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INTERNATIONAL MILITARY MUSIC SOCIETYUNITED KINGDOM (FOUNDER) BRANCH

JournalNo. 112 SUMMER 2017

ISSN 2050-4926

IMMS Journal Summer 2017_IMMS Journal Summer 2017.qxd 01/06/2017 17:55

CHAIRMAN:Alan Purdie, 5 Hemming Close,Hampton, Middlesex TW12 2JD.Tel: 020 8941 1416.E-mail: [email protected]

HON. SECRETARY:Jim Davies, Amberstone, PyrfordRoad, Pyrford, Surrey GU22 8UP. Tel: 01932 355135.E-mail: [email protected]

HON. TREASURER& MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY:Guy Morris, 32 Claremont Avenue,Hersham, Surrey KT12 4NS.Tel: 0870 904 6453.E-mail: [email protected]

JOURNAL EDITOR:Mike Boxall, 38 Hortensia House,Hortensia Road, London SW10 0QP.E-mail:[email protected]

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:John Crisford CBE, Charles Gray, BrianHill, Rodney Illsley and Ron Shooter.

ADVISORY PANEL:John Curtis, Colin Dean,Dr Graham Jones MBE, PhilipMather, Major (Rtd) Richard Powell,and Major (Rtd) Gordon Turner MBE.

REGIONAL ORGANISER:North East: Ivor Shirley, 9 Hurst Grove,Darlington, Co Durham DL1 4NX.

WEBMASTER:Ron Rose, Flat 4, Kingsholm House,7 Twickenham Close, Swindon,Wiltshire SN3 3FF.E-mail: [email protected]

Website: www.imms-uk.org.uk

ISSN 2050-4926

2 IMMS UK (Founder) Branch Journal – Summer 2017

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INTERNATIONAL MILITARY MUSIC SOCIETYUNITED KINGDOM (FOUNDER) BRANCHFounder President: Lt-Col Sir Vivian Dunn KCVO OBE (1908-1995)

Branch President: Lt-Col (Rtd) Geoff Kingston

Honorary Vice-Presidents:Mrs J E Alford, P T Higgins, P Mather, Miss E Pearson

CHAIRMAN’S CALLThose of you who attended our AGMin March will be well aware of mythoughts for the future in that I firmlybelieve that our Branch has a greatfuture. Although we may be relativelysmall in numbers, we are stillrecognised in the world of militarymusic, not only by Directors of Musicbut by many musicians in the variousbands, and this encourages me for ourfuture in the coming months andyears.

Our main aim this year is to increaseour membership and I am hoping thata new recruitment leaflet will shortlybe available to help with this.Unfortunately, the opportunities forthe Society to be represented atvarious events are limited but we willhave a presence at the Royal MarinesSchool of Music Open Day onSaturday 12th August as well as ourusual attendance at the SummerConcerts at Kneller Hall.

Elsewhere in this Journal are fulldetails of the forthcoming HouseholdDivision Music History and ArtsFestival in June and I do hope that asmany of you as possible will give thisnew venture your support.

Adrian Beckett and his team haveproduced a feast of entertainment thatweek and, while I appreciate that notevery event will appeal to everyone,it is certainly worth consideringattending even one or two concertsthat week.

As most of you are aware, the annualShrewsbury Flower Show will be onFriday and Saturday 11th and 12thAugust and the Branch is hoping to beable to have our usual presence there.Arrangements are still very much ‘upin the air’ but it would be helpful ifyou could let any of our Committeemembers know whether you intend tovisit the show this year and, if so, ifyou would be interested in attending abuffet/dinner at the Lord Hill Hotel onthe Thursday evening. It is hoped to beable to confirm details by the time ofour June meeting.

By the time you receive this Journalthe ‘snap’ General Election will havetaken place and without making any‘political’ comment, this has causedmuch confusion in London with someevents having to be cancelled or thedates changed. The cancellation ofthe annual Garter Ceremony inWindsor is one major casualty whichis to be regretted as this must be oneof the more spectacular events in theannual calendar of State Occasionsbut, needs must!

With all best wishes and have a lovelysummer. Alan Purdie

The IMMS UK Branch Journal is published four times a year. The respective closing datesfor copy are 6th February, 29th May, 28th August and 13th November. Contributions for theJournal from members are always welcome. The annual membership subscription, due on1st January, is £25 of which the UK Branch retains £8 to help finance local activities.Members receive in addition to the UK Branch Journal three editions each year of BandInternational, which is sent to all members worldwide. Further details about the Society andits activities are available from the UK Branch Secretary. Enquiries and correspondenceabout the Society’s meetings should be addressed to the Branch Secretary and not to KnellerHall. The contents of the UK Branch Journal are copyright and no part of it may bereproduced without permission. Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the views ofthe President, the UK Branch Committee or the Society’s membership as a whole.

FRONT COVER: The Band andBugles of The Rifles SoundingRetreat at Sir John Moore Barracks,Winchester, for the ColonelCommandant’s Inspection, 6th April.(Photo taken by Jim Davies duringthe Branch visit to the Band.)


IMMS UK (Founder) Branch Journal – Summer 2017 3

BRANCH SECRETARY’S NOTES

Annual General MeetingThe Branch’s Annual GeneralMeeting took place at 11 00 onSaturday 4th March at Kneller Hall.Members received reports from yourBranch’s officers as well asconsidering all-important issues suchas our finances and the recruiting andretention of members. For those thatcould not attend on 4th March, I cansupply hard copies of the documentspresented at the meeting; a stamped,addressed envelope would be helpful.

John Crisford CBE, Charles Gray andRodney Illsley, who had been servingas co-opted members of yourcommittee, were elected to thecommittee in their own right forthree-year terms. Your Secretary,Treasurer and Journal Editor, werereconfirmed in their appointments;your Chairman and the othercommittee members are mid-term. Afull list of your Branch’s officers andcommittee members is on page 2.

Having completed the formalbusiness of the AGM we weredelighted to welcome Sergeant ChrisBrown who is currently on the newMusical Direction course. Chris,whose previous posting was with theCountess of Wessex’s StringOrchestra, told us about the courseand about his colleagues in the DarrenWolfendale Class.

Unfortunately, for family reasons,Captain David Cole MVO could notbe with us planned and we hope towelcome him on another occasion. Inhis place, and at short notice, we weredelighted to hear from John CrisfordCBE, newly elected to the committee,about his career in military music.

Branch MeetingsOur next meeting will be at KnellerHall on Saturday 24th June at 14 00;subsequent meetings this year willtake place on Saturdays 23rdSeptember and 9th December, alsostarting at 14 00.

We are delighted to announce that ourguest speaker on Saturday 24th Junewill be WO1 Esther Hayes whorecently took up her currentappointment as School Bandmaster atThe Royal Military School of Music.Esther’s distinguished service to dateincludes her appointment as the firstfemale Bandmaster of the bands ofThe Parachute Regiment and The LifeGuards, an operational deployment in

Afghanistan and Bandmaster to theMinden Band.

Members attending meetings shouldallow time to complete the securityprocedures at the School. Thosetravelling by public transport or onfoot should notify me in advance.

Those travelling by car for the firsttime should notify me of theirvehicles’ registration numbers.Members’ details are held at theGuardroom for subsequent visits.

When attending meetings, membersshould carry their IMMS membershipcards as proof of identity; lostmembership cards can be replaced onrequest.

Forthcoming Branch Visits

• Saturday 3rd June: The MajorGeneral’s Review of The Queen’sBirthday Parade, Horse GuardsParade, London (1st Bn IrishGuards)

• Tuesday 6th June (afternoon):Royal Marines School of Music,HMS Nelson, Portsmouth.

Please send applications for thesevisits to me (at Amberstone, PyrfordRoad, Pyrford GU22 9UP), with astamped, addressed envelope.

Branch Meeting in Portsmouth

The Annual Prizegiving Concert andBeat Retreat by the Royal MarinesSchool of Music at PortsmouthGuildhall has become a major eventin the military music calendar.

Recognising the importance of theevent, which this year takes place onSaturday 12th August at 14 00, Branchmembers are invited to an IMMSregional meeting at PortsmouthGuildhall that day starting at noon. Arepresentative from the RoyalMarines Band Service will bespeaking to us and light refreshmentswill be offered at a modest charge.

The meeting is expected to close by13 30 as the concert begins at 14 00.Members coming to our meeting andwishing to attend the concert willneed to book their seats in the usualway with the Guildhall – attendance atour meeting does not includeadmission to the concert. We hopemembers, particularly those livingnear Portsmouth, will support this

Branch meeting. Advance registrationis requested; please contact me byletter or e-mail at the addresses shownon page 2 of this issue.

In preparation for the GuildhallConcert, the Band of the RoyalMarines School of Music will beperforming at Gunwharf Quays,Portsmouth, on Friday 4th andSaturday 5th August from 14 30.

Are You An e-mail User?

If you would like to receive ouroccasional Newsbriefs about theexciting forthcoming military musicevents, please send me your e-mail –and a new e-mail address if yours hasrecently changed; my e-mail addressis [email protected]. Iissued a major Newsbrief at the end ofApril – did you receive yours?

