Oh Patria 2. In the Navy, four long blasts of the boatswain's call then the rest as above 3. Played at the arrival of the President in military events, once the arrival honors have been received |
| Ecuador | Vice President | "Honores al Vicepresidente de la Republica" "Cancion patria" | 1. In the Army, Air Force and Police, a bugle fanfare followed by the chorus of Salve, Oh Patria 2. In the Navy, four long blasts of the boatswain's call then the rest as above 3. Played at the arrival of the Vice President, once the arrival honors have been received |
| Estonia | Commander-in-Chief of the Estonian Defence Forces | "Björneborgarnas marsch/Porilaisten marssi" | "March of the Pori Regiment"/"March of the Björneborgers" |
| Finland | Commander-in-Chief of the Finnish Defence Forces | "Björneborgarnas marsch/Porilaisten marssi" | "March of the Pori Regiment"/"March of the Björneborgers" |
| Haiti | President | "Quand nos Aïeux brisèrent leurs entraves" | "When Our Fathers Broke Their Chains". Poem by Oswald Durand, set to music by Occide Jeanty in 1893 to serve as a national anthem; replaced by "La Dessalinienne" in 1904. |
| Ireland | President | "Presidential Salute" | The first four and last five bars of "Amhrán na bhFiann", the national anthem |
| Ireland | Taoiseach | "Mór Chluana" / "Amhrán Dóchais" | "Mór Chluana" is a traditional air collected by Patrick Weston Joyce in 1873. "Amhrán Dóchais" is a poem written by Osborn Bergin in 1913 and set to the air. John A. Costello chose the air as his salute. Though the salute is often called "Amhrán Dóchais", Brian Ó Cuív argues "Mór Chluana" is the correct title. |
| Korea | General-rank Officer | Star March | Abridged version |
| Korea | Ministers of State | Rose of Sharon | |
| Korea | President | Phoenix Hymn | Modified version of Star March, played during Military Parade attended by the President |
| Korea | Supreme Leader | "Song of Happiness for the Great Leader" | Played during the arrival and departure of the Supreme Leader, with a matching 21-gun salute |
| Luxembourg | Monarch | "De Wilhelmus" | A variant of "Het Wilhelmus", the national and royal anthem of the Netherlands |
| Malaysia | Raja Permaisuri Agong; Yang di-Pertua Negeri | Abridged version of the National Anthem | Consisting of first and last sections. Played before the relevant state's anthem if the salute is for the Yang di-Pertua Negeri. |
| Malaysia | State monarchs | Short version of "Negaraku" | Consisting of last section. Played after the relevant state's anthem. Only may be played if the state monarch present representing the King. |
| Netherlands | Members of the Royal House; Governor of the Netherlands Antilles and Governor of Aruba | "Het Wilhelmus" | The national anthem. |
| Netherlands | Various officials not entitled to "Het Wilhelmus". | "De Jonge Prins van Friesland" | Ministers used the national anthem till Queen Beatrix objected in 1986. |
| New Zealand | Monarch | "God Save the Queen" | Also one of two national anthems, the other being "God Defend New Zealand" |
| New Zealand | Governor-General | "Salute to the Governor-General" | The first six bars of "God Save the Queen" The anthem may also be played in full. |
| Norway | Monarch | "Kongesangen" | "The King's Song"; an adaptation of "God Save the Queen" and set to the same tune. |
| Papua New Guinea | Monarch | "God Save the Queen" | |
| Philippines | President | "Mabuhay" "Honorable Salute to the President" | 1. The word mabuhay means "long live". The song, with music by Tirso Cruz, Sr and English lyrics by American James King Steele, was written c. 1935–40. Played to announce the arrival of the President during major events, minus the four ruffles and flourishes. 2. An older version was played until 2010. A new version debuted in 2011 and is used in all events of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine National Police and the Philippine Coast Guard when the President is present. It is preceded by four ruffles and flourishes, and is often performed with a 21-gun salute. |
| Poland | President | "Sygnał prezydencki" | Played in the presence of the President when the Presidential Ensign is raised in major events |
| Portugal | President | "A Portuguesa" | The national anthem. |
| Portugal | President of the Assembly of the Republic Prime Minister Ministers and Secretaries of State | "Hino da Maria da Fonte" | |
| Romania | President | "Marș triumfal" | Played in the presence of the President and during state visits by foreign high officials. |
| Russia | President | "Glory" | Played during the inauguration of the President. |
| Russia | President | "Президентская Фанфара" | Played as welcoming signal for the President. |
| Singapore | President | "Abridged version of Majulah Singapura" | First six bars only, played during state visits by foreign heads of state. If during major national events the anthem is played in full. |
| Slovenia | Commander-in-Chief of the Slovenian Armed Forces | "Naprej, zastava slave" | "Forward, Flag of Glory" |
| Spain | Monarch | "La Marcha Real" | |
| Spain | Princess of Asturias | Short version of "La Marcha Real" | Played without the repeated bars. |
| Sweden | Monarch | "Kungssången" | "The King's Song" |
| Thailand | Monarch | "Sansoen Phra Barami" | "The song of glorifying His Majesty's prestige". Former national anthem, still played before shows in cinemas and theatres and during all major events when the King and Queen are present. |
| Thailand | King | "Sadudee Jom Racha" | "Hymn to the Righteous King". Used for the ceremonies related to King Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida. |
| Thailand | Other members of the royal family | "Maha Chai" | "Grand Victory". It may be also used for the Prime Minister in very formal situations. |
| Thailand | Other situations | "Maha Roek" | "Grand Auspice". Mainly used for the arrival of senior government officials and for inaugurations. It is also used as the General Salute Music of the Royal Thai Armed Forces. |
| United States | President | "Hail to the Chief" | |
| United States | Vice President | "Hail Columbia" | |
| United States | Various officials | "Honors March 1" | 32-bar medley of "Stars and Stripes Forever" |
| United States | Army officers ranked major general and higher | "General's March" | "Honors March 2" |
| United States | Navy officers ranked rear admiral and higher | "Admiral's March" | "Honors March 3" |
| United States | Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard officers ranked major general and higher | "Flag Officer's March" | "Honors March 4" |
| Venezuela | President | "Hymn to the Liberator Simon Bolivar",, "Gloria al Bravo Pueblo", "National Salute March" | 1. Presidential march, played during the arrival of the President during major events 2. National anthem, chorus, first verse and chorus only during all events, can also be played in full or using the chorus only 3. Played during military ceremonies if a Corps of Drums is in attendance, also played as Salute March of the Flag of Venezuela if the national anthem is not used, can also be played by a military band as well if possible |
| Venezuela | Vice President | "Vice Presidential Salute" | Bugle call played to honor the Vice President |