Normandy Piper Passes Away
on Aug 19
Bagpiper led troops into Normandy
Bill Millin , the Scottish bagpiper who defied enemy fire and led comrades into battle at the 1944 Normandy D-Day landings in France, has died on Wed August 18th at age 86 his family said.
Piper Bill as he became to be known saw his courageous action immortalized in the Hollywood film The Longest Day. Despite being unarmed and with soldiers falling all around him he continued to lead the troops while he played the pipe tune Highland Laddie.
His commanding officer Lord Lovat had asked him to ignore the rules banning the playing of bagpipes in battle and requested him to rally his comrades. Millin was only 21 at the time. The banning of pipers playing into battle had begun in World War I as many of pipers had been killed including Canadian Victoria Cross winner Piper James Cleland Richardson.
Millin said in a interview by the BBC ” When you’re young you do things you would never dream of when you get older. I enjoyed playing the pipes, but I didnt notice I was being shot at.”
Piper Bill was born in Glasgow and passed away in Torbay in Southwest England.
Piper Bill will always be remembered as an iconic part of all those who gave so much to free Europe from Tyranny said a member of his family.
(News of The World August 19th)
No Comments »Quebec City Military Music Festival 24-29 August 2010
on Aug 17
Quebec City Military Band Festival 24-29thAugust 2010
The mission of the Quebec City International Festival of Military Bands is to promote awareness and appreciation of Canada’s military Bands and of its traditions, history, and various forms in sites featuring Old Québec’s fortifications and historic places.
Another aspect of the organization’s mission is to welcome prestigious foreign military bands and encourage exchanges between Canadian and foreign musicians and with the public.
The Quebec city International Festival of Military Bands is the only event aimed at military music lovers. The event welcomes some twenty bands each year and features more than 800 musicians in approximately forty activities, including popular concerts and special thematic events.
The Festival lasts five days and is held at the end of the summer, at a time when the other major events held in Old Quebec are over.
The objectives of the Quebec city International Festival of Military Bands are the following:
- Allow the public to discover and appreciate military music;
- Provide Old Capital with a exotic and prestigious , world – class cultural event ;
- Offer high-quality programming in which most popular activities are free;
- Spotlight Old Quebec’s historic and fortified sites;
- Promote the city of Quebec as a major attraction and tourist destination par excellence at the regional, national and international levels;
- Create appreciable economic impact. The Festival generates economic activities in the order of $ 8 M, creates 285 direct and indirect jobs and represents 15,000 person-nights in commercial establishments (based on a survey in 2006).
- Quebec Military Band Festival 24- 29thAugust 2010La mission of the International Festival of Military Bands Quebec is to promote awareness and appreciation of military bands from Canada and its traditions, history and various forms in sites with fortifications Old Quebec and historic sites.Another aspect of the organization’s mission is to host the prestigious foreign military bands and encourage exchanges between Canadian and international musicians and with the public .Quebec City International Festival of Military Bands is the only event for lovers of military music. The event attracts twenty groups each year and offers more than 800 musicians in about forty activities , including popular concerts and special events .The festival lasts five days and takes place at the end of the summer, at a time when other major events conducted in the Old City are more .
The objectives of the Quebec City International Festival of Military Bands are as follows :
Allowing the public to discover and appreciate the military music ;
Provide Old Capital with an exotic and prestigious global event – cultural class;
Providing high quality programming including the most popular activities are free ;
historic sites and fortified star Old Quebec ;
Promote the city of Quebec as a key attraction and tourist destination regionally , nationally and internationally;
Create significant economic impact . The festival generates economic activity in the range of $ 8 million, creating 285 direct and indirect jobs , representing 15 000 overnight stays in commercial establishments (based on a survey in 2006) .
Canadian Navy Centennial Tattoo
on Aug 16
Ready Aye Ready!
Pomp and Pageantry
The World-class band of Her Majesties Royal Marines , The US Marine Corps and the Naden band Headline a gala Tattoo saluting the 100th anniversary of the Canadian Navy . The bands along with the Seaforth Highlanders Pipe band and Delta Police pipe band will appear ina unforgettable tattoo at the PACIFIC NATIONAL EXHIBITION in VANCOUVER BC (Home of the 2010 Olympics) on September 4th at 1 and 4 pm. The admission to the tattoo is free with admission to the grounds. This promises to be top flight entertainment.