Do let me know about parades,concerts and/or other military bandevents you hear about – particularly atshort notice – so that, if possible, theinformation can be shared with othermembers. By the way do keep an eyeon our website – www.imms-uk.org.uk – maintained by Ron Rose,which has information about all ouractivities.

Fanfare

The 2016 issue of Fanfare, theJournal of the Corps of Army Music,is now available from the CorpsSecretariat, Royal Military School ofMusic, Kneller Hall, TwickenhamTW2 7DU. Copies will also be onsale at our meeting at Kneller Hall onSaturday 24th June.

In-Pensioner Pat Higgins

Congratulations to Pat Higgins, aVice-President of this Branch who

was our BranchSecretary from1988 to 1991.In February Patmoved to theRoyal Hospital,Chelsea, as anIn-Pensioner.

He is happilyinstalled inWard 5 and isin the care ofanother great

friend of the Society, Captain ofInvalids Major Philip Shannon MBE.

Jim Davies

(Photo: Colin Dean)



FROM THE EDITOR

This summer edition of the Journal is a rather frustrating onefor your editor. You receive it after The Queen’s BirthdayParade and the Household Division Beating Retreat, but wehave to go to press before either of these highlights of themilitary music year.

I console myself with the fact that we do have Jim’s accountsof two very enjoyable Branch visits to bands, and an accountof a Royal Marines Band visit to a school. Also, the piece onthe Mountbatten Festival of Music has some great photoskindly supplied by the official photographer to The RoyalMarines Band Service.

The articles on the school visit and the Mountbatten Festivalcome from what must be our youngest contributor yet,schoolboy Joe Elliott. The obvious enthusiasm from one of

‘the younger generation’ is a good sign for the future ofmilitary music and, hopefully, for our society.

The Readers Write page again has some interestingcontributions and I hope you’ll continue to send in yournotes, questions and photos (my contact details are in thecolumn on the first page).

Remember that your memories of times in a band andreviews of concerts are always welcome. If you don’t feelup to a full concert review article, a few paragraphs onwhich band it was, where they played, the music they playedand what you particularly enjoyed will be fine.

Despite the lack of Trooping and Beating Retreat features, Ihope you’ll find much to enjoy in this edition of your Journal.

Mike Boxall

SOCIAL MEDIA

Our Facebook Pages

This guide is for members who wish to access the IMMS UKFacebook pages on the internet. Go to Google (or the othersearch engine you use), type Facebook and press Return (i.e.press the Enter key), or click the left mouse key. Now clickon the Log in to Facebook heading.

You should now be at the Sign Up screen where you can login if you already have a Facebook account, or Create a NewAccount if you haven’t. If you already have a Facebookaccount, enter your email address or phone number and yourpassword and then go to the ‘Once you have logged on’paragraph below.

If you don’t already have a Facebook account, click on theCreate New Account button. Enter the details requested(don’t worry about the date of birth, it is needed so thatinformation given is relevant to your age but you can hide itlater if you wish). Make sure you remember the passwordyou enter!

Once you have logged on you will see a search box at the top.It has the letter “f ” to its left and a magnifying glass to theright. (The magnifying glass has nothing to do with age, evenchildren have it!)

To the right of the search box are three titles: your name,Home and Find Friends.

• Clicking on your name will take you to your page. Youcan put a picture here, or a video, or tell your friendswhen/where you are going on holiday etc., etc. You canalso put in some basic details that people seeking you canuse i.e. town, school, hobbies etc.

• Clicking on Home will take you to where you receive allthe messages from your friends and Groups that youhave joined. (If you’re a new user, you won’t havejoined any yet, but you will in a minute.)

• Clicking on Find Friends will take you to where you seeka person or Group by typing their name in the Findfriends search box and pressing Return. This sends

a message to the person or Group which has to beaccepted before you can see messages from them. (Ifyou receive friendship requests, it’s good practice to notaccept friendship unless you know the person orGroup.)

Use the search box to join our Groups, first by typing in:IMMS-UK and pressing Return. This takes you to our openpage that anyone can join from any country. Just click on theJoin button and you’ll be able to see all messages, andcomments to messages, on your Home page. The IMMS Logoshould also appear on the left side of your Home page.

Use the search box again, but this time type in: internationalmilitary music society and press Return. You will see a closedgroup in the list called: international military music societyuk (founder) branch members only group. Clicking on thistitle in the list takes you to the group page with its Join button.

When you click the Join button, a message is sent to themoderators (those who look after the group) and within acouple of days you will be joined IF you are an IMMSmember (membership is checked against the latestsubscription received lists). This Group has items on it that|are NOT for general release, so copying or sharing ofinformation gleaned in this group is confidential.

Another interesting group is Military Bands Everywhere.This is run by Joe Elliot our youngest IMMS member andis an open group.

If you find Facebook begins to inundate you with irrelevantinformation or adverts, you can Hide or Report them. To theright of the name of the person who posted the information oradvert is a small downward facing arrow, clicking on this willopen a box where you can Hide that post and stop any like it,or Report it if it’s spam. Over time you should only get theinformation that you asked for, with very few exceptions.

I hope this guide will help you to join our Facebook Groups.

Ron Rose



READERS WRITE

Regular contributor Terry Hissey has supplied a couple ofillustrations for items in the last edition of the Journal. Hewrites: “I would like to record my thanks to the IMMSmember who supplied details of the 2008 CD recorded by theRifles’ Salamanca Band & Bugles. The amount of people and

places I askedabout this CD raninto double figuresand drew a blank.Yet this isregimental historythat is less than tenyears old.

I believe the branchhas a strong role toplay in preservingthe heritage of ourmilitary music,whether that be by

dedicated research, memoirs, imagery and by no means leastthis very Journal. I’m so pleased a missing part of the Rifles’musical story has now been filled. At the moment, I’mworking on a narrative which I hope to make available to theIMMS. All offers of help valued.”

Steve Mason has sent this request for information onbandsmen as stretcher bearers in WW1:

“At a recent talk I attended it was stated that bandsmenserving as stretcher bearers at the start of the First World Warwere not trained to treat casualties but solely to carry themfrom the battlefield to regimental aid posts and that the abilityto treat casualties on the battlefield came during the war itselfas men were recruited specifically to serve as stretcherbearers (including, but not exclusively, conscientiousobjectors).

Do any members have information on this to either confirmor refute this statement relating to bandsmen? It may beparticularly relevant if members have information on pre-wartraining provided by the RAMC staff attached tobattalions/regiments, or on the equipment carried into actionby bandsmen when serving as stretcher bearers (in additionto the stretcher itself). Note that this specifically relates toWW1 as I have seen that WW2 bandsmen did carry outtreatment on the battlefield and were decorated accordingly.”

If you can help with information on this, Steve can becontacted by email at: [email protected].

John Curtis writes to tell of the award of the Legiond’Honneur to a former bandsman:

“Stan Taylor, now 93, was a bandsman in the 2nd EastYorkshires at the outbreak of the Second World War. Withmany of his colleagues he transferred to a company andtrained as a front-line soldier. In 1944, he took part in the D-Day Landings in Normandy and the advance of the Alliesthrough France and Germany, transferring first to the King’sOwn Yorkshire Light Infantry and later to the King’sShropshire Light Infantry in the field.

As the war neared its end in 1945, Stan was recruited to amulti-unit band of members of all the various regiments thenin the area of Wuppertal, West Germany. Returning toBlighty, he went straight to the band of his new regiment(KSLI), carrying out 12 months of public duties atBuckingham Palace.

He later went with the band and battalion to Hong Kong, fromwhere the band did a 12-month tour of Japan and Korea atthe height of the Korean War.

He received bothKorea medals toadd to the alreadyimpressive rowfrom his warservice in Britain,France andGermany. He hasnow beenawarded theFrench Legiond’Honneur medalin recognition ofhis service inFrance, tocomplete hiscollection.”

Favourite MarchesReplies to Jim’s request in the December Journal for yourfavourite marches are still coming in. Here are some of thelatest responses:

Michael Prentice: Killaloe (ex Royal Irish Rangers),Mechanised Infantry, Sarie Marais, Aces High, RadetzkyMarch, Soldiers of the Queen (especially when played by theMassed Bands of the Brigade of Guards.)

Tony Dean: The King’s Guard, Arromanches, Queen’sCompany, Sons of the Brave, Birdcage Walk, ColchesterCastle, Arnhem, On the Square, Trafalgar, Steadfast andTrue, New Colonial (first heard as a small boy on the Mall forthe Queen’s Birthday Parade in 1961.)

John Billingsley: Star of Erin, Sons of the Brave, PioneerSpirit, Cavalry Walk, Colchester Castle, Atlantis, TheHanoverian, London Bridge, Leviathan, Top Malo, NewMexico March, Shrewsbury Fair, The Green Howards,General Mitchell, Carry On, Ein Platz and Prince of Wales.

John Dutton:Mareth Line, The Skywriter, The All-AmericanSoldier, Normandy Veterans, The Liberators, On the Square.

