Ceremonial Music (2 Disc Collection)       The USAF Heritage of America Band     Reg. $19.98 – NOW $15.98 This edition of Ceremonial Music is a compilation of many  different types of music used for ceremonies. This fantastic two-disc  set contains many classic patriotic songs like our National Anthem and  the national march, as well as bugle calls, honors, marches, fanfares,  memorial hymns, music of America’s military, and other useful and  functional musical selections.
	A Musical Memorial for America’s Veterans       Various U.S. Military Bands Reg. $16.98 – NOW $13.58 We are proud to honor all veterans with this special digital  compilation performed by the U.S. military bands and ensembles.       The album features beautiful, symphonic band pieces selected for the message behind the music.
	Gardens of Stone       The United States Coast Guard Band Reg. $16.98 – NOW $13.58 The musical selections on Gardens of Stone were chosen for the  way their spirit mirrors that of the American people, be it patriotism,  courage, or an unabashed optimism. The sound is spirited and patriotic,  telling the unique story of a nation and dedicated to “our fellow  Americans, in honor of their strength of character and purpose.”
	A Memorial Day Tribute (Available for Digital Download Only!)       Various U.S. Military Bands $9.99 on iTunes $8.99 on Amazon.com MP3 Need music quickly? – Check out our special digital compilation A Memorial Day Tribute. *Not available at www.militarymusic.com

ALTISSIMO

* Sale prices and coupon code valid May 22 through May 28.   To order visit www.militarymusic.com or call 1-800-365-7718 to have your order placed & shipped today!

Have a Wonderful Day,

From Musings by Jack Kopstein

The lives of soldiers in the armies of the world have often been expressed in song. Cavalry troops often sang on the march. ‘Singers to the Front” would be the shout and the men would form up in three lines while rare songs of every description were heroically voiced. Troopships, particularly of the British Navy were a hotbed of sing-songs with sailors and soldiers joining in and provided instrumental backgrounds with fiddles and concertinas.

 The repertoire of the soldiers would consist of songs which they had learned at home; folk melodies, street ballads, sentimental ballads. Many of the songs had a military reference but much of the folksy material was of the common culture.

 The songs were frequently written down by officers and bandmasters. One such song is the Speech of Sgt Smith, a Song of the Royal Engineers was written down by a Captain Ward to the tune of Chesapeake and Shannon.

 Some regiments encouraged the singing of traditional songs as evidenced by the Somerset Light Infantry with a song called High Germany. In Britain the wealth of folk music spawned the entrance of the Regimental march into the legend of the units which fought in various campaigns., the most famous being the Welch tune Men of Harlech which celebrates the stand by the defenders of Rorke’s drift January 22nd 1879.

 Much of the early improvised material gained wide usage. The Battle of Waterloo is one of the oldest songs which trace its ancestry back to men whom actually fought at Waterloo. Many of the authors of the songs cannot be traced but since the songs travelled usually from mouth to mouth, the words were often altered to fit the conditions of service. The American civil war tunes became the battle cry for many troops, on both sides of the war. Men marched into battle, with voices raised singing the songs of war such as Battle Hymn of the Republic and When Johnny Comes Marching Home, or the Confederate song O’ I’m a Good Old Rebel.

 In Britain an officer of the Rifle Brigade wrote in 1809 wrote:

 “Our men are in very high spirits, and we have a most excellent band of music and thirty bugle-horns, through every country village strikes up the old tune Over the Hills and Far Away.

 The songs and marches of the British Army inspired a writer to pen a book called The Romance of the Regimental March and which included a background to several of the marches which had become the official march of British military units.

 Very clearly many marches were derived from the music of well-known classical composers, but others were the very simple tunes which gave meaning to the every  day life of the soldiers. The Royal family succeeded in contributing marches, the most well  known being the Royal Artillery Slow March written by the Duchess of Kent in 1836.