Just a reminder we welcome news of upcoming MILITARY BAND EVENTS
Write to the site admin jack@militarymusic. com
No Comments »FORTISSIMO-2010 Parliament Buildings Ottawa
on Aug 09
Fortissimo 2010
Thursday, August 12, 2010 – Sunday, August 15, 2010
August 12, 13, 14th 2010 at 7:30 p.m. and
August 15th at 2:30 p.m. on Parliament Hill, Ottawa
Fortissimo is a military and musical spectacular created for the lawns of Parliament Hill featuring massed military bands, pipes and drums, guest performers and the soldiers of the Ceremonial Guard.
10 Comments »Chief Master Sgt Floyd Werle is Mourned
on Aug 02
July 19, 2010 – Retired Chief Master Sgt. Floyd Werle, who arranged hundreds of musical numbers for The U.S. Air Force Band and his local parish, passed away in Oakland, Calif., on July 19 following a battle with pancreatic cancer.Chief Werle was best known as chief musical arranger for The U.S. Air Force Band. He was handpicked to be part of the Air Force’s premier musical organization by then conductor Col. George S. Howard.”Floyd E .Werle was the heart and soul of The U.S. Air Force Band and Singing Sergeants, and I mourn his loss,” said U.S. Air Force Band Conductor Emeritus Col. Arnald Gabriel.Chief Werle worked extensively with Colonel Gabriel starting in 1964, when the colonel became commander and conductor of the Band. The two embarked on an 18-year creative surge, leading to over 50 original compositions. … Continue Reading » |
84th Austrian Regiment Band
1 January 1883, the Lower Austrian Infantry Regiment No. 84 “Baron Bauer of one battalion of the” 4 “,” 14er “,” 49s “and” ‘59 formed. The immediate occasion for the expansion of the army from 80 to 102 regiments was the revolt in Bosnia-Herzegovina in the year 1881/82. 1894 was a regiment of Alfred, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, from 1900 carried the “‘84″ the name “Baron Bolfras. From 1883 to 1892 was the staff of the regiment, and therefore the military band mostly based in Vienna, from 1892 to 1895 in Mostar (at that time was Bosnia-Hercegovina by Austria-Hungary occupied), then to the beginning of the First World War in Krems on the Danube . The signal regiment of the “‘84″ is a trumpet passage from the finale of the third act of the opera “Rienzi” by Richard Wagner removed. Established, the “‘84-Chapel but in December 1882 in Vienna. Their story began with a small error when the renowned “Neue Freie Presse” reported in its issue of 1 November 1882 that the military bandmaster Czibulka Alfonso to take over the management of the orchestra. Two days later was corrected, the Karl Komzák first conductor of the “will be ‘84 ‘.
| Karl Komzák
|
1892 drew Komzák, on leave for health reasons from the regiment, to Baden, and was there in 1893 Kurkapellmeister. When the military took him in his absence Sergeant Joseph 1892 drew Komzák, on leave for health reasons from the regiment, after |
Military Band News As it Happens
Military bands send us your schedule of events We will feature them in our World Military Bands NEWS MAGAZINE.
Music Festivals, Tattoos, Concerts.
jack@militarymusic.com
No Comments »World Book A-B
25th Infantry Division band
The Band of the U. S. Army’s 25th Infantry Division (Light) whose nick-name is `Tropic Lightning’ has a long and prestigious history. It is also the most decorated line band in the U.S. Army. The Band is part of the Headquarters & Headquarters Company of the 25th Division. This company was formed in 1953 (the Band pre-dates it) and claims participation in eleven campaigns in World War II and Korea and also Vietnam. These claims are all based and credited to the 25th Division Band. The 25th Infantry Division Band was formed just twelve days after the formation of the Division itself … Continue Reading »
No Comments »World Book C
Canadian Military Bands
Canadian Navy bands
Band of 263 RCSCC Beacon Hill
Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship Star Band
