Influential Military Musicians A-Z
A. Adkins,Hector Ernest b 1885 d 1962. English Military Musician. Held the position of Director of music at Kneller Hall. Was commissioned Lt Colonel His Treatise on Military bands was the foremost publication on military band arranging.
Albert Franz Eduard b 1879 d ? He was born in Kremsier Moravia . He became a bandmaster in Austria and led the Honved Regiment band from 1900 to 1910. In 1910 he was appointed leader of the Infantry Regiment band no 78a post he held until the end of the first World war. His best know work is the Plivelic March
Albrecht Pol b 1874 d 1975 Luxembourg military band musician. Conducted numerous bands during his 50 year career. In 1927 became the conductor of the Garde Grand-Ducale. Retired in 1939 after 50 years as military musician. He composed a large amount of music and wrote over 50 worked for the theater. His march compositions includes the march Patriae Fidelis - Faithful to Country
Alford Kenneth J b 1881 d 1945 (pseudonym for Frederick Joseph Ricketts) He was the march king of the United Kingdom and served the British military forces for 40 years from 1904 to his retirement in 1944. He was commissioned in the Royal Marines and wrote many of his fine marches while serving in the Marines. His march Colonel Bogey remains an icon in the world of band music
Allen Eugene Womack b 1927 After a long service to US military Army bands he became the director of the United States Army Band (Pershing’s Own) in 1976. He has written numerous fanfares and marches for special occasions. His best known march is All the Way for the 509th Airborne Infantry.
Allier Gabriel b 1863 d 1924 French composer and bandmaster of international fame. Became bandmaster of the 37th Regiment band at Nancy in 1887 . He conducted various other military bands until his retirement. He composed polkas, waltzes and several marches for military band including the most well known French march Le Chant du Depart-The Song of Farewell.
Ambrosch Anton b 1839 d 1886 He was distinguished Austrian bandmaster who led several military bands including the 29th Feldjager-Battalion band from 1859 to 1866. He wrote several marches that very strong parade marches including three Parade marches listed as a,b and c.
Ancliffe Charles b 1880 d 1952 He was Irish born and served in the 2nd Somerset Infantry band and later was admitted to Kneller Hall winning the gold baton award and graduating in 1900. He was appointed bandmaster at age 20 to the 1st Battalion South Wales Borderers. He became quite well known for his Edwardian style ballroom waltzes. His waltz Nights of Gladness was published in 1912. His best known marches include The Liberators,and Castles of Spain
Altenburg,Johann Casper b ? 1688 d 1761 German trumpeter. He was in action at Malplaquet and remained in the army as trumpeter for 30 years.
Altenburg,Johann Ernst German trumpeter and Organist b 15 June 1734 d. 14 May 1801 He had a long distinguished career in the Army and was a field trumpeter during the seven years war and became more celebrated than his father He wrote a book on the art of military trumpeting Versuch einer Anteitung zur heroisch-musikalischen Trompeter-und Pauker-Kunst.
Angelini Angelo b1885 d 1973. He began the study of the Eb clarinet at age 10 and soon played in the twon band in Fasano Italy. At age 20 he enlisted in the Infantry Regiment band atationed at Bari. He transferred later to the 87th Infantry band at Siena and later in Pisa. He also began studies in Bassoon and cello along with other band instruments. He began to compose music for band and wrote over one hundred titles and later conducted several municipal bands. His most well know march is a symphonic march entitled Da Guardavalle a Rocella Jonica.
Azzolina Mark b 1925 He was the founder and conductor of the NORAD band in the USA. His background included a stint as music director for the Armed Forces Radio-TV service and he founded the North Atlantic Defense Command band in 1959. The band was the only international multi service band in existence containing musicians from Canada and the USA. The band performed for thousands of Canadian and American audiences throughout it’s 20 year colorful existence.
B. Bach Johann Jakob b 1682 d 1722 He was the brother of Johann Sebastian Bach and entered the military service Sweden in 1704 as an oboist. He was present at the battle of Poltava 1709 and later became a court musician at Stockholm. He is said to have written two military marches.
Baker John b 1910 d ?. Born in Hampshire England. He was trained as a flautist at the Royal Military School of Music. In 1926 he joined the Royal East Kent regimental band.. He returned to Kneller Hall for the bandmasters course in 1947 he was appointed Director of Music of the Black Watch band in 1951. He held this post for nine years. He was well known for his adaptations of music for bag pipes and military band. Other works include the Thistle Green Selection and two troops for military band.
Barreca Dominico b1852 d 1922. He was born in Sicily and began the study of brass instruments with the bandmaster of the local band. In 1872 he joined the Italian Army and served as a soldier, leaving two years later. In 1874 he was enlisted in the army as a musician and played Eb cornet in a infantry band .He began writing music for military band and in 1881 was selected as bandmaster of the 21st Regiment band. He wrote several known works most of which were unpublished with the exception of the march Il campo di Loreto and a few others that were published by Ricordi.
Barsotti Roger (dob not known) He began his career as a flautist and appeared with the Hastings Municipal orchestra. He joined the “Buffs” regiment as a band-boy in 1916 and was soon promoted to band Sgt. He attended the Royal Military School of Music and was appointed bandmaster of the Queen’s Royal Regiment in 1930,a position he held for fifteen years. He retired from the British army in 1946 after 30 years service to take over the Metropolitan Police band of London. He wrote several works for military band including two concert marches, State Pageantry and King’s Colours.
Bashford Rodney b 1917 d 1997 One of most colorful military musicians ever produced in the UK. He joined the Band of the King’s Royal Rifle Corps (60th Rifles) in 1932 at the age of 15 and retired after 51 years of service as a Lt Colonel in 1983. He had many honors bestowed upon him including the Order of the British Empire. He was the director of music of The Grenadier Guards band from 1970-1980 and served as Senior Director of Music of the British Army from 1970 to 1974. His arrangements and compositions number in the hundreds.
Benter Charles b 1887 d 1964 He was the founder of The United Sates navy band and the organizer of the US Navy School of Music and the first naval musician to attain officer rank. He joined the navy in 1905 as an apprentice musician and served until his retirement in 1942 at numerous postings both at sea and on land. He was a charter member of the American bandmasters association and wrote several compositions for band including Our Navy. He also wrote and edited the book of National Airs of America
Berg Per b 1897 d 1957 He was a native of Sweden and studied clarinet at an early age entering Swedish military service with the Royal Göta Life Guards band in Stockholm in 1917. He received his first appointment in 1930 as band director of the 20th Infantry band. later he led a tank Corps band . He remained in the Swedish military service until 1953. In addition to several band arrangements he wrote numerous marches including the very popular Army and Marine march.