Joe Elliott: Colchester Castle, Bravura, General Mitchell,H.M. Jollies, The Liberators. I think Joe speaks for us allwhen he says: “It was very hard to decide these marches asthere are so many others that I like.”

Peter Penwarden: Berliner Luft, Flieger, Steadfast andTrue. Peter adds that, when the time comes, he’s requestedBlaze Away to be played at his cremation!

(Photo: Terry Hissey)

Stan Taylor receives his Legiond’Honneur medal

(Photo: Frankie Robertson, Stan’s niece)



BRANCH VISITS

The Band and Bugles of The RiflesTuesday 6th April, the day of their Colonel Commandant’sInspection, was an important event in the diary for the Bandand Bugles of The Rifles, so 25 or so members of the Branchwere delighted to accept the invitation of Major JasonGriffiths and his team to witness the proceedings at Sir JohnMoore Barracks, Winchester.

The central part of the visit, of course, was a slickly-producedand most enjoyable Sounding Retreat under the InspectingOfficer’s careful scrutiny. Helpfully we were provided witha programme of the music we were to enjoy which, of course,included High on a Hill and Mechanised Infantry as the bandmarched off.

After a buffet lunch Lieutenant Beth Waters, the AssistantDirector of Music, took us on a tour of the camp including thevery inviting swimming pool, Sir John Moore’s statue, thecamp Chapel and the very splendid Officers’ Mess. Returningto the band room we watched 16 buglers taking part one-by-one in their dress competition, clearly a closely-foughtcontest!

This was a splendid visit, and we appreciate very much thewarm welcome and hospitality we received from MajorGriffiths and all his team.

The Band of the Royal ArtilleryThe Band of the Royal Artillery, and their Director of MusicCaptain Neil Skipper, kindly welcomed 20 members of theBranch at their band room at Tidworth on Tuesday 16th May.

The band performed a marching display for us which wasfollowed by a tour of the band’s quarters led by BandSergeant Major Richie Maddocks. He gave us an insight intosome of the vital background administration and attention todetail to get an army band ‘on the road’ and how musicianswithin the band hold individual administrativeresponsibilities, such as music librarian, transport, press &media and tasking.

He added that early departures from Tidworth (4am) forLondon to support Royal Salutes by The King’s Troop werea regular part of the RA Band’s routine. The band had justreturned from a brief visit to the Falklands.

A buffet lunch shared with the musicians was followed by aninformal Q&A session with Captain Skipper, BSM

Maddocks and Bandmaster Simon Lindley.

We then moved to the band room to enjoy listening to CaptainSkipper and Bandmaster Lindley rehearsing the band for aconcert to be given a week or so later.

They were kind enough, however, to find time to play for usthree marches that had been requested during the morning:Aces High, Arnhem and The King’s Guard.

This was a most enjoyable visit and we are very grateful toour hosts for their hospitality and for giving us a great day.

Three New PDMsUnusually, 2017 will see new Principal Directors of Music inall three services. In September, Lieutenant-Colonel NickGrace OBE will be retiring as PDoM, Royal Marines. MajorJon Ridley, Director of Music of the RM Collingwood Band,will succeed Colonel Grace as Principal Director of Music.

Also in September, Lieutenant-Colonel Kevin Roberts,Director of Music, Welsh Guards, and Senior Director ofMusic Household Division, is taking up his new appointmentas Principal Director of Music (Army) succeedingLieutenant-Colonel Darren Wolfendale who is to becomeDirector of Music, Irish Guards.

Recently Wing Commander Duncan Stubbs OBE retired asPrincipal Director of Music Royal Air Force and wassucceeded by Wing Commander Piers Morrell, previouslyDirector of Music of the RAF Central Band.

We thank Colonel Grace, Colonel Wolfendale and WingCommander Stubbs for their successful tenures in office andwish them well. We look forward to working closely with thethree new PDoMs.

Jim Davies

(Photo: Jim Davies)

(Photo: Jim Davies)

(Photo: Jim Davies)



A SCHOOL VISIT

On Tuesday 14th March the Band of HM Royal MarinesCommando Training Centre, Lympstone, visited my schoolfor the day.

The exciting day began with Lieutenant Pete Wuffendengiving a talk about careers in The Royal Marines BandService. He told us about the 5* training given to recruits whoare selected by audition to join the Royal Marines School ofMusic in Plymouth.

Later in the morning, musicians fromCwmtawe Comprehensive School inSwansea joined us and we split intosectional rehearsals (Strings,Woodwind and Brass and Percussion)to rehearse the music which wewould play with them at the concertlater in the afternoon. This includedOn Her Majesty’s Service a selectionof James Bond themes compiled byWO2 Michael McDermott andCinema Paradiso, which featured asolo from one of the violin players.

During a short break, my friend Tom and I interviewed theDirector of Music, Captain Steve Green, for BBC SchoolReport. He told us that “I really enjoy going around thedifferent rehearsals to see the young musicians joining in withour band members rehearsing the pieces for the afternoonconcert”. He also told us that he was very excited to beconducting and the Mountbatten Festival of Music for thevery first time in the coming week!

Full band rehearsals then followed ready for the afternoonperformance to Year 7 and other musicians from the school.A past Brynteg pupil of the school, Sophie, who is now aserving member in The Royal Marines Band Service, alsocame for the day and was interviewed by Tom. She said “It’sreally nice to be back seeing all of my old teachers!”

After an early lunch all of the Year 7 and other musicianscrowded in to the hall to be treated to an amazing display ofMilitary Band capability. For the first sequence of the concertthe Royal Marines Band played on their own and showcasedtheir many smaller ensembles such as their Brass Quintet andCorps of Drums who performed an amazing drum static.Their Function Band also played pop numbers by BrunoMars, Jess Glyne and the ever-popular Uptown Funk whichgot everyone up dancing! To finish their set, they performedas a full concert band, where they played Afro Blue, whichwas a really cool Vibraphone feature and Chariot Wars,which was the opener for their annual concert at The RoyalAlbert Hall in 2013. The sound was amazing and after seeingthe band playing really modern music (which they all knew!),we then really appreciated, and were blown away by, thetalent and standard of the band!

The second part of the concert was where all of the pupilswho had played with them during the morning could join theband on stage. It was an incredible experience which I willnever forget. We were so loud, you could almost feel the stageshake! We played Dragon Music, which is the theme fromHow to Train Your Dragon and Invincible where the Corpsof Drums joined us again to perform alongside us. We werenot told that they were going to join us, so it was a realsurprise and I did not know where to look, I was trying to readmy music, play the right notes and soak up the atmosphere! Itwas an amazing feeling playing their music as much of it Ihave always wanted to play!

The concert was very well received by all of the pupils whowatched it and a special thank you must go to The Band ofHM Royal Marines Commando Training Centre, Lympstone,for performing so brilliantly and our Head of Music, MrsFender for organising the event.

Finally, we were very fortunate to be given seven tickets tothe Mountbatten Festival of Music, which we were are allvery excited about. Joe Elliott

Musicians and pupils rehearse together for the evening performance. Joe is the trombonist on the far right. (Photo: Joe Elliott)

Royal Marines Band Visits Brynteg School, Bridgend

(Photo: Joe Elliott)



THE MOUNTBATTEN FESTIVAL OF MUSIC

(Photo: Jan Zawada, official photographer to The Royal Marines Band Service)

During the visit to my school by the Band of HM RoyalMarines Commando Training Centre we were kindly giventickets for The Mountbatten Festival of Music. Here is myreview of the concert:

We arrived at The Royal Albert Hall in plenty of time as Iknew that a very special guest would be arriving for theSaturday evening performance. After waiting outside foraround 20 minutes in the cold, flashing lights appeared, thetraffic stopped and a big black Range Rover pulled up and outcame The Duke of Edinburgh, who was the guest of honourat the performance as he is the Captain General of the RoyalMarines. Soon after we were in our seats waiting for the showto begin. We were all very, very excited, me especially!

The show started with the National Anthem and then thetheme from the video game Wing Commander whichincorporated the Fanfare Trumpeters performing alongsidethe stunning sight and sound of the massed bands. A renditionof On the Quarterdeck by K.J Alford, which welcomed theCorps of Drums before they played an arrangement of Flightof the Silverbird, originally by Two Steps from Hell, beforebursting into a brand new mesmerising drum static. The bandand drums then performed a new piece by Warrant Officer 2Bandmaster Russ Young called Deterrence to honour theVanguard Submarine service. To complete the Corps ofDrums section the Corps marched away playing the newbugle march Astutewhich has also been written to honour theSubmarine service. Other highlights from the first halfincluded the beautiful oboe solo La Califfa played by BandColour Sergeant Joe Sharp and the very funny andentertaining percussion feature by Band Corporal Mike Smithand Musician Joe Kemp playing the Maple Leaf Rag whowere almost competing against each other!

Captain Steve Green, the Director of Music who visited myschool, walked onto stage to complete the first half to conducta Billy Joel Medley. He also then conducted the opening tothe second half, which was a thrilling and dramaticperformance of Pink Floyd’s classic Another Brick in TheWall which included the Royal Marines School of MusicChoir, which we were to see again later! The arrangement

was by Band Colour Sergeant Phil Trudgeon and won theRoyal Marines Band Service composition competition, whichprize was for the winning piece to be played at the Festival ofMusic. This was to be one of my favourite pieces of theconcert as it was so dramatic and was very exciting to watch!