Naden Band of Maritime Forces Pacific
National Band of the Naval Reserve
Stadacona Band of Maritime Forces Atlantic
Canadian Army bands
3rd Field RCA Regiment, The Regimental Band
5th (BC) Field Regiment RCA Band
7th Toronto Regiment Band, RCA
26 Field Regiment RCA Band
33rd. Halifax Pipes & Drums
36 Canadian Brigade Group Band
48th Highlanders of Canada Military Band
254 Cadet Corps, King’s-Edgehill, Highland Pipe and Drum Band
2800 Verdun Army Cadets Corps Band
2836 1 Combat Engineer Regiment Pipe Band
La musique du Corps de Cadets 2800 Verdun
Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada (Princess Louise’s) Pipes and Drums
Atlantic Region Cadet Pipe & Drums
Band of the 15th Field Artillery Regiment
Band of the Royal Military College of Canada
Musique du Collège militaire royal du Canada
Band of The Royal Regiment of Canada
Black Watch Pipes and Drums
Black Watch Royal Highland Regiment of Canada Pipes & Drums
British Columbia Regiment Association Band
Camp Gagetown Pipes and Drums
Ceremonial Guard – Ottawa Canada
J.P. Fell Pipe Band, Sixth Field Engineers Squadron
King’s Own Calgary Regimental Band
Land Force Atlantic Area Band
Lincoln and Welland Regiment Band
Loyal Edmonton Regiment Band
North Saskatchewan Regiment Pipes & Drums
Pipes & Drums 1st Battalion The Essex & Kent Scottish Regiment
Pipes & Drums of The Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary’s)
Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada, Regimental Band & Bugles
Queen’s York Rangers Band
Regimental Band of the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry
Regimental Band of the Royal Winnipeg Rifles
Regional Cadet Support Unit (Pacific) Sevice Band
Royal 22nd Regiment Band /
Musique du Royal 22e Régiment
Royal Canadian Artillery Band
Strathcona Pipes and Drums
The Windsor Military Band
Canadian Air Force bands
4 Wing Band
8 Wing Canadian Forces Base Trenton Pipe Band
22 Wing Band
84 Astra Air Cadets Squadron Band
306 “Maple Leaf” Wing Concert Band
400 Tactical Helicopter Squadron Pipes & Drums
402 “City of Winnipeg” Squadron P&D
570 Halifax Pipes & Drums
754 Phoenix Air Cadets Squadron Band
828 Hurricane Squadron Band
848 Royal Roads Air Cadets Squadron band
Air Command Band
Central Band of Canada’s Air Force
Musique centrale des Forces canadiennes
Musique de Escadron 830 Pierrefonds
Canadian Regimental Marches-Regimental & Branch Marches
For the purposes of this entry an authorized march a. is a musical composition or other arrangement in march form, that, for traditional or other reasons, has become associated with one particular unit, or other organization as approved by National Defense Headquarters of the Canadian Forces;
Note – Numbers in brackets in this annex identify the publisher, based on the following legend:
(1) Boosey & Hawkes
(2) Waterloo
(3) Paterson
(4) Norman Richardson
(5) Fischer
(6) McCulloughs
(7) Gordon V. Thompson
(8) Property of organization
ORGANIZATION “MARCH”
MILITARY COLLEGES
| Royal Military College of Canada | “Precision” (8). For pipe band:”Alexander MacKenzie” (8) |
| Royal Roads Military College | “Hatley Park” (8). Slow march “Going Home” (8). |
| College militaire royal de Saint-Jean | “La marche du Richelieu” (8). Slow march “La Gaillarde” (8). |
COMMANDS
| Maritime Command | “Heart of Oak” (8). |
| Land Forces Command | “Celer Paratus Callidus” |
| Air Command | “RCAF March Past” (1). For pipe bands: “RCAF March Past” (8). |
| Northern Region | “Canada North” (8). |
| Communications Command | “Communications” (8). |
FORMATIONS
| Naval formations | “Heart of Oak” (8). |
| 1 Canadian Brigade Group | “Sons of the Brave” (1). |
| 5 Canadian Brigade Group | “Allons-y” (8). |
| Special Service Force | “Cavalry of the Clouds” (1). For pipe bands: “The Muckin’ O’Geordie’s Brye” (3). |
| Air formations | “RCAF March Past” (8). |
| Canadian Forces Training System | “Century of Progress” (1). |
BRANCHES AND REGIMENTS WITHIN BRANCHES
Naval Operations
“Heart of Oak” (8).