Berger Henry b 1844 d1929 He was born in Potsdam Prussia and entered the the Prussian Army as a musician . He played both Tuba and Double bass. Later he joined the orchestra of Johann Strauss JR and in 1871 he became the bandmaster of the elite Prussian 2nd Life Guards Regimental band. His fame however was quite unique because he is considered the father of Hawaiian Music. He was selected by King Kamehamha on the advice of the German Colony in Honolulu as the bandmaster of the Royal Hawaiian band . He began his work with the band in 1872 and it was the beginning of a highly successful career as conductor of the court band which was known as the RHB. Later when Hawaii became annexed to the USA he continued to have an enormous impact on music in the islands writing several songs and playing hundreds of concerts each year. His birthday of August 4th is observed each year and in 1944 the annual Berger concerts were begun and continue to this day.
Bimboni Giovacchino b 1810 d 1895. He was born in Firenze Italy and began the study of flute with his father. Later joined a theatre orchestra in Perogla. In 1827 Bimboni joined the band of the 2nd Tuscan Regiment. In 1854 he entered service with the grand Duke of Tuscany. In 1846 he performed with Johann Strauss in Vienna. From 1840 to 1866 he was the leader of the National Guard band (1859). He wrote numerous pieces for band including the Concerto Brilliante for Trombone on the Carnival of Venice.
Borg Oscar b 1851 d 1930 He has been referred to as the March King of Norway. His musical education was financed by King Oscar II at the Stockholm Music Conservatory. On his return to Norway in 1872 he was appointed director of the Army band which is known today as the Eastern Region Band. His contract called for him to serve for five years but he remained in service for 50 years retiring as a Lieutenant in 1918. His compositions include the well known Scandinavian march Crown Prince Olaf’s Honor March.
Bowles Richard W b 1918 He served in the United States Army during the Second World War and directed the 715th US Army band until 1946. His adaptation of the the Old New Orleans favorite When The Saints go Marching In is his most well known contribution to the military band repertoire.
Bourgeois John R b 1934. Born in Louisiana, he attended Loyola University and studied the French-horn, later taking private tuition with several teachers. He joined the US Marine corps in 1956 as a musician and was selected for the US marine band in Washington in 1958. In 1979 he was appointed assistant leader of the Marine band and in 1979 he was made leader of the band. He retired in 1982. He was the recipient of several awards for his contribution to military and civilian band music in the USA. In 1964 he was awarded the prestigious John Philip Sousa American Bandmasters award for excellence which he received at a gala concert in Quebec City, Canada.
Boyer Thornton Barnes b 1858 d 1936 He was born in of Phoenixville Pennsylvania. He studied music at a military Academy and later moved to Keokuk Iowa where he became a member of the National Guard. He served as the conductor of the 6th Illinois Regiment band and the 50th Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment. His most well known compositions include Joyce’s 71st NY Regiment and Sousa’s Triumphal a dedication march in honor of John Philip Sousa.
Branson Taylor b 1880 d 1969. A native of Washington DC began the study of the violin with Marine Corps band member William Santelmann. He enlisted in the US marines at the age of seventeen and soon became concertmaster of the Marine Orchestra. He was appointed Leader of the US Marine band in 1927 and retired from the service in 1940 with the rank of Captain. He was a pioneer in instrumental music broadcasting . Most of his marches and music were dedicated to the US Marine corps and included the General Lejune March.
Brendler Charles b 1898 d 1965. He began performing on clarinet at a very early age. At age 15 he joined the navy; he continued his studies on clarinet. In 1917 he was posted to the Washington Navy Yard band where he became the solo clarinet. He made a steady climb through the ranks of the navy. As soloist with the newly formed Navy band he won acclaim throughout the USA. In 1938 he was appointed to the position of assistant leader of the US Navy band with the rank of Lieutenant. He retired with forty-nine years service in 1962 with the rank of Commander. He could never erase from his memory the loss of nineteen of his musicians who were lost in a mid air collision over Brazil in 1960.
Briegel George F b 1890 d 1968. Born in Scranton Pennsylvania he began early studies of the violin. While still in his teens he joined the US Military Academy band at West Point. He became director of the New York Regiment band from 1914to 1917 and resumed the post from 1920 to 1940. He published many of his own compositions for band including Men O’ the Navy March
Brokenshire James Opie b1865 d 1938 He was born in Cornwall England and moved with his family to Plymouth Pennsylvania. He began his musical education on the organ eventually learning every instrument available. At age 19 he joined the band of the 7th Cavalry at Fort Riley Kansas. Soon after he became the regiment’s bandmaster. He retired form active service in1915 but was recalled to become inspector of music and musical instruments for the US Army. His military career took him to China, Cuba the Philippines Hawaii, England and France. He retired in 1936. His contribution to the military band march repertoire includes The Cavalry Soldier and The Glory of Trumpets
Buckley Lewis J b1947 studied at the Eastman School of Music before entering the United Sates Coast band in 1969. He became trumpet soloist with band and he organized and began conducting Coast Guard band ensembles and was commissioned in 1975 and appointed director of the band. He developed the band into one of the finest military bands in the USA. He made several recordings and he has written and arranged numerous concert pieces for military band.
Buglione Annibale b 1848 d 1933 Born in Italy he studied violin and cornet eventually emigrating to the US in 1881. He joined the US Army and served in several postings over a thirty year period. He became a bandmaster later in his career of the 4th Coast Artillery band in Fort Monroe Virginia. He retired in 1911. His wrote several marches most of them dedicated to his life in the US military including the marches Legion of Honor and The Fighting Army.
Buglione Godfrey b 1879 d 1934. He began early studies with his father Annibale on Violin and Cornet and followed in his father’s footsteps in military music. He qualified as a bandmaster in 1917 and later was commissioned during World War 1. He took command of the 15th Infantry band in France and served with distinction. Following the war he retired and became the bandmaster of the 159th Regiment National Guard in Oakland California.
Leonard Camplin. Conductor, violinist, oboist, b London 16 Aug 1928; FTCL. He studied at the GSM and the Essen School of Music, Germany, and received private tuition in London and Berlin. After graduating from the RMSM (Kneller Hall) in 1955 he became the British Army’s youngest bandmaster. Camplin arrived in Canada in 1959 as music supervisor in the Sturgis School Unit, Saskatchewan. In 1960 he was successful in gaining a full music credit for music students towards graduation in Saskatchewan schools. He was principal oboe 1959-61 in the Regina Symphony Orchestra. Camplin joined the Canadian Army in 1961 as music director of the Royal Canadian Engineers Band, Regular Force, and subsequently commanded the Canadian Forces Naden and Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry Bands. He was appointed music director of the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra in 1964 and continued in this position in 1991; under his leadership the orchestra evolved from amateur to professional status. Camplin has conducted in Europe, Asia, South Africa, Australia, and North America. In 1975, he was appointed music director of the City of Calgary’s centennial celebrations (Century Calgary) and formed and conducted the Century Calgary Symphony Orchestra. Camplin founded and formed the Burnaby Symphony in 1999.He is also the founder and music director of the professional Kelowna Philharmonic Society. Camplin holds the Canadian Forces Decoration and Clasp.