As you probably know, the concert does not normally haveinternational visitors, but this year they welcomed the TopSecret Drum Corps from Switzerland (who I admire verymuch) and they were next! They had a drum battle against theRoyal Marines Corps of Drums before joining together toperform as one ensemble. It was truly incredible and it wasinteresting to see the two ensembles copying each other’s drillin the combined piece named Stick-atto!

Next was a great rendition of A Short Ride in a Fast Machine,where a special mention should go to the percussionist whoplayed the wood block throughout the piece! Anotherhighlight from the second half was the Musicals Medleywhich included dancers, a Dixieland Band, many superbsoloists and the Royal Marines School of Music Choir. Themedley included songs from ‘Chicago’, ‘A Chorus Line’ and‘The Blues Brothers’ before finishing with a brilliantarrangement of You Can’t Stop the Beat from ‘Hairspray’,which was full of energy!

The finale included a tribute to the Women’s Royal NavalService entitled Women of the Waves by former CorpsBandmaster, Michael McDermott. The finale then continuedwith a piece of music called Pioneers of the Sea whichlooked at the history of the Royal Navy and looked ahead tothe future. The music accompanied film footage on largescreens which showed diagrams and images of the futuristicRoyal Navy. To end the incredible evening, the massedbands played Britannic Salute, which incorporated all of theperformers.

The lighting must also have a mention as it complimented theperformance beautifully and was timed to perfection with themusic! The concert was one of the best things I have ever seenand is an experience which I will never forget.

Joe Elliott



CONCERT REVIEW

St George’s Day ConcertThe Band of the Coldstream Guards were in fine form fortheir St George’s Day Concert, in aid of Combat Stress, at theCadogan Hall, Chelsea, on Saturday 22 April. Major SimonHaw MBE, Director of Music, and his Bandmaster WO1Laura Stead, presented a varied and thoughtful programme ofmusic for us to enjoy; the proceedings were introduced byAlexander Armstrong (who also sang to us) and we wereintroduced to guest trombone soloist Mark Templeton.

An exciting performance of Sir William Walton’s CrownImperial made a splendid start and I enjoyed MalcolmArnold’s English Dances (Set 2) which we heard towards theend of the concert.

The evening’s music included several thoughtful itemscommemorating the First World War including Major Haw’spiece Passchendaele, a tribute to the brave men who gavetheir lives in 1917 at the eponymous battle – one of thebloodiest conflicts of WW1.

I found the highlight of the evening to be Wipers March byHerman Darewski, taking its title from the British soldiers’

mispronunciation of Ypres. This began with a recording ofthe Coldstream band of 100 years ago, pictured on the screenabove the stage, under Lieutenant-Colonel John Mackenzie-Rogan then MVO, later CVO, playing the first section of themarch with the second part taken up by today’s band led byBandmaster Stead. This was a very simple yet moving pieceof musical theatre.

At major concerts such as this, the Director of Music andBandmaster must have much to do and think about, on andoff the rostrum. However, while Alexander Armstrong wasan efficient and engaging MC, I personally particularly enjoyconcerts introduced by the Director of Music/Bandmasterhimself/herself. It somehow makes me more personallyinvolved with the band, its musicians and the music.

Clearly a good deal of thought, preparation and effort hadbeen put into the evening and hopefully, although the hall wasnot full, a good deal of money was raised for Combat Stress.Thank you to Simon Haw and everyone involved.

Jim Davies

Buglers on the stairs (Photo: Jan Zawada) Lt Col Nick Grace OBE, RM, conducts (Photo: Jan Zawada)



CONCERT REVIEWS

This year’s concerts took place on Tuesday 2nd andWednesday 3rd May 2017 and were performed by The Bandof the Royal Air Force College. Conductor Flying OfficerTom Rodda was ‘standing in’ for Flight Lieutenant RichardMurray who was away on a course.

After the National Anthem the concert got under way in finestyle with Celebration Fanfare written in 1995 by StephenReineke. The march Out of the Blue by Hubert Bath camenext followed by a selection of music to celebrate the 40thanniversary year from ‘Star Wars’. This was arranged by aformer Director of Music, John Martindale. This took us tosolo time with two fantastic soloists who are both entered inthe RAF solo competition.

First up was Senior Aircraftsman (SAC) Andy Belfield toplay the Harry James Trumpet Concertowho worked throughthis very demanding piece extremely well. The secondsoloist, Sergeant Neil Warton, played Transformation on theLampton Worm as a trombone solo. This was a very clevercomposition by another band member SAC Andy Stevensonand expertly played by Sergeant Warton. It tells the story inmusic of The Lampton Worm which is a legend in thefolklore of County Durham.

A change in conductor now to the Bandmaster WarrantOfficer Ian Laidler who had arranged Cabaret (Ebb &Kander) for vocals from SAC Philipa Hobbs which was wellreceived by the audience. The next piece was a selection ofBritish Film Music from four iconic films – ‘Chariots of Fire’,‘The Mission’, ‘Live and Let Die’ and ‘Champions’. Somegood solo work in this selection which showed the band in adifferent mood.

The baton was handed back to Flying Officer Rodda whoconducted a piece which is synonymous with the RAF: Battleof Britain by Ron Goodwin. To take us to the interval a real‘tour de force’ by the American composer Samuel Hazo calledExultate full of musically tricky bits that gave the band a realwork out. They managed it well and ended the first half instyle.

The second half started in usual fashion with Swing Wing ledby Corporal Tom Ringrose featuring the big band from withinthe main band Their set included big band versions of 633Squadron, The Flintstones and I Wanna Be Like You withvocals by SAC Mike Howley.

The main band returned to the stage to play Burst of Bluewhich was new to everybody as this was the UK premier. Thisvery fine march is composed by Robert Thurston who is aMaster Sergeant serving in the USAF and is one of theircomposer and arrangers.

The concert continued with the very popular Can You FeelThe Love Tonight by Elton John from ‘The Lion King’. Thiswas followed by the lovely Elegy on the RAF March Past bya former PDM, RAF, Wing Commander Barrie Hingley, verysensitively played by the band. The finale featured film musicfrom the Kevin Costner version of ‘Robin Hood’. Thisarrangement contained all the popular parts including the

Bryan Adams hit, Everything I Do, which was in the UKcharts for 16 weeks.

The concert finished in the traditional way with the RAFMarch Past (Sir Walford Davies/Sir George Dyson). With theaudience asking for more, the band played The DambustersMarch (Eric Coates) to send everybody home very happy.

Rodney Illsley

Spring at the Movies ConcertOn 23rd April, The Middlesex Yeomanry Concert Band undertheir Director of Music, Michael Robinson (late RAF CentralBand) presented their Spring at the Movies concert at TheWhite House, Hampton, Middlesex. Intrigued, I thought I’dpop along.

The hall quickly filled up and I counted over 100 in theaudience which included the Deputy Mayor and a formerColonel of the Regiment. When the band filed in I was struckby their wide age range, including several young musicians.Smartly turned out in concert band jackets in regimental darkgreen with regimental ties or cravats of red-green-yellow andregimental collar star badges on each lapel, they rose as onewhen their DoM strode to the rostrum.

After a few words of greeting, the band opened with TheDambusters March by Eric Coates. I was immediately struckby what a nice balanced sound they made. With no cornetsonly a trumpet section of three or four, and a larger than usualflute section, the DoM had carefully selected music whichsuited this line up.

The programme included The Windjammer Overture (JohnAnsell), West Side Story (Leonard Bernstein), Great MovieMarches (a potpourri arr. John Moss), A Tribute to MarvinHamlish (arr. Michael Brown, US Army Chief Arranger), TheBest of Bond (arr. Darryl Barry), March from SuiteAlgerienne (Camille Saint-Saens), An Irish Party in ThirdClass (arr. Gaelic Storm), The Symphonic Beatles(Lennon/McCartney arr. John Cacavas), Pirates of theCaribbean (Klaus Badelt), Mancini Medley (arr. John Moss)and Hooray for Hollywood (arr. Warren Barker).

During the intermission, the band members mingled with theaudience and chatted amiably about the band and the musicthey enjoy. The concert ended, as they apparently always do,with their Regimental March The Lass of Richmond Hill. Butthere was a surprise awaiting me – the regimental arrangementby Doug Shewan includes a trio of another tune which wasunknown to me. Something to add to my ‘needs furtherlooking into’ list!

To conclude, a hugely enjoyable programme and wonderfullyrefreshing to find a regimental tradition so vibrant with lifeand good cheer and supported so enthusiastically by the widerlocal community. I have their autumn concert at the samevenue on Sunday 17th September at 2.30pm firmly in mydiary. Tony Dean

Whittle Hall Spring Concerts



PROFILE

Born in Stoke on Trent, Duncan Stubbs began his musicalcareer at an early age playing bassoon in local orchestras andshows. He was also organising concerts and arranging musicfor his friends from the age of 14. He was awarded his musicdegree at York University, specialising in performance,followed by a year’s postgraduate study in Birmingham,specialising in music education.