| Royal Canadian Horse Artillery (RCHA) | - For dismounted parades: “British Grenadiers” (8). Slow march for concerts, mess dinners and parades: “Bonnie Dundee” (1). |
Armoured regiments
| Armoured Corps | “My Boy Willie” (1). |
| The Royal Canadian Dragoons | For concerts, mess dinners and mounted parades: “Monsieur Beaucaire” (1). For dismounted parades: “Light of Foot”. |
| Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians) | “Soldiers of the Queen“(1). |
| 12e Regiment blinde du Canada | “Marianne’s s’en va-t-au moulin (8). Slow march: “Quand vous mourrez de nos amours” (8). |
| The Governor General’s Horse Guard | “Men of Harlech” (1). |
| 8th Canadian Hussars(Princes Louise’s) | “The Galloping 8th Hussars” (8). Slow march “The 8th Hussars” (tune “Road to the Isles”) (1). |
| The Elgin Regiment | “I’m Ninety-Five” (1). For trumpet band: “Waltzing Matilda” (8). |
| The Ontario Regiment | “John Peel” (1). |
| The Queen’s York Rangers (1st American Regiment) | “Braganza” (1). |
| Sherbrooke Hussars | “Regimental March of the Sherbrooke Hussars” (8). |
| 1st Hussars | “Bonnie Dundee” (1). |
| The Prince Edward Island Regiment | “Old Solomon Levi” (8). |
| The Royal Canadian Hussars (Montreal) | (1) and “St. Patrick’s Day” (1). |
| The British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught’s Own) | “I’m Ninety-Five” (1). |
| South Alberta Light Horse | “A Southerly Wind and a Cloudy Sky”(1). |
| The Saskatchewan Dragoons | “Punjaub” (1). |
| The King’s Own Calgary Regiment | “Colonel Bogey” (1). |
| The British Columbia Dragoons(5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards) | “Fare Ye Well Inniskilling” (1). For pipe bands: “Scotland the Brave” (3). |
| The Fort Garry Horse | “El Abanico” (1) and “St. Patrick’s Day” (1). Slow march: “Red River Valley” (8). |
| Le Regiment de Hull | “La marche de la victoire” (8). |
| The Windsor Regiment | “My Boy Willie” (1). |
Military Engineering(1).
“Wings“
Communications and Electronics
“The Mercury March” (8).
| 1st Canadian Division Headquarters and Signals Regiment | “Corps March of the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals” (Begone Dull Care) (8). |
Infantry Corps “The Canadian Infantryman”(2).
Infantry regiments
Branches
| Air operations | “RCAF March Past” (1). |
| Logistics | “March of the Logistics Branch” (8). |
| Medical | “The Farmer’s Boy” (8). |
| Dental | “March of the Royal Canadian Dental Corps” (2). Slow march: “Greensleeves” (8). |
| Electrical and Mechanical Engineering | “REME Corps March Past” (Both “Lillibulero” and “Aupres de ma blonde” should be played) (1). Slow march: “The Craftsman” (8). |
| Chaplain | was “Onward Christian Soldiers“; has been changed to Ode to Joy” (8). |
| Security | “Thunderbird” (8). |
| Legal | “When I, Good Friends, Was Call’d to the Bar” (8). |
| Administration | “Old Comrades” (1). |
| Band: | No march authorized. |
| Personal Selection | “Semper Intellegere” (Rondo Sentimentale). |
| Training Development | “Salut” (8). |
| Physical Education and Recreation | “Allsports March” (8). |
| Public Affairs: | No march was authorized, now “Liberty Bell“ |
| Intelligence | “E Tenebris Lux” (8). |
| Postal | “First Post” (8). |
MISCELLANEOUS
NOT IN ORDER OF PRECEDENCE
| Academic Staff of Canadian Military Colleges | “March of the Peers from Iolanthe” (8) |
| Combat service support units | “Duty Above All” (8). |
| Canadian Forces Leadership and Language Academy | “Our Challenge” (8). |
| Canadian Forces Officer Candidate School | “Ut Duces Sint” (8). |
| Canadian Forces Base Gagetown Technical Services | “With Equal Pace” (8). |
| Canadian Forces Base Montreal | “Servir” (8). |
| Canadian Forces Base Ottawa | “My Canada” (8). |
| Aerospace Maintenance Development Unit | “For pipe band: “Salute to Excellence” (8). |
| Canadian Forces Publication Depot | “The Great Little Army” (1). |
| 25 Canadian Forces Supply Depot | “March 25 CFSD” (8). |
| Canadian Forces Parachute Maintenance Depot | “There’s Something About a Soldier” (8). |
| Canadian Forces Recruit School | “Apprendre a servir” (8). |
| Cadet Instructor Cadre Officers | “La feuille d’erable” (8) |
| Royal Canadian Army Cadets | “Cadet” (8). |
| > | |
| Royal Canadian Air Cadets | “RCAF March Past” (1). |
Composers Original works for Band
Prominent composers for concert band
Early/Middle twentieth century
Some of the most important names in establishing literature written specifically for concert band in the early and middle 20th century were:
|
Late twentieth century through the present
Over the last forty years, many composers have written major new works for wind ensemble. Some of these composers have risen to the forefront as being particularly important in the concert band’s development. Among these:
James Swearingen may also be considered as an important contributor to modern concert
Corps of Army Music
The Corps of Army Music is a corps of the British Army. It was formed in 1994 as an umbrella organisation to oversee the 29 new permanent army bands formed following Options for Change. In 2006, the regular army bands were re-organised again, with a reduction in total numbers:
- The four bands of the Royal Armoured Corps amalgamated into two.