Cappa Carlo Alberto b 1843 d 1893. Born in Alessandria on the island of Sardinia studied at the Royal Conservatory of Music at Asti and on completion of his studies he joined the band of the 6th Lancers on 1st Trombone. Following a performance of a trombone solo for the crew of the US Navy Frigate The Constitution he was invited to join the ship’s band. On completion of a two year enlistment he joined the famous Boston Brass band in February 1858. Later he joined the 7th Regiment band under Claudio Grafulla and was with the band throughout the US Civil war. In 1881 he became the director of the 7th Regiment band and under his direction to fame of the band grew far and wide. He pioneered the establishment of low pitch for military bands in the USA. His band appeared at numerous fairs and exhibitions throughout both the US and Canada. He was knighted by the Italian government in 1891.His most well know works include The American Navy March and the Pro Patria Gloria March.
Cardon Roland b 1929 B in Ronse Belgium he began clarinet studies and eventually was selected for the Royal Conservatory at Ghent. He began his military career as solo flutist with the 12th Brigade band at Arlon in 1954. In 1957 he was selected to be assistant bandmaster of the 4th division band at Liege and later in 1963 he was appointed to Director of Music of the Belgium Home Military Forces band. In 1972 he began an important series series of band concerts on Belgium National Radio. He became a fixture at the Mons International Music Festival conducting massed bands and writing special music for the occasion. His march Time is Over is the theme of the festival.
Carion Mario b 1927. He was born in Belgium and studied clarinet as well as harmony and history at the Royal Conservatories of Liege and Mons winning numerous awards. He joined the Belgian military as a musician and eventually became bandmaster of several military bands in Aachen, Cologne and Soest Germany. From 1973 to 1979 he was the director of the Belgian Interior Defense Forces Band at Arlon. He composed several numbers for military band including Le Bon Vingt and Fanfare and Allegro for band
Carl Karl b 1830 d 1898 Born in Forsheim Germany he began to study instrumental music and eventually joined the 1st Artillery Regiment band in Augsburg. In 1851 he was appointed leader of the trumpet corps of the Augsburg Regiment. He was considered one of the most popular bandmasters in the Bavarian Army. Some of his works include the Hochlander march and Mussinan march
Chernetsky Semyon b 1881 d 1950 (also Sergei and Simeon) He was a gifted young musician who was schooled in the Russian tradition of military music. He joined the army and his musicianship permitted him to become a bandmaster early in his career. He furthered his studies by entering the Petrograd Music Conservatory (known as Leningrad and St Petersburg) in in 1917. He later became the command inspector for musicians in the Petrograd military district and in 1924 taught conducting to military bandmasters. In 1932 he became the senior director of the newly formed Soviet Army Band. This band which numbered 200 at times remained stationed in Moscow during the war and played numerous concerts at hospitals and military bases. He won several awards for his work with the band. His band gained international prominence through this highly gifted musician. He wrote several marches and special pieces for military band including several patriotic marches such as Salute to Moscow
Chomel Leonce b 1881 d 1935 was a native of Saint Remy France and his talent was recognized very early in his life and he studied music with various musicians. He entered military service with the 2nd Engineers Regiment in Montpellier with hopes of qualifying as a bandmaster. He eventually was selected as the assistant bandmaster for various bands and finally achieving the position of the 47th Regiment band at St Malo. In 1898 he was assigned his goal of the position of Director of the 31st Regiment in Paris. During World War 1 he was cited three times for his inspiring band work in won the coveted Croix de Guerre. He was well known for his band transcriptions which were excellent and are still available from major music publishers in France.
Cirenei Luigi b 1881 d 1947. He established his prominence as a musician in early life and studied with composer Pietro Mascagni and received diplomas in advanced composition and in band. In 1911 he won a competition for appointment as a military bandmaster and joined the 89th Infantry band in Genoa. In 1921 he was transferred to Rome and after stringent examinations became the second director of the famous CARABINIERI BAND of Rome. One of the Europe’s most prestigious bands he appeared in concert in cities world wide. For his work as second leader he was nominated Cavaliere Ufficile of the Italian Crown in 1919. His most well known composition is Marcia d’Ordinanza del Carabinieri
Clappé Arthur A b 1850 d 1920 He studied at Trinity College and at Kneller hall later becoming a bandmaster of the 60th Rifles. He emigrated to Canada in 1877 and lead the Governor General’s Foot Guards band in Ottawa for seven years. In 1884 he moved to the USA and became bandmaster of the US Military Academy band at West Point. in 1888. In 1911 he helped to establish the US Army School of Music. His march output was extensive and includes the Dominion Grand March and the parade march Esprit des Corps.
Clarke, Herbert L b 1867 d 1945 He was cornet soloist and assistant conductor for the Sousa band from 1893 until 1917. In addition to his position with the Sousa band, Clarke was also employed during his lengthy musical career as solo cornetist with the professional bands of Victor Herbert, Patrick Gilmore, Frederick Innes and Ernest Neyer. In addition to his notable career as a cornet soloist, Clarke served as conductor of the Reeves American Band (Providence, Rhode Island) the Huntsville (Ontario) Anglo-Canadian Leather Company Band and the Long Beach (California) Municipal Band, a post he held from 1923-1943.
Claus Joseph B b 1833 d 1905 Born in Germany he began to study flute and piano as a child and at age 13 joined his father in England who was bandmaster of the 10th Royal Hussars (Prince of Wales Regiment). He also learned to play clarinet and cornet under his father’s tutelage. At age 19 he received his first appointment as a bandmaster and later was with the 6th Regiment band. He left the British Army in 1871 and emigrated to the USA where he became a respected teacher and orchestra director and bandmaster at the New England Conservatory of Music. He wrote several outstanding marches a turn of the century piece called the Monte Carlo March.