He joined the Royal Air force in 1983 as a member of theCentral Band of The RAF and was commissioned as aDirector of Music in 1990, being one of the youngest evercommissioned Directors of Music in all three Services.

As Director of Music of the Western Band and later of theBand of the Royal Air Force College, he achieved anunprecedented six consecutive wins in the Boosey andHawkes RAF inter-band competitions.

In November 2001, he was appointed Director of Music ofthe Central Band of the Royal Air Force, a post he held forfive years. During this time he was responsible forperformances of several National and International premiers,also the first ever performance, with the Royal Air ForceSquadronaires, by any military group in the world-famousRonnie Scott’s Night Club.

He also initiated new opportunities and directed newensembles thereby generating challenges for the ever-risingstandard of musicians being recruited into the Royal AirForce and, at the same time, maintaining the worldwidereputation enjoyed by the Central Band of the RAF. He has

completed two tours at Headquarters where he wasresponsible for all aspects of Training, Administration andManpower planning.

In addition to his RAF commitments Duncan has continuedhis own musical studies, becoming the first musician toachieve the Fellowship of the Royal Schools of Music(Directing – Wind Band).

More recently he completed a Master of Music degree wherehe received both the William Primrose and Albert ThomasHoward Composition prizes. As an arranger and composer,he has many successful works in the catalogues of twointernational publishers.

He regularly conducts civilian wind bands, many of whichhave achieved national status, and he is frequently asked tocoach and adjudicate at wind band festivals. He continues toplay the bassoon, albeit rarely and preferably when no oneelse is listening.When not performing music or being a doting father, he canoften be found ‘giving his ears a rest’ on top of a mountain inthe Lake District.

Flight Sergeant Barry Stringer MBEMedia and Communications Officer, RAF Music Services

A TributeDuncan is one of the most genial and honest people you couldever wish to meet. He is a highly-accomplished musician,conductor, arranger and composer that have made him anideal person to lead the Royal Air Force Music Services. Infact, both Duncan and I were promoted and appointed to ourprincipal roles in the same year and we will now depart in thesame year.

Never to be flustered, he has led the RAF Music Services withimpeccable style that has ensured the RAF have not onlymaintained but enhanced their reputation in military music.

I have always enjoyed working with Duncan, especially onthe Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Muster and Review in 2012,when I was conducting the massed bands on one side of thearena from where Duncan was conducting the stage band andchoir on the other side, which was over 100-metres away. Agreat deal of trust and confidence between us was required tokeep all musical elements together.

I will miss our Friday afternoon phone calls, when all wasquiet and we could discuss various issues that were currentlyaffecting military music.

Duncan is a real gentleman and his work was rightlyrecognised with the award of the OBE in this year’s NewYear’s Honours List, which I consider was long overdue.

It has been an honour and privilege to lead our respectivemusic services at the same time and duration and fromeveryone in the Royal Marines Band Service, I wish Duncanand his family every success for the future.

Lieutenant Colonel Nick Grace OBE, RM

Wing Commander Duncan Stubbs OBE, RAF

Wing Commander Stubbs OBE (Photo: RAF Music Services)



THE HOUSEHOLD DIVISION MUSIC FESTIVAL

The Household Division Music History and Arts Festival isbeing held this summer to celebrate 100 years of the massedFoot Guards bands.

The first appearance on parade of the massed bands of thefive Regiments of Foot Guards took place on 22nd May1917, not on Horse Guards Parade but in Paris. It provideda further illustration of the power of music, this time in itsuse as war propaganda.

The visit was made at the request of the French governmentand was approved by King George V. The massed bands wereunder the Senior Director of Music, Captain John MackenzieRogan MVO, Coldstream Guards, and accompanied by thesoprano Miss Carrie Tubb, who sang at the concerts.

Four of the bands sailed from Folkestone to Boulogne,escorted by four destroyers, to meet the Band of the GrenadierGuards (who had just finished a three months’ tour at theFront) at Amiens before continuing to Paris. On arrival, theywere welcomed by a crowd said to number 30,000, with theBands of the Garde Republicaine and the 237th InfantryRegiment playing God Save the King and The Marseillaiseas the train steamed into the station.

The massed Guards Bands played at a number of venuesincluding the Arc de Triomphe, Place Vendome and theGrand Palais where they were welcomed by PresidentPoincare.

One of the highlights of the visit was a concert at theTrocadero, full to capacity with 6,000 people. The 250bandsmen made a splendid spectacle in their scarlet tunicsand bearskin caps as they took their places on the stage withthe Band of The Garde Republicaine, seated on the floor ofthe hall, playing Salut a la Garde Britannique, a pieceespecially composed for the occasion by their conductor,Captain Balay.

Colin Dean

The week-long festival will feature music from classical tojazz, 18th Century music to Glen Miller and will culminatein a live cinematic performance of the iconic 1916 film TheBattle of the Somme.

Events will take place at The Guards Chapel, Birdcage Walk,London SW1 (Nearest tube: St. James’s Park). All events arefree – no tickets are required

Tuesday 27 June

1.10pm The Guards Big Band – marking 100 years since thebirth of Buddy Rich and Ella Fitzgerald, featuring trumpeterAdam Rapa

4.00pm Jazz in the Afternoon – Flute & Jazz Trio play ‘JazzSebastian Bach’

7.00pm The Countess of Wessex’s String Orchestra

Wednesday 28 June

1.10pm Guards Woodwind Soloists

4.00pm Jazz in the Afternoon – Contemporary Jazz

7.00pm Brass Explosion – Guards Brass meets Surrey Brass,featuring trumpeter Adam Rapa

Thursday 29 June

1.10pm The Duke of York’s Band – the world-renowned18th Century Band of the Coldstream Guards

4.00pm Jazz in the Afternoon – The Dixie Swingers

6.00pm The Band of the Scots Guards play songs from theshows, with cream teas for a summer’s evening on ChapelSquare

Friday 30 June

1.10pm Guards Saxophone Choir – Choral music arrangedfor saxophones

4.00pm Jazz in the Afternoon – Trumpeter Lance CorporalBen Beavis & friends

7.00pm Band of the Coldstream Guards – music composedfor the Military Band

Saturday 1 July

3.00 and 7.00pm Commemoration of the Battle of theSomme with a live cinematic screening of the iconic 1916film accompanied by the Countess of Wessex’s StringOrchestra, the String Ensemble of the Royal Marines and theRoyal Air Force Salon Orchestra

8.30pm Service of Remembrance at the Flanders FieldsMemorial Garden adjacent to the Guards Chapel

Sunday 2 July

5.00pm Former musicians of the Household Division reunitein concert

As Alan Purdie says in his opening remarks, it’s certainlyworth considering attending at least one or two of theweek’s concerts.

100 Years Ago The 2017 Festival Programme

The massed bands in front of the Arc de Triomphe



TROOPING THE COLOUR

The Queen’s Birthday Parade has a long history, having takenplace since the early 19th Century, with programmes of themusic played existing from 1864.

Colin Dean’s book, Troopingthe Colour, 1864 – 2008 MusicProgrammes from theSovereign’s Birthday Paradesgives a wealth of detail on themusic played and the Directorsof Music for each year. Thefootnotes also make fascinatingreading and have provided thebasis for this ‘What Year WasThat?’ quiz.

I’m sure most of us, with thepossible exception of Colin

himself, will be relying on our historical knowledge (Battleof Isandlwana, the General Strike) or pure guesswork formany of the early years. Hopefully, your enjoyment will bein seeing how close you can get to the actual year and thencongratulating yourself, or being amazed, when you readthe correct answer.

So, how many of the Trooping the Colour years below canyou get?

a) The first year that the march from Les Huguenots wasplayed.

b) The first year that the Preobajenski March was played.c) The year the Regimental March of the 24th Regiment

was played in honour of the members of the regimentwho had fallen at Isandlwana.

d) Either of the two years when the parade was held atWindsor and on Horse Guards on successive days sothat Queen Victoria could see it.

e) The year the parade was cancelled because of theGeneral Strike.

f) The year the parade was first recorded and released ona 78 rpm record.

g) The last year that the march from Les Huguenots wasnot played.

h) The first year the Queen (then Princess Elizabeth)attended as Colonel, The Grenadier Guards.

i) The last year the Guards carried the Lee-Enfield rifle.j) The year the parade was first recorded and released on

a 33 rpm LP record.k) The year 8 State Trumpeters rode in front of the

mounted bands.l) The year a civilian, Lt Col (Retd) Rodney Bashford

OBE, marched on parade.m) The year that the march Rorke’s Drift was played to

commemorate the centenary of that action.n) The last year that the Queen attended mounted.o) The last year the Guards carried the Self Loading Rifle.p) The first year that female musicians paraded.q) The year that gold-plated cornets were first used in the

bands.r) The last year rehearsals were held at Chelsea Barracks.

If you haven’t already got a copy of Colin’s book, they cost£12 each from IMMS UK.