Very often music was written or sung to celebrate battles and wars. In the US the Battle of Trenton was remembered with a tune by the same name in 1792 by a composer named James Hewitt. The official marches of American fighting units became standard fare for early military bands such as March of the First Alabama Volunteer Regiment by John Holloway 1837. Later composers would express themselves with music which fêted US Presidents. Andrew Reinagle an early American composer wrote Jefferson’s March in 1804. Later funeral music for a president became common as evidenced by The President Harrison Funeral march of 1841.

The songs which commemorate both wars and popular figures seem to have been the driving force behind the phenomenon of the rambling soldiers. The Death of General Wolfe at The Heights of Abraham in Quebec 1759 is an example of the longevity of battle songs.

 The song Cheer, Boys, Cheer made its appearance around 1854 and contained a phrase which was the proverbial complaint in the British Army in the nineteenth century:

 Here come General Howl and Scoff

 The head of the hungry army

 No soldier song better defines this decade than the hymn Amazing Grace. Every Canadian service person killed in action in Afghanistan has been honored with the bagpipe rendition of the song. It was played over and over to commemorate and remember those killed in New York during 9/11 attack. It has become thematic of police officers killed in the line of duty and Firemen whom have given their lives to save others. The lyrics begin “Amazing Grace, how sweet it is” refer to the reclamation of the soul; it is played more often today to recognize those that served and whom have given their lives to save others or in remembrance.

The narratives, songs and ballads have combined over the centuries to present a view of service life through the eyes of its rank and file. It is through this historical contribution that we both understand and praise the sacrifice for those who take up the call of arms.

Military bands on the Web

April 2013

Bandmaster James King will be added to our list of Influential military band musicians-We are grateful to Mr. B Wilton-King the Great –Great- Great Grandson of bandmaster King for providing the information.

JAMES KING: Born Dublin: 1809  Father William King TRUMPET-MAJOR 23rd Light Dragoons

Enlisted with the ROYAL STAFF CORPS aged 13 1822 in HYTHE Kent as a Bugler

Joined the 5th Dragoon Guards 1829 became the BANDMASTER Discharged 1850 in LONGFORD Ireland

With a very good conduct record having served 29 years in total for the Army, Became Bandmaster to the BURTON RIFLES 1859-1863

Bandmaster to the DERBYSHIRE YEOMANRY 1863-1870

Died aged 79 in DERBY 1888

From 1846 to 1870 Composed well over 40 score of Music from Military Marches Ballads Polkas.

Example of Military Music:-

The 5th Dragoon Guards Parade Gallop March (1850)

The Brigade Gallop (1849)

The British Army Polka (1849)

The Burton Rifle Corps Polka (1860)

The Cavalry Polka (1847)

The Military Polka (1850)

The Own Queens Royal Staffordshire Yeomanry Gallop (1861)

The Royal Court Slow March (1850)

The Curraghmore March (1854)

The Himalaya Quick March (1854)

Other Music material relates to Polkas Waltzes Ballads, all James Kings music can be verified by the British Library who is custodians of his compositions.

I discovered one of his ballads “Tho Absent thee I Love” was sung by the then famous opera singer JETTY TREFFZ who was the wife of J.Strauss the younger.

Another interesting score is titled “The Balmoral Polka” dedicated to the the Royal Family, We are researching as to the possibility Queen Victoria commissioned this Music

A summary of his life indicates he was a gifted musician, as to become a BRITISH BANDMASTER in the time he served in the British Army, was almost unknown, as Regiments in those time preferred German or Austrian Bandmasters as a status symbol, this was well before the introduction of KNELLER HALL as the watershed for the advanced training of British Bandmasters, Bandsmen, & Military Musicians

In many respects it would appear that JAMES KING was a self- taught Musician.

In my research it found many interesting antidotes referring to JAMES, it would appear that at the age of 6 he witnessed the Battle of Waterloo, as it understand in those days Families would accompany the Fighting men of the British Army.

During his days in DERBY he was a well-known personality, attending all matter of functions His 5 sons were all very accomplished musicians in their own right, his son JAMES CHALES KING also became a BANDMASTER to the 8th Kings Royal Irish Hussars 1883-1888 having served in INDIA.

Many thanks to ROGER KENNEDY for this Excellent Photograph taken on January 12th in Greenvale New York

The Schedule for this tour is located here