Collins William George b 1815 d 1886 He was born into the Royal Artillery regiment and served the regiment as a musician for fifty years. He began as a boy and eventually enlisted into the Royal Artillery band as a drummer. He studied violin and clarinet. He was a naturally gifted musician and in 1845 he was appointed to the position of bandmaster. He went on to organize and conduct numerous concerts beginning in 1846 at the Theatre Royal in Woolwich and in London and Brighton. Collins was the first bandmaster in Britain to introduce the saxophone to the military band.
Influential Musicians IJKLM
D. Darcy Thomas F JR b195 d 1968. He was the son of a military bandmaster and enlisted as a private in the US Army in 1912.He eventually rising to the position of assistant bandmaster of the 18th Infantry in 1917. He became the assistant director and solo cornet of the US Army band in Washington from 1924 to 1935 and was appointed the director in 1935. He retired in 1945. He wrote several notable marches including Flashing Sabres and Vanguard of Victory.
De Arriba, Manuel Gomez b 1904 d 1974. He studied music at an early age with his father who was the respected leader of the Banda Municipal de Madrid. At age 21 he received his first appointment as a bandmaster. In 1939 he was selected as the leader of a Spanish Airforce band. He rose to the rank of Commander in 1950 and was selected as the leader of the renown Spanish Air Force band of Madrid. His career with this band was illustrious as he played concerts world wide and made numerous recordings. His transcriptions of orchestral worked are of the highest quality.His marches Paso Doble Flores de Mayo and Marcha de Los Granaderos are classic Spanish marches.
Deisenroth Friederich b 1903. Born in Philippstel, Hesse Germany, he studied organ and theory and was nominated for the Prussian Academy of Music in Berlin for which attendance was mandatory for bandmaster candidates. After graduation in 1936 he was posted to the 57th Regiment in Siegan which became one of the finest in the Germany army. Following the war when the Bundeswehr of the Federal Republic of Germany was established he was one of the first bandmasters to enlist.He became the bandmaster of the Artillery School in Idar-Oberstein. In 1961 he was transferred to the post of deputy Inspector of the Ministry defense music corps. He retired in 1965 after 41 years of service. He has written several military band titles much of which has been captured in recordings.
Dohlin Åke b1921 He was accepted in the Navy band in Stockholm Sweden when he was fourteen and later studied at the Royal College of Music from which he graduated in 1948. He was appointed as a conductor in the Swedish military Forces in 1952 first with the Coast Artillery band and later with the Army band at Visby.He was a navy band leader for thirteen years as director of the Navy Band in Karlskrona. His final posting was as chief of the Eastern Region of Music whence he retired in1982. He composed several titles for band including twenty-nine marches his most popular being the March of the Coastal Fleet
Dostal Hermann b 1874 d 1930 He was a member of a musical family which lived Moravian section of Austria (now Slovakia). His followed in the footsteps of his father and grandfather who were both military musicians. He enlisted as an apprentice musician and after study in Vienna was encouraged by bandmaster and well known musician Franz Lehar to join his band as a harpist. He followed Lehar to Hungary joining the 26th Regimental band in Gyor where he remained until1911 . He was selected as bandmaster to the Hungarian 26th Regiment band. He transferred to the 99th Regiment band in Vienna where he was involved with the historic final guard changing ceremony at the Imperial Palace . He retired in 1918 and was a popular; conductor/composer /arranger in Vienna for several years following the war.
Duijck Guy (Guillaume)b 1927 He began study on oboe and eventually became one the finest players ever developed in Belgium. He was considered to be a virtuoso. In 1947 he joined the Belgian Navy band as well as being selected for the Ghent Opera orchestra. In 1951 he auditioned for bandmaster of the Belgian first brigade remaining in that post for ten years. From 1960 to 1976 he was the conductor of the Belgian navy leading this well know ensemble in numerous concerts,parades and broadcasts.. His music compositions include symphonies, chamber works . many of his compositions have been recorded and he has become well known throughout Europe because of his adjudication at music festivals.
Dunn Francis Vivian b 1908 d 1996 A third generation to follow in the profession of military music His name has become synonymous with the highest level of musical integrity and standards in the art of military music. He studied violin at an early age eventually becoming a student of Henry Wood. He became a member of the Queen’s hall Orchestra in 1927 and a founding member of the BBC orchestra in 1930. At the age of twenty-two in 1931 he was appointed Director of Music of the Royal Marines Portsmouth Division and he remained with the RM until his retirement in 1968. In 1953 he was Principal Director of the Royal Marines School of Music. He became a very popular conductor and adjudicator. In 1969 he he had the distinction of being knighted by Queen Elizabeth. He wrote several marches all of which are superb including the most well known Mountbatten March.
F. Fahrbach Phillip 1815 d 1885 He was a contemporary of Jahann Strauss the Father and Joseph Lanner.His musical talent was evident at an early age and he studied violin and flute. He beacme a flautust at age 10 in the Strauss Orchestra and becamea intimate friend of teh Strauss family. His arranging talents became well known as he added many inner parts to Strauss orchestrations. In 1841 he took up the post of bandmaster of the Infantry Regiment No.4(Hoch-und-Deutschmeister) a post he retianed until 1846. He returned to civilian life but aftera family tragedy he returned to the military in 1855 becoming the bandmaster of the Infantry regiment No.14 and was present at the Austro-Prussian campaign in Schleswig-Holstein in1864. The opus list of his works numbers 330 most of which is not performed today.
Ferland Joseph Pierre Armand Ferland b 1926. One of Canada’s most respected musicians he began violin and clarinet at an early age and earned his BA degree at the university of Manitoba in 1947 and won first prize on clarinet at the university of Montreal in 1951.After a short stint in the Ordnance corps band as solo clarinet e was selected in competition for study at the Royal Military School of Music in England. He graduated in 1954 and became the director of the Royal Canadian Horse Artillery band and later in 1961 the world renown Royal 22nd Regiment band. He went on to form the Quebec woodwind ensemble.His best known composition is the march Genevieve.
Field Philip Howard dob unknown.A native of Norwalk, Conn he studied clarinet and joined the US Navy as a clarinet instrumentalist in 1956. After graduartion from teh Navy school of Music he performed with navy bands in Japan, Yorktown Va., and Boston.He directed unit bands on the USS Oriskany and the USS Kearsarge and returned to teh school to become an instructor. Upon promotion to warrant Officer he was appointed director of the Pacific Fleet band in Pearl Harbour, Hawaii. He was appointed leader of the US navy band in washington in1989. He wrote several arrangements for both concert and marching bands.