To check your answers, go to the bottom of page 14.

What Year Was That?

MISTAKEN ATTRIBUTIONS

Over a year ago now I had an email exchange with Lt. Col.Werner Probst (IMMS rep. Germany) about the origins of thePreobajenski March.

Until the 1980s in Germany it was thought to have beencomposed by Ferdinand Haase (1788-1851). Haase was bornin Silesia but enlisted in the French army as a bandsman.Captured in Russia in 1812, he became one of Russian GrandPrince Constantine’s musicians and went on to have adistinguished career in the Russian army becoming Directorof Music of the Guard Corps in St.Petersburg. He was thoughtto have composed this regimental march of The PreobajenskiGuards in 1816.

Recent research undertaken by Werner, in consultation witha pre-eminent authority on Russian and Soviet music, the nowlate Bohumil Pesek of Prague, suggests that the tune isprobably part of an 18th Century Russian hymn. In Russia thetune, there called Petrovski, is attributed to the time of PeterThe Great (1672-1725). Haase was therefore only an arrangerof a much earlier piece of music.

Here in Britain, Sir Vivian Dunn attributed the march hegave to the Royal Marines and the Life Guards to an ErnestDonajowski. Neither the Russians nor Germans I was incontact with had ever heard of Donajowski – did we Britishknow something the Russians themselves had forgotten?Alas not!

I think I have finally got to the bottom of this mystery witha little research of my own. I found that Ernest Donajowskiwas born in Calais in 1845 and naturalised in England in1874. He had a music publishing business in London from1872-1917 and died on 22 April 1922. (His eldest sonReginald, who served as an officer with the King’s OwnRoyal Regiment from 1896, changed his name to Daubenny.)

I think this clears up the mystery about this march’scomposer. Although early 20th Century British copies ofthe march, predating Sir Vivian Dunn’s arrangement, creditDonajowski, as composer, he was either an arranger orperhaps just the publisher of an arrangement. The truecomposer is, I’m afraid, our old friend ‘Trad.’.

Tony Dean

The Preobajensky March



CIVILIAN MILITARY MUSIC

It might have been thought that the reduction in the numbersof forces bands reflected a reduction in the public’s interestin military style music. The busy schedules of the threecivilian military bands featured here show how wrong thatassumption would have been.

The British Imperial Military Band was re-formed in 2009with the express aim of filling the gap in the market for aprofessional military style band for private and publicfunctions. Made up of ex-military musicians from all three ofBritain’s armed forces., the band is a concert and marchingband with a corps of drums and can also supply a fanfareteam and small brass ensembles.

Based in Newbury, Berkshire, the band has played atWembley for England international football and rugby leaguefinals, at the Royal Naval College, Greenwich, at theShrewsbury Flower Show, at Henley Regatta and at manyother prestigious events. This March they took part in theClassical Spectacular show on four evenings at the RoyalAlbert Hall, London. Their music has also taken them abroadto Nigeria, to Hong Kong and to Austria where they appearedwith pop stars Leona Lewis and Robbie Williams.

The bandrecorded a CD‘Classic BritishMarches’ in 2010.Conducted by Lt.Colonel (Retd.)Graham JonesMBE, it featuresmusic written formilitary bandsaround the turn ofthe 20th century.The 17 tracksinclude: ImperialBritain, HeroicMarch, Knightsbridge March, Moorside Suite, Blue, Red,Blue, Earle of Oxford’s March, Triumph of Right, and Pomp& Circumstance March No 4. The CD is available fromDiscurio at the regular price of £10.00.

The Wessex Military Band in Dorset performs at over 40engagements annually across the south of England and hasappeared at international music festivals all over Europe.

Beginning as a youth band in 1981, it increased itsproficiency, and the age of its members, so successfully thatin 1990 the British Army invited the band to become theArmy Air Corps’ volunteer band. Based at Middle Wallopnear Andover, the band performed at all official engagementsrepresenting the Army Air Corps. These commitmentsescalated during the Gulf War as the band was one of only ahandful of Army bands left in the UK.

In 1993, however, the decision was taken to establish aRegular Army Air Corps Band to be formed from a nucleus

of the former Royal Artillery Alanbrooke Band andvolunteers from other Corps and Regiments. The Ministry ofDefence showed its gratitude to the volunteer band, though,by providing financial assistance to help it re-form as theWessex Military Band and by allowing it to use the recentlydecommissioned Wessex Regiment’s emblem, thedistinctive Wyvern.

Today, underB a n d m a s t e rPhilip Bond anex-Devon andDorset Regimentmusician, theWessex bandperforms asa concert band, ora full marchingband with a corpsof drums. Itdraws on a strongbase of members

of all ages including many ex-military musicians and musicprofessionals.

This year the band will be playing at the Schutzenfest inDulman, Germany, and at the Porcieu-Amblagnieu Festivalin France as well as on many UK engagements.

The Yorkshire Military Band under Director of Music LouiseLingard-Snape, an ex-Royal Logistics Corps musician now amusic teacher and conductor, has its own band room at DartonCollege, Barnsley. Performing as a concert band, a marchingband with a corps of drums, a fanfare team and brass andwind quintets, the band’s repertoire ranges from martial toclassical, pop to big band and film themes to musicals.

Band members are required to be of a suitably high standard,generally minimum Grade VI and preferably with someexperience of ensemble playing. Unsurprisingly, the bandtherefore has many ex-military musicians in its ranks.

In March this year the band played for the WRAC ReunionWeekend at Stratford-upon-Avon. Among other engagementslater this year, the band is looking forward to playing at theNorth of England Flower Show in Harrogate, Allied ForcesDay at RAF Elvington and the Remembrance Festival atRotherham Minster with The Military Wives choir.

All three of these civilian military bands ‘fill the gap’ in themarket for professional military style bands. If you’re intheir area, it’s well worth looking out for their concerts.

Mike Boxall

Three Bands ‘Filling the Gap’

What Year Was That? Answers: a = 1869; b = 1874 c = 1879;d = 1889 & 1895; e = 1926; f = 1930; g = 1936; h = 1947;i = 1959; j = 1959; k = 1975; l = 1976; m = 1979; n = 1986;o = 1987; p = 1998; q = 2000; r = 2007

Classic British Marches CD

(Photo: The Wessex Military Band)



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CD REVIEW

The music on this CD features marches and tunes from theperiod 1808 – 1815 played by The Bate Military Ensemble.The University of Oxford’s Bate Collection consists of morethan a thousand instruments showing the development ofwind and percussion instruments fromthe Renaissance to modern times. TheBate Military Ensemble plays historicinstruments from the collectionrepresentative of a Napoleonic eramilitary band. On this CD, the bandcomprises two each of: Keyed Bugle,Horn, Trombone, Serpent, Bassoon,Oboe, Clarinet, Flute and Percussion.

Historic instruments have theirchallenges for player and listener.Players need unique skills to achieve andsustain notes in tune, while listenershave to adjust to hearing the coarsertones of these early instruments.

However, as a noted Napoleonic era expert, PhilipHaythornthwaite of The British Commission for MilitaryHistory, has said: “It has always seemed to me that one canassociate music of the 18th century with other, more visualarts and with the attitudes of the time. I find that music getsone into the period more than writing, pictures or whatever,and this CD does exactly that.”

Terry Hissey, who bought a copy of the CD from Discurio’sstand at the last Branch meeting, noted the diversity of themusic on the CD and said: “My favourites were I’m 95, quickmarch of The Rifle Brigade since the early 1850s, and Coburg

which I remember playing on my first engagement in the TA25 years ago.”

In addition to I’m 95, and Der Coburger, many of the otherpieces in this collection are still familiarto us today. It’s interesting to hear howthese and Ah, Ca Ira, See theConquering Hero Comes, St Patrick’sDay, Garry Owen, and Over the Hillsand Far Away, would have sounded tolisteners 200 years ago. The music ofour then allies Portugal, Spain andBrunswick: Vencir o Morir, SpanishChant and Herzog von Braunschweigmay be less familiar.

In addition to these musical items, thereare the more prosaic elements of an 18thCentury soldier’s life: British and Dutchbugle calls, the Scotch Duty drum andfife calls and Riflemen’s whistle signals.

All the pieces are introduced with an expert narration byRichard Powell and the CD booklet gives further detail oneach one. In Discurio’s catalogue priced at £10.50, the CDcan be ordered on-line at www.discurio.co.uk or by postfrom the address below.

In producing Music of the Allies From the Peninsular toWaterloo, the Bate Collection gives us a fascinating glimpseinto history. This CD brings us as close as we are likely tobe able to come to the actual sound of an 18th Centurymilitary band.

Mike Boxall

Music of the Allies From the Peninsular to Waterloo

(Photo: The Bate Collection)



DISCOGRAPHY

THE BAND OF THE LIFE GUARDS WITH THECOTSWOLD MALE VOICE CHOIR/Major J G McCollMusic Masters LP MM0620, tape MMC0620 (1985)Strike Up The Band/Miserere from Il Travatore/HarlemNocturne/Slavonic Prayer/Oh, Virgin of the Angel Host/OldMan River/Trecento (McColl)/I Want to Say to You/All theThings You Are/Streets of London/Selection from Carmen.

BOOTS AND SADDLES/Major J G McCollBandleader LP BND 1022, tape BND 61022 (1986)The Life Guards Slow March/Imperial Life Guards/Foxhunter/Agrippa/Boots and Saddles/Quickest and Best/Washington Grays/The Life Guards Quick March: Milanollo/Moorside March/Overture Light Cavalry/Malaguena/Toccatafor Band/Trumpets on Top/I Got Rhythm.

ON THE MARCH/Major J G McCollMusic Masters LP MM0637, tape MMC0637 (1987)Fanfare for a Genial Occasion/Imperial March/MarcheMilitaire Francaise/Slow March: Bellona/Colonel Bogey onParade/The Earle of Oxford’s March/On the March/BattleMarch/Borough and Bayonet/Heroic March (Fletcher).

CROWN IMPERIAL/Major C J ReevesMusic Masters CD MMCD422, tape MMC0678 (1991)Fanfare – Emblazoned/Crown Imperial/Overture – TheWasps/Boots and Saddles/The Sabre Dance/The AnvilChorus from Il Travatore/The Musical Joke/Triumph ofRight/Rhapsody for Trombone (Langford)/Men of Harlech/Oboe Concerto/Orb and Sceptre.

THE ROYAL SALUTE/Major C J ReevesSony Masterworks CD SK 48473, tape ST 48473 (1992)Royal Salute/National Anthem/Here’s a Health unto HerMajesty/Crown Imperial/My Heart is Inditing/ImperialMarch/Jerusalem/Orb and Sceptre/The King Shall Rejoice/Coronation March/Rule, Britannia/Fanfare: Trecento/TheArrival of the Queen of Sheba/Pomp and CircumstanceMarch No 4/Zadok the Priest/I Vow to Thee My Country/Pomp and Circumstance March No 1.

FROM THE BIG SCREEN/Major C J ReevesBandleader CD BNA 5116, tape BND 65116 (1995)Jurassic Park/The Lion King/Theme from ET/Robin Hood,Prince of Thieves/Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom/An Aladdin Fantasy/Star Trek: Through the Generations/The Bodyguard/John Williams: Evening at Pops.

ROYAL WINDSOR/Major C J ReevesBandleader CD BNA 5132 (1997)Fanfare: Majesty/Royal Windsor/Eton Boating Song/WithSword and Lance/Knightsbridge/Down the Mall/FehrbellinerReitermarsch/Preobrajensky March/The Life Guards/Post Horn Gallop/Keel Row – Bonnie Dundee/Bond ofFriendship/Arnhem/Birdcage Walk/Wellington/Royal Salute/The Commonwealth on the March/The Dambusters March/Boots and Saddles/Milanollo.

PRELUDE TO PAGEANTRY/Major M TorrentBandleader CD BNA 5151 (1998)Overture from Music for A Festival/Jesu Joy of Man’sDesiring/Pomp and Circumstance No 4/Sheep May SafelyGraze/Prelude to Pageantry/Trumpet Tune and Air/To AWild Rose/Moorside March/Intermezzo from CavalleriaRusticana/Fugue a la Gigue/Meditation from Thais/TallShips/Shepherd’s Song/Rakoczy March/Siciliano/MarcheMilitaire Francaise/Trumpet Voluntary.

ON PARADE/Major M TorrentBandleader CD BNA 5171 (2001)Golden Celebration Fanfare/The Life Guards/Keel Row –Bonnie Dundee/Milanollo/Preobrajensky March/Fehrbelliner Reitermarsch/Royal Standard/Marche Militaire/Unity/The Vedette/The King’s Guard/Guards ArmouredDivision/Washington Grays/General Mitchell/Gladiator’sFarewell/Invincible Eagle/Days of Glory/March from film‘1941’/Father Rhine/Pomp & Circumstance March No1/HRH The Duke of Cambridge/The Minstrel Boy.

MUSIC OF THE LIFE GUARDS/Major D CresswellSRC CD SRC 132 (2004)Royal Salute/Thine In Glory/Milanollo/The Horse GuardsWhitehall/Horse Grenadiers March/Royal Standard/Preobrajenski March/The Lifeguards Quadrilles (Waetzig):Pantalon-L’été-Poule-Trenis-Finale/Music for the MajorGeneral’s Inspection: Walk, Call and Finnlandischen Reiterei– LG and RHG/D Regimental Marches – Trot, Call and IchHört Ein Bächlein Rauschen-Zapfenstriech No 2 – The KeelRow – Gallop, Call and Fellenberg Canter Selection – BonnieDundee/The Lion/Prussian Army/Onward Christian Soldiers/Abide with Me and Cavalry Last Post/Trecento/Autumn/Heritage/Last Post – Reveille/Regimental Call/Life GuardsRegimental Walk March.

Additions and corrections welcomePhil Mather

This LP cover features Geoff Pearce as Drum Major of TheRhine Staff Band, The Royal Tank Regiment. Geoff wasmentioned in Barry Willis’ account of the Band of 256Regiment RA (TA) in the Spring Journal.

(Photo: Terry Hissey)

Band of The Life Guards Part 2



DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Friday 2 Royal Armoured Corps Royal Salute Museum Gardens, York (11 00)Friday 2 Royal Artillery Royal Salute Hyde Park, London (11 30)Friday 2 Royal Regt of Scotland Royal Salute Edinburgh Castle (11 30)Friday 2 Prince of Wales’s Divn Royal Salute Cardiff Castle (11 30)Friday 2 Royal Irish Regiment Royal Salute Hillsborough Castle (11 30)Saturday 3 Household Division Major General’s Review, Queen’s Birthday Parade Horse Guards Parade, London (11 00)Saturday 3 Central Band, RBL Concert St Paul’s Church, Chichester (19 30)Tuesday 6 Irish Guards Founder’s Day, Governor’s Review Royal Hospital, Chelsea (10 30)Tuesday 6 IMMS Visit to Royal Marines School of Music HMS Nelson, Portsmouth (13 00)Thursday 8 Irish Guards Founder’s Day Parade Royal Hospital, Chelsea (10 30)Thursday 8 RM + Netherlands Navy 350th Anniversary of Dutch Raid on the Medway Chatham Historic DockyardThursday 8 Guards Chapel Choir Lunchtime Concert Guards Chapel Wellington Bks (13 10)Thursday 8 Royal Marines, Plymouth Royal Cornwall Show Wadebridge, Bodmin (all day)Friday 9 RM + Netherlands Navy 350th Anniversary of Dutch Raid, Concert St George’s Centre, ChathamSaturday 10 RM + Netherlands Navy 350th Anniversary of Dutch Raid, Concert St George’s Centre, ChathamSaturday 10 Household Division Colonel’s Review of Queen’s Birthday Parade Horse Guards Parade, London (11 00)Saturday 10 Royal Armoured Corps Royal Salute Museum Gardens, York (11 00)Saturday 10 Royal Regt of Scotland Royal Salute Edinburgh Castle (11 30)Saturday 10 Prince of Wales’s Divn Royal Salute Cardiff Castle (11 30)Saturday 10 Royal Irish Regiment Royal Salute Hillsborough Castle (11 30)Saturday 10 Royal Artillery Royal Salute Green Park, London (12 30)Saturday 10 Central Band, RBL Concert St George’s Church, Deal (19 15)Saturday 10 R Sig/King’s/POW Divn Concert in the Park Kneller Hall, Twickenham (20 00)Wednesday 14 Royal Marines Seafarers UK Concert Dorking Halls, Dorking (19 30)Wednesday 14 Hampshire Constabulary Waterlooville Music Festival Concert St George’s Church Waterlooville (19 30)Wednesday 14 Household Division Beating Retreat Horse Guards Parade, London (20 00)Thursday 15 Household Division Beating Retreat Horse Guards Parade, London (20 00)Saturday 17 Household Division Queen’s Birthday Parade Horse Guards Parade, London (11 00)Saturday 17 Royal Armoured Corps Royal Salute Museum Gardens, York (11 00)Saturday 17 Royal Regt of Scotland Royal Salute Edinburgh Castle (11 30)Saturday 17 Royal Welsh Royal Salute Cardiff Castle (11 30)Saturday 17 Royal Irish Regiment Royal Salute Hillsborough Castle (11 30)Saturday 17 Royal Artillery Royal Salute Green Park, London (12 30)Saturday 17 Parachute Regiment Royal Salute Castle Park, Colchester (11 30)Saturday 17 Highland/Lowland Royal Salute Stirling Castle (11 30)Monday 19 Gibraltar Regiment Queen’s Birthday Parade The Convent, GibraltarTuesday 20 RAF Regiment RAF Association Proms Wyvern Theatre, SwindonWednesday 21 RAF Central RAF Benson Freedom of Wallingford Parade Wallingford, South OxfordshireWednesday 21 CWSO Concert in the Park St Edmund’s Church, Whitton (20 00)Saturday 24 IMMS Quarterly Meeting (Speaker WO1 E E Hayes) Kneller Hall, Twickenham (14 00)Tuesday 27 Guards Big Band Household Divn Music History & Arts Festival Guards Chapel, Wellington Bks (13 10)Tuesday 27 Guards Divn, Jazz Household Divn Music History & Arts Festival Guards Chapel, Wellington Bks (16 00)Tuesday 27 CWSO Household Divn Music History & Arts Festival Guards Chapel, Wellington Bks (19 00)Wednesday 28 RAF Regiment Help for Heroes Concert Winston Churchill Hall, Ruislip (19 30)Wednesday 28 Royal Marines CTCRM RMA Concert Pavilion Theatre, Exmouth (19 30)Wednesday 28 Guards Woodwind Household Divn Music History & Arts Festival Guards Chapel, Wellington Bks (13 10)Wednesday 28 Guards Division, Jazz Household Divn Music History & Arts Festival Guards Chapel, Wellington Bks (19 00)Wednesday 28 Guards Brass/Surrey Brass Household Divn Music History & Arts Festival Guards Chapel, Wellington Bks (19 00)Thursday 29 Duke of York’s Band Household Divn Music History & Arts Festival Guards Chapel, Wellington Bks (13 10)Thursday 29 Dixie Swingers Household Divn Music History & Arts Festival Guards Chapel, Wellington Bks (16 00)Thursday 29 Scots Guards Household Divn Music History & Arts Festival Guards Chapel, Wellington Bks (18 00)Friday 30 Guards Saxophone Choir Household Divn Music History & Arts Festival Guards Chapel, Wellington Bks (13 10)Friday 30 Jazz in the Afternoon Household Divn Music History & Arts Festival Guards Chapel, Wellington Bks (16 00)Friday 30 Coldstream Guards Household Divn Music History & Arts Festival Guards Chapel, Wellington Bks (19 00)