- The Band of the Royal Irish Regiment disbanded from regular service.
- The Band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland formed by amalgamation of the Highland Band and Lowland Band.
- The new Minden Band of the Queen’s Division formed by amalgamation of the Minden Band and the Normandy Band.
- The new Band of the King’s Division formed by amalgamation of the Waterloo Band and the Normandy Band.
- The new Band of the Prince of Wales’ Division formed by amalgamation of the Clive Band and the Lucknow Band.
It employs 1,100 musicians. The minimum term of service is four years, and the corps promotes itself to potential employees as a good opportunity to obtain a salaried post as a musician, something which is generally hard to find, possibly before embarking on a civilian career in music. A wide range of music is performed, not just marching band music.
Regular Army bands
| Cavalry | Infantry | Support Arms | Services |
| Band of the Life Guards | Band of the Grenadier Guards | Royal Artillery Band | Band of the Royal Logistic Corps |
| Band of the Blues and Royals | Band of the Coldstream Guards | Band of the Corps of Royal Engineers | Band of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers |
| Heavy Cavalry and Cambrai Band | Band of the Scots Guards | Band of the Royal Corps of Signals | Band of the Adjutant General’s Corps |
| Light Cavalry Band | Band of the Irish Guards | Band of the Army Air Corps | |
| Band of the Welsh Guards | |||
| Band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland | |||
| Minden Band of the Queen’s Division | |||
| Band of the King’s Division | |||
| Band of the Prince of Wales’ Division | |||
| Band and Bugles of The Rifles | |||
| Band of the Parachute Regiment | |||
| Gurkha Band | |||
Corps of Drums/Pipes and Drums(2)
In addition to the regular bands, most infantry battalions maintain their own musicians, either in the form of the Corps of Drums (for English and Welsh regiments) or the Pipes and Drums (for Scottish, Irish and Gurkha regiments). The Corps of Drums of an infantry battalion will usually feature drummers, buglers and flautists, while the Pipes and Drums will be formed of bagpipers and drummers. These bands are descended from the drummers and pipers who led infantry regiments in columns, and who used their drums or bugles to sound orders on the battlefield. Unlike the regular bands, these are first and foremost fully trained fighting soldiers who form one of the battalion’s specialist units, such as the mortar, anti-tank or machine-gun platoon.
Territorial Army Bands(3)
Prior to Options for Change and the formation of the Corps of Army Music, most regiments, especially infantry regiments, maintained their own bands. This tradition has since passed to the Territorial Army, who maintain and operate regimental bands in the names of infantry regiments:
- Lowland Band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland
- Band of the Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment (Queen’s and Royal Hampshires)
- Band of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers
- Band of the Royal Anglian Regiment
- Band of the Royal Gibraltar Regiment
- Band of the The Royal Irish Regiment (27th (Inniskilling) 83rd and 87th and Ulster Defence Regiment)
- Band of the Royal Welsh – the only all-brass band remaining within the British military
- Band of the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment (King’s Lancashire and Border)
- Band of the Yorkshire Regiment (14th/15th, 19th & 33rd/76th Foot)
- Band of 51st (Scottish) Brigade
- The Staffords Band
- The Salamanca Band of The Rifles
- The Waterloo Band of The Rifles
- Band of the Honourable Artillery Company
- 150 (Northumbrian) Transport Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps Band
- Regimental Band (Inns of Court and City Yeomanry) of the Royal Yeomanry
- Lancashire Artillery Volunteers Band
- Territorial Band of the Royal Engineers
At the time of writing, April 2007, the TA Bands have retained their independence from the Corps of Army Music. There are also several TA Bands that are privately sponsored within the army.
No Comments »The US Bicentennial Band- Sound of the Nation
THE US BICENTENNIAL BAND-
SOUND OF THE NATION
Background
As the 200th anniversary of the United States of America grew nearer each day, so did the list of Bicentennial organizations in American communities from coast to coast continue to grow. One of the editions of “the American Revolution Bicentennial Administration’s” (ARBA) official Register of Bicentennial Activities, listed thousands of recognized groups who had pledged to do their part in the two year long celebration commemorating the American Revolution. Among the most interesting groups listed in the ARBA Register was the Department of Defense military musical organization known as The United States Armed Forces Bicentennial Band. A prestigious gathering of military music men and women, this unique band brought together for the first time, the finest musicians of each of the US. Armed Forces.
No Comments »


was best known as chief musical arranger for