Friedmann Carl Berthold b 1862 d 1952 He was born in Müchlein near Leipzig and became one of the most influential bandmasters and conductors of his era.. His Slavonic Rhapsody is still performed world wide His talent was recognized while he was attending a local high school and he studied theory, piano and violin . As a result of the widely performed KAISER-FREDERICH march he was admitted to the Royal Academy of music in Berlin. He graduated with honors in 1890 he completed his bandmaster examination and was selected as assistant bandmaster of the Badonian Infantry Regiment 113 in Freiburg. In 1891 he became bandmaster a position he held for the next twenty-one years. His reputation as a composer and conductor became known throughout Germany and also in nearby Switzerland. He retired from the Army in 1912.He continued his musical career for several years and became one of the most distinguished personalities of his time.In 1935 he was honored by the Berlin Academy with the title of Professor. His compositions number over 350 and he much of his music remains in both the orchestral and band repertoires.
Fucik Julius Ernest William b 1872 d 1916. Born into a musical family in Prague Bohemiahe began study on bassoon and later played violin and piano. At age nineteen he entered military service playing bassoon and drums with the 49th Infantry Regimental band. Following a career as bassoonist with the New German Theatre orchestra he and National Theatre orchestra he began work as a military bandmaster with the 86th Regimental band at Sarajeveo and at this time he wrote the famous march ENTRY OF THE GLADIATORS. Fucik proved to be very much ahead of time as he challenged composers to write meaningful music for military band. He led several bands over his long service in the army including the 92nd Regiment band which played regular concerts in Prague and Berlin. From 1910-1913 he conducted the Terezin military band and retired from the military service in 1913. He grew to be a extremely prolific composer of both orchestral and band music with nearly 400 works to his credit. His marches Florentiner and Children of the Regiment remain popular remain his two most popular marches as well as the afore mentioned Entry of the Gladiators.
Furst Geog b 1870 d 1936 His father was the local bandmaster In a small town southwest of Nuremberg. He received his initial training from his father and at eighteen entered The Nuremberg Municipal School of Music. In 1889 he joined the Royal Bavarian Life Regiment band in Munich as the Eb Trumpeter. he was selected in 1895 for bandmaster training at the Royal Academy of Music in Munich. In 1902 he was appointed to assistant director of the 5th Bavarian Infantry Regiment in Bamberg.In 1911hw was transferred to Munich as Senior bandmaster of the Royal Regiment.Under his leadership the reputation of the band grew his name became well known throughout Germany,Rumania,Serbia and Macedonia. In 1920 he was placed in command of the 19th Bavarian Regiment band and held this post until his retirement in1935.He wrote several marches,overtures and songs. His most well known march is the Badonviller-Bandenweiller march but his Drei Märche fur Blamusik is still performed and recorded.
G. Gasia Louis b 1898 d 1950. Born in Belgium he studied at the Royal Brussels Conservatory. In 1938 he was appointed bandmaster of the 3rd Regiment of the Line. In 1947 he was appointed the first bandmaster of the newly created Belgian Navy band. He retired in in1949. He wrote several marches overtures and other works for band including the March of the Belgian navy
Gayfer James McDonald b 1916 d 1997. A native of Toronto he graduated with B.Mus. degree from the University of Toronto in1941. He joined the Canadian Army Militia when war broke out in 1939 and played clarinet in the Canadian Corps of Signals band overseas. He was selected to attend the bandmasters course at Kneller Hall in 1945. On completion he returned to Canada in 1947 . He served in a variety of postings and became director of Music of the Canadian Infantry Battalion band(later the Canadian Guards) 1951-1961. He was Musical Training Officer at the Canadian Forces School of Music from 1961-1966. He had a distinguished career in the military rounded out by his highly successful compositions for band and orchestra. He wrote several marches including Canada Overseas and Silver and Green.His concert march for the visit of Queen Elizabeth in 1953 titles Royal Visit remains one of the most extraordinary concert pieces ever written for military band.
Gebauer Francois Rene b 1773 d 1845 brother of Michael Joseph he was born in Versailles of German parents. He studied bassoon and beginning in 1788 he was a member of the band of the Swiss Guard in Versailles and in 1790 he joined the band of the National Guard with his brother.. He later played in Imperial Chapel orchestra and the theater orchestra.He wrote several compositions most of which is held by the Paris Museum of fine Arts. Some of the material includes six marches and Pas Redoubles.
Gebauer Michael Joseph b 1763 d 1812 A French musician of German parentage he joined the service of Franceand his birthplace is unknown.. He studied both violin and oboe and joined the National Guard band in 1790. In 1794 to 1802 he was professor of music at the Paris Conservatoire . He also became the bandmaster of the Consular Guard an early post revolutionary military band. He was also oboist in the Imperial Chapel. He died as a consequence of the Russian campaign which he had taken part. He wrote a number of marches and fanfares which were performed at Fetes celebrating the French revolution. later family members became well known in France as performers and composers.
Godfrey Charles b 1790 d 1863 The first in a long line of English military bandmasters and conductors he was a drummer in the First Royal Surrey Militia. In 1813 he joined the Coldstream Guards and transferred to the bassoon.. In 1825 he was appointed bandmaster of the band a position he held for several years. He edited the Jullien’s Journal which began in 1847 and he helped to incorporate several magnificent transcriptions and arrangements into this numbered series of military band music. Of his five sons three became outstanding military musicians in the British Army.
Godfrey Daniel(Known as Dan) b1831 d 1903 son of the preceding. He entered the Royal Academy of Music as a student and eventually became professor of flute in 1847. In 1856 he was appointed bandmaster of the Grenadier Guards and held this position until 1896. He was the first bandmaster since the American Revolution to take his band to the USA for the World Peace Jubilee 1872 which was organized by Patrick Gilmore in Boston. Godfrey retired in 1896 and organized his own band. In 1887 he was the first commissioned officer in British military bands and which bore with it the designation Director of Music.His contribution to the military band parade repertoire was extensive and included Guards,Hilda and Mabel inspection music.
Godfrey Adolphuis Frederick b 1837 d 1882. brother of the preceding. He was educated at the Royal Academy of Music and entered the Coldstream Guards in 1856 and in 1863 he succeeded his father as bandmaster of theta regimental band.. His arrangements and transcriptions were superb and in many cases very much ahead of his time.His various arrangements which were entitled Reminiscences became standard military band fare. His contribution in the area of classical potpourri contributed to the emersion of military band outdoor and concert performance popularity.
Godfrey Charles b 1839 d 1919 brother of the preceding. He was educated at the Royal Academy of Music and began his musical career as a clarinetist in Jullien’s orchestra in 1853.He changed career direction in 1859 when he was selected as bandmaster of the Scots Fusilier Guards. he left that regiment in 1868 for the Royal Horse Guards band where he became a commissioned Director in 1899. He was professor of military music at the Royal College of Music . He was a major contributor to the Orpeus Army Military Band Journal which reveals a outstanding ability in band arranging and transcriptions.