Saturday 1 Rifles/RLC/AMS Buxton Tattoo The Dome, Buxton (14 00 & 19 00)Saturday 1 REME/AAC/AGC Concert in the Park Kneller Hall, Twickenham (19 30)Saturday 1 CWSO + RM Household Divn Music History & Arts Festival Guards Chapel, Wellington Bks (15 00)Saturday 1 CWSO + RM Household Divn Music History & Arts Festival Guards Chapel, Wellington Bks (19 00)Saturday 1 Guards Division Remembrance Service, Flanders Fields Garden Guards Chapel, Wellington Bks (20 30)Saturday 1 RN Volunteer Bands Royal Naval Volunteer Bands Festival Guildhall, Portsmouth (09 00)Saturday 1 Yorkshire Military Band Concert in the Park Royston Park, BarnsleySunday 2 Former Guards Musicians Household Divn Music History & Arts Festival Guards Chapel, Wellington Bks (17 00)Friday 7 RAF College RAF Music Charitable Trust Concert Palace Theatre, Newark (19 30)

Date Band / Organisation Event Location / (time)June 2017

July 2017



Saturday 8 RAF College RAF Music Charitable Trust Concert Voyager Academy, Peterborough (19 30)Saturday 8 RAF Central Leeds Castle Concert Leeds Castle, KentSunday 9 Royal Marines Portsmouth Deal Memorial Bandstand Concert Deal, Kent (14 30)Sunday 9 Wessex Military Band Concert The Crown Inn, PuncknowleWednesday 12 RMA Concert Concert Portsmouth Cathedral (19 30)Wednesday 12 Household Division State Visit, King Felipe VI & Queen Letizia Horse Guards Parade, London (11 40)Wednesday 12 CRE/Queen’s/Parachute Concert in the Park Kneller Hall, Twickenham (20 00)Wednesday 12 RMA Concert Concert, with Portsmouth Grammar School Band Portsmouth Anglican Cathedral (19 30)Friday 14 Scots Guards Concert Corn Exchange, Newbury (19 45)Wednesday 19 HCAV/Gurkhas/CWSO Concert in the Park Kneller Hall, Twickenham (20 00)Saturday 22 Royal Marines CTCRM Charity Concert Queen’s College, Taunton (19 30)Saturday 22 Parachute Regiment Holkham Country Fair Holkham, Norfolk (all day)Saturday 22 Yorkshire Military Band Concert Scarborough Spa BandstandSunday 23 Parachute Regiment Holkham Country Fair Holkham, Norfolk (all day)Sunday 23 RMA Concert Concert Alexandra Theatre, Bognor Regis (15 00)Tuesday 25 Grenadier Guards Brass Guards Chapel Recital Series Guards Chapel, Wellington Bks (13 10)

Friday 4 RM School of Music Marching Display Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth (14 30)Friday 4 RAF Regiment Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo (to 26 August) Edinburgh CastleFriday 4 Royal Marines (Massed) Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo (to 26 August) Edinburgh CastleSaturday 5 RM School of Music Marching Display Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth (14 30)Sunday 6 Royal Air Force Assoc Concert Keynsham Bandstand, Bristol (14 30)Wednesday 9 CRE/Notts CRE Commandant’s Parade RMA Sandhurst (10 45)Friday 11 CRE/Notts CRE Sovereign’s Parade RMA Sandhurst (10 45)Friday 11 RSigs/Lanc Vols/Mercian Shrewsbury Flower Show The Quarry, Shrewsbury (all day)Saturday 12 RSigs/Lanc Vols/Mercian Shrewsbury Flower Show The Quarry, Shrewsbury (all day)Saturday 12 IMMS Regional Meeting, Portsmouth Guildhall, Portsmouth (12 00)Saturday 12 RM School of Music Open Day Concert & Beat Retreat Guildhall, Portsmouth (14 00)Sunday 13 Yorkshire Military Band Womens’ Services Day RAF Elvington, YorkshireThursday 31 Royal Logistic Corps Beating Retreat Chatsworth House, Derbyshire (18 45)Thursday 31 Royal Air Force College Belfast Tattoo SSE Arena, Belfast (19 30)

Friday 1 Royal Air Force College Belfast Tattoo SSE Arena, Belfast (19 30)Friday 1 Royal Logistic Corps Chatsworth County Fayre Chatsworth House, Derbyshire (all day)Saturday 2 Royal Air Force College Belfast Tattoo SSE Arena, Belfast (19 30)Saturday 2 Royal Logistic Corps Chatsworth County Fayre Chatsworth House, Derbyshire (all day)Sunday 3 Royal Logistic Corps Chatsworth County Fayre Chatsworth House, Derbyshire (all day)Tuesday 5 Parachute Regiment Beating Retreat & Concert Thursford Collection, Fakenham (19 00)Thursday 7 Irish Guards Household Division Concert Series Guards Chapel, Wellington Bks (19 00)Saturday 9 Wessex Military Band Concert Bucky Doo, BridportSunday 10 Royal Air Force Central RAF Music Charitable Trust Concert Playhouse Theatre, Weston-S-M (19 30)Sunday 10 Brigade of Gurkhas Deal Memorial Bandstand Concert Deal, Kent (14 30)Saturday 16 Kings/Lanc Art/Lanc Reg Preston Military Show Fulwood Barracks, Preston (12 00)Saturday 16 RMA Concert Concert Guildford Cathedral (19 30)Sunday 17 Royal Air Force Assoc Battle of Britain/Wings Appeal Concert Pavilions, Teignmouth (15 00)Thursday 21 RM Collingwood Concert HMS Collingwood, Fareham (19 30)Friday 22 RM Collingwood Concert HMS Collingwood, Fareham (19 30)Saturday 23 IMMS Quarterly Meeting Kneller Hall, Twickenham (14 00)Thursday 28 Royal Marines Seafarers UK Concert Cadogan Hall, London (19 30)

Date Band / Organisation Event Location / (time)

AUGUST 2017

SEPTEMBER 2017

The Band of the Brigade of Gurkhas, Director of Music Major Tony Adams, at the Royal Salutein Hyde Park, 21st April 2017 (Photos: Colin Dean)

PLEASE NOTE: Events are shown in good faith, but dates and times are subject to change.Please check www.imms-uk.org.uk and www.military-music-events.co.uk for further details and updates.


If undelivered, please return to Hon. Treasurer, 32 Claremont Avenue, Hersham, Surrey KT12 4NS

CAVALRY SUNDAY

The Combined Cavalry Old Comrades parade and memorial service took place in Hyde Park on 14th May. Contingents basedon the present-day regiments marched past to their regimental marches. The highlight came as the Queen’s Royal Hussars(Queen’s Own and Royal Irish) approached. The band cut straight to the trio and the contingent marched past singing alongwith The Galloping Queen’s Hussar in wonderful cavalry spirit.

The massed bands march off after the memorial service. (Photo: Colin Dean)

Bandmaster Staff Sergeant Paul Mason conducting The Band of The Royal Armoured Corps, and The Band ofThe Royal Yeomanry (Inns of Court & City Yeomanry), Director of Music Major R Falshaw conducting, entertain

in the park before the parade. (Photos: Mike Boxall)

The Band of The Household Cavalry,Director of Music Major C Hallatt,marching on. (Photo: Colin Dean)


international military music society journalunited … journal summer 2017.pdf · 2018-09-25 ·...

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