Godfrey Dan Stuart b 1893 d 1935 cousin of Charles. He was educated at the Royal College of Music and enlisted in the Coldstream Guards in order to qualify for military bandmastership. He served in World War 1 and later became associated with the British Broadcasting System where he was a pioneer in military band broadcasts.
Gossip Brian Albert b 1934 He served with the Imperial Black Watch band as a National Serviceman and was trained on oboe and saxophone. In 1956 he emigrated to Canada and furthered his musical studies eventually joining the Canadian Reserve Navy as a bandsman saxophone. In 1958 he was accepted for the principal saxophonist with the Royal Canadian Regiment band and was a featured soloist with this band . In 1971 he was selected in competition for bandmaster training at the Canadian Forces School of music. In 1974 he was posted to the Central Band of the Canadian Forces in Ottawa. He became one of the staff arrangers and began writing numerous marches for the Canadian Forces. In 1983 he was appointed assistant direcor of he Prinecss Patricias Light I nfantry band and wrote several outstanding arrangements for this band.He retired in 1988 after serving as the Chief Warrant Officer of the Canadian Forces School of Music. He continued his association with the military as a Cadet officer and became a very popular clinician and arranger for this organization. He has written numerous marches for band and several have been recorded. His most outstanding marches include March St Laurent and March Thunderbird.
Graham Arthur b 1875 d 1947 He became a bandboy in the 15th Hussars at age fourteen and received his musical training as a pupil at the Royal School of Music, Kneller Hall, on clarinet. He advanced to the rank of Sergeant with the Hussars and in 1901 was selected for bandmaster training also at Kneller hall. He graduated in 1903 and was appointed bandmaster of the 1st Battalion The York and Lancaster Regiment with the rank of Warrant Officer. He served for many years in India and was the bandmaster for the presentation of colors by the Prince of Wales. he retired in 1921. He carried on his fine record of musicianship by conducting several concert bands and orchestras including the Queen’s Variety theatre in Castleford. He wrote several highly acclaimed marches for band. His march The Champion and Hampton Court are his most well known compositions.
Grundstrom Per Gustaf Adolph b 1886 d 1975 He enlisted as an apprentice musician at age 13 in the world Renown Life Guards band in Stockholm Sweden.. He continued his studies on violin and various band instruments and graduated in 1906 from the Royal College of Music with a diploma of music director.He began his career as a bandmaster with the Royal Halland Regiment band and in 1912 he was promoted to the position of Director of Music. He gained experience conducting both orchestras and choirs. He eventually became the director of the Life Guards band and retired in 1944. He received many honors and several outstanding marches including the well known Swedish march General Cederschiöld.
Gungl Joseph b 1810 d 1889 He was a Austrian born musician who began his career in the Army in the Fourth Regiment of Artillery as an oboist. He was selected in competition as bandmaster of the same regimental band 1842. He made several European tours with his regimental band playing mostly his own compositions. He left the military to establish his own band for a tour of North America,. On his return he was appointed the Music Director to the King of Austria and later in 1859 was appointed bandmaster of the Emperor’s service in Prussia.. Gungle wrote numerous waltzes and marches and his Hungarian March Opus 1 was one in a long line of military marches he added to the band repertoire
H. Haachti Rauno Erik dob unknown He began his military career at the Military Music School in Helsinki where he studied clarinet and saxophone.. He was assigned to the band of the of Armour Battalion in 1947. He gained steady promotion and in 1967 he graduated from the the Sibelius Academy and was granteda commission in the Finnish Army and appointed to Director of Music. From 1971 to 1990 he conducted and commanded the Military band of Lapland rising to teh rank of Major. In 1990 he was selected as the Chief Conductor of Music and pomoted to teh rank of Lt Colonel and was transferred to the headquarters of the Finnish Defence Forces in Helsinki. At the time of his retirement in 1994 he was in charge of all bands in Finland.
Hanssen Johannes b 1874 d 1967 He became one of Norway’s most active and influential bandmasters and started music at age ten eventually learning trumpet and entering the Second Brigade band in Oslo on baritone. He was selected as bandmaster of the Oslo Military staff band and remained in this post from 1926 to 1934. he was also bandmaster of this band from 1945 to 1946. He had a varied career both as a military and civilian musician and wrote several marches for concert band including the evergreen and popular march Valdres which was written between 1901-1904.
Haase Ferdinand b 1788 d 1851.Born in Silesia he enlisted in the French Army in 1810. He marched with Napolean and provided music during Napolean’s march on Moscow. His talent was noted by teh Grand Duke Constantine and he helped the youndg musician to obtaina solid musical education. When the Grand Duke was placed in charge of the Polish Army he selected Haase to be in charge of military music. earlier he had written the Preobrazhensky march and it now became an instant sensation and was adopted by the regiment with the same name. later it was assimilated into the Prussian Army collection(a.m.1.30) Following teh Grand Dukes arrival in Warsaw two more Guards Regiments were raised prompting Haase to write another march for the Volhynia Guards Jager Regiment.Later he was posted to Russia to help organize the and he was appointed to be commandant of the military school of music. In 1845 he composed an album of military music and he arranged numerous workd for band. He organized joint concerst of Prussian and Russian bands. His arrangements and compositions for band was extensive and he arranged several national anthems including God save the Tsar.
Hautvast Willy (Wilhelmus) b 1932 He began his study of music with his father learning clarinet and saxophone. He studied at the Maastricht Conservatory and in 1951 he enlisted in the Royal Netherlands Air Force and from 1952 to 1975 was solo clarinet with that band. He left military serve in 1975 to accept the position of teacher and bandmaster at the Nijmagen Music School.He has written several concert band numbers and many of his arrangements and transcriptions have been published. His march Fly Past is dedicated to the pilots of the Royal Netherlands Air Force.
Henrion Richard b 1854 d 1940 . He decided on career as a military musician very early in his life and after serious study on the organ at the Joanniskirche in Madeburg he completed the requirements to become an army bandmaster at Brandenburg. He served with the 64th Regiment in Prenzlau and in 1881 he joined the 2nd Grenadier Regiment at Stettin where he remained for the rest of his army career. He composed over 260 works for band orchestra, and he was a specialist in fanfare marches. His music was often included in compilations of German and Austrian marches and the Fehrbelliner Reitermarsch-or Fahrbellin Cavalry march appears in no less than 20 different books of military marches.
Hicks Lawrence b 1913 d 1997 He joined the 1st Battalion of the Cameroinians as a bandboy aged fourteen in 1926. He was selected to attend Kneller Hall and graduated in 1938 and was appointed bandmaster of the 2nd battalion the Black Watch. During the war years he was attached to the Canadian Army asa bandmaster of the Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps band serving in Belgium and the Netherlands. His dairy of the band’s work still resides in the Canadian Directorate of History in Ottawa. In addition he arranged several numbers for Canadian bands during the war. In 1951 he resigned from the British Army and joined the Austrian Air Force band. Under his direction the RAAF band playeda leading roleat the 1956 Olympic games at Melbourne. He was responsible for scoring and arranging 70 national anthems for this occasion. He retired in 1968 and organized a ladies concert band
Howard George Sallade b 1903 d 1995. He had a very extensive career as a musician, teacher and director prior to joining the US Army in 1942.He began his military career teaching music to American troops in Greenland,Iceland Newfoundland and Labrador . In 1944 he transferred to the Army Air Corps (later the US Air Force) where he was ordered to to “form the best damn band in the world” by General HH hap Arnold.He held auditions and selected 100 musicians out of 1500 that appeared.In addition to the comprehensive performance schedule by the band he established the USAF bandsmen school of music and introduced the commissioned officer status for all Air Force band directors. He retired in 1963 and became the director of the Metropolitan Police band of Washington DC. He received numerous awards for his contribution to both military and civilian band music in America. He wrote some published marches including The Afalfa Club and High Honor.
Howe James H b 1917 Born in Durham England he began playing cornet and piano at age nine and in 1933 he joined the Regimental band of the Royal Scots as a bandboy. He became a prisoner of war in 1940 and organized a prisoner of war dance orchestra. Following the war he attended the Royal Military School of Music at Kneller Hall. In 1949 he was appointed bandmaster of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. He was selected to the Highland Brigade Junior Musicians Unit at Aberdeen in 1958. In 1959 he became the Director of Music of the Scots Guards band and Senior Director of Music of the Household Division from 1970 to 1974. He was made a member of the order British Empire and also received the Award for Service to Military Music.Most of his works are for brass band but his march Pentland Hills is also for military band and is one of the finest in the concert band repertoire.
HuntClifford (Onufry). Administrator, trumpeter, band conductor, b Hamilton, Ont, 20 Jul 1917, d Burlington, Ont, 13 Jan 2003. He began trumpet lessons at seven when he joined his father’s Salvation Army band, and studied piano with Graham Godfrey. He toured North America, Great Britain, and continental Europe as a solo trumpeter and was a soloist 1940-2 with the RCAF Band. He was music director 1942-3 for the Camp Borden Band and was sent overseas in 1944 when that organization became the Canadian Bomber Group Band, travelling from quarters at Harrogate to give concerts and assist at ceremonies in England. He was music director of the regular Air Force Band 1946-60 and supervisor of music for all Canadian air force bands 1960-4. From 1964, when the headquarters and commands of the Canadian armed forces were integrated, until 1968, when the unification of the three services was completed, Hunt supervised 220 bands, comprising 1000 full-time musicians and some 5000 reserve-force volunteers. He was made a lieutenant-colonel in 1966. Hunt directed the RCAF Concert Band on the recording Top Brass (Radio-Canada International 256).
Hunt conducted the Ottawa Civic Symphony Orchestra in 1965. On his retirement from the armed forces in 1968 he became manager of the music department of the CNE and music director of the senior program (adult recreation) for the city of Burlington. In 1969 he became director of grandstand shows at the CNE, continuing on a part-time basis after his retirement in 1982. Also in 1969 he became managing director of the Canadian Bureau for the Advancement of Music. In 1974 he was an adjudicator for the International Music Festival in Vienna. He was executive director 1973-8 of the Kiwanis Music Festival. Hunt served 1954-5 and 1959-61 as president of the CBA, 1971-2 as president of the American Bandmasters Association, and in 1973 as vice-president and 1977-8 as president of the FCMF. Between 1980 and 1988 he conducted a band composed of Canadian and US high-school students on six tours of Europe and the USA, and in 1990 he received the Sudler Medal of the Order of Merit from the Sousa Foundation of Chicago in recognition of his outstanding contribution to bands and band music. Hunt conducted the Burlington Concert Band until 1998. He held the CBA’s National Band Award (1994), and was an honorary life member of that organization. He was also a recipient of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal.
Husadel Hans Felix b 1897 d 1964 He was involved in military music and bands during both wars. He studied French horn and piano and attended the Berlin Academy of Music. He graduated asa bandmaster and bacme leader of the Fourteenth Regimental band in 1928. in 1935 he was given the responsibilty of organizing bands for the newly formed Air Force. as well asa newly formed branch of the Wehrmacht. From 1935 to 1945 he also taught at the Berlin Music Academy. He was part of the group of band leaders who provided music for the 1936 Berlin Olympics. He introduced several innovation to the performance of both civilian and military bands by adding alto,bass and contrabass clarinets, ,and baritone saxophones as well asa whole range of brass instruments. He remained in charge of Air Force bands during the World War 2 and later became the director of the famous Berlin Philharmonic band. He wrote a number of highly regarded compositions for band including the march Berlin Post and his march named for the memory of the Red Baron Richthofen Fighter Wing-Favoriten.
Influential Musicians. JKLM
J Jaeger Cecil Harry (Jiggs) b 1913 d 1970. He began life in an orphanage and learned cornet in the institution. He enlisted as a band boy in 1927 in the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. He attended Kneller Hall as a pupil in 1931 and returned in 1936 as a student bandmaster. In 1937 he appeared as part of the Trumpet fanfare team for the Coronation of George VI. He graduated from Kneller hall and was awarded several honors for composition and arranging. Because of the war he was unable to have an appointment as a bandmaster and as a result returned to his old regiment where he was given the honorary title of BUGLE MAJOR. He began further study and in 1949 he was awarded a Bachelor of Music at Durham University. . He finally did get an appointment of bandmaster of the 4th Queen’s Own Hussars in 1942 and remained with them until 1944. In 1949 after receiving his BA degree he was appointed as Director of Music of the Irish Guards band and he was promoted to Captain. He toured the world with the band and also become a household name with numerous recordings of the band. He appeared in a movie the ‘Ipcress File’ . He had an enormous following among British military musicians because of his colorful style. In 1963 he became the Senior Director of Music of the Brigade of Guards and was responsible for several state ceremonial titles including the music for the funeral of Winston Churchill. He retired from the Irish Guards band in 1968 after a month long tour of Canada. While in Canada he performed a concert in London Ontario for which over 10,000 persons attended. He was the conductor and organizer for several massive military band displays in both England and the continent. Two of his most well compositions include the march Canada on the March and the Commonwealth on the March.
Johnson Albin I b 1915. Born in Michigan he studied at the Ernest Williams Conservatory and later at the US Army bandleaders school. He became the solo cornetist of the US Army band in Washington from 1936 to 1939. He left the Army from 1939 but in 1941 but returned at the advent of war. He was appointed a US army band leader and in 1949 became the director of training at the Army European band training school where he also led the faculty in radio broadcasts and in concerts. In 1949 he joined the faculty of the Special Services School in Fort Monmouth NJ and later when the school moved at Fort Lee Virginia in 1950. He wrote several unpublished works for band including It’s The Army march and Pride of The Lakers March.
Jonusas Bronius b 1899 d 1978 . He was born in Lithuania. He studied at the conservatory in Riga and the state conservatory at Kaunas from 1938 to 1942 performing on trumpet. After completing his initial musical training in 1921 he was the director of the Regimental band of the Eighth Infantry and held this position until 1937, while also continuing his studies. In 1937 he was appointed the conductor of the Kaunas Police banda quasi military organization. He became very well know because of his association with both the military and Police bands. His transcriptions of several works by Russian and Lithuanian composers are still being performed in those countries. He wrote several dazzling marches for military and concert band particularly his series of Lithuanian Freedom marches which were recorded in 1963. He emigrated to the USA in 1959 and is his work is still immensely popular in a now free Lithuania. His march Trumpets are Sounding remains as one of the world’s greatest marches.
Jucci, Carmine b 1892 d 1974. He was an Italian born military musician who studied with Magnani and at the St Celia Conservatory in Rome.. He was very active as a clarinetist with numerous orchestras and eventually became director of the band of the 8th Italian Regiment from 1939 to 1945. In 1945 he was appointed the director of the band of the Armed Forces of San Marino. He composed a march for this band called the March of the Armed Forces of Marinio.
Judd John L (Sammy) b 1903 d 1980. He enlisted as a band boy in the Royal Inniskillin Fusiliers in 1917. He was trained on clarinet and oboe and eventually specialized in oboe.. He served with the band in various postings following World War I in India, Iraq and Northern Ireland. He was selected for bandmaster training in 1927 at Kneller Hall. In 1930 he was appointed bandmaster of the 2nd Battalion Highland Light Infantry. In 1942 he transferred to Royal Signals Corps band and was commissioned in 1947 and appointed the Director of Music in 1947. He retired from the army in 1962 having served over 44 years.
K Kappey Jacob A (Will) b? He graduated from Kneller hall and was appointed bandmaster of the 48th Regiment band in 1848. From 1857 to 1892 he was the director of the Royal marines band at Plymouth. He was the editor of the Boosey band Journals for several years. He wrote and arranged well over 50 numbers for band and the most enduring march is The Old Guard Quick march
Katayama Masami b 1928 He became a navy bandsman before W.W.II and in 1951 was appointed as assistant bandmaster of the Self Defense navy band. He was later Commander of the band and retired in 1971. He was the professor of music at the Aikoku Junior College before his retirement in 1980. His march Wakaaudo was commissioned by the All Japan band Association in 1962.
Kawasaki Masami b 1924. He enlisted in the Japanese navy in 1932 studying clarinet and saxophone. He soon advanced through the ranks and was stationed with the Imperial Navy band in in Tokyo. He was selected to attend an advanced course at the Tokyo academy of Music and on graduation was promoted to bandmaster. He served with the Navy band through the war years and when the Japanese forces were disbanded from 1945 to 1951 he performed with the Tokyo Philharmonic orchestra. When the new Navy band was organized in 1951 he was appointed assistant leader, and later succeed the eminent Minoru Takayama as conductor of the renown Maritime Self Defense Force band in 1962. He retired from that post in 1967 and also served as a regional district bands supervisor. He composed several marches including the Maritime Self Defense Force March and the Festival of the Century.
Kelly Albert Edward b 1914 . Born in London, where his father was a member of the Grenadier Guards band he received his first lessons from his father and enlisted in the Dragoon Guards as a Junior Bandsman at the age of fourteen in 1928. His ambition to be selected for the Royal Military School of Music was sidetracked by the outbreak of World War II and he served as a soldier in the Dragoon Guards and was wounded in the Normandy invasion in 1944. He was invalided back to England and after the war he completed the requirements at the Royal Military School of Music and served as bandmaster of the Royal Sussex Regiment and in 1958 he was commissioned as a Director of Music with the Royal Sussex Regiment. He left the army in 1961 and served in the British Civil service until 1979. His most well known and popular march was Arromanches and he also wrote the march Arnhem a march he wrote while serving in 1956 in Korea.
Keler-Bela Adabert b 1820 d 1882. He born in Hungary and after several tries in different vocations began the study of music at age 25. He studied in Vienna and eventually became the leader of Gung’l’s band and the arranger and composer.. In 1855 he went to Vienna in 1855 and became a bandmaster. In 1856 he was named bandmaster of the 10th Infantry regiment band in Vienna. In 1860 he left the military to form his own orchestra but when that venture proved unsuccessful he returned to the military being appointed 2nd Nassau Infantry band in Wiesbaden from 1863 to 1866. He later led the Wiesbaden Spa orchestra. He wrote several light and easy numbers for both the band and orchestra repertoire. He is mostly remembered for his overtures and wrote Lustspiell Overture for band (originally) and transcribed the French Comedy Overture for band as well as several other well known overtures, waltzes and marches..
Kenney Horatio Arthur b 1919 d 1969 He enlisted as a band boy in the Somerset Light Infantry band in 1934 and specialized on the Trombone. He was selected for studies at Kneller hall in 1945 and on graduation was appointed to the 1st Battalion Oxfordshire and Buffs Infantry as bandmaster in 1949.He received many awards while attending Kneller Hall including the gold medal of the Worshipful Company of Musicians. In 1960 he was named director of Music of the Royal Artillery Plymouth band. A year later he became the director of the Alamein Royal Tank band and in 1962 he was elevated to the Brigade of Guards and named director of the Welsh Guards band. he was promoted in 1968 to the rank of major he retired from the army in 1969. His wrote at least 9 numbers for military band including the march Cardiff Castle a slow march and the arrangement of the God Bless the Prince of Wales slow march.
Komzak Karel b1850 d 1905.He was a member of a well known and musicians. Karel (also known as Karl or Carl) began studies with his father and later studied violin with a succession of teachers. In 1867 he joined the Austrian 11th Infantry band. Two years later he became the bandmaster of the Seventh Infantry band in Innsbruck. In 1884 he was appointed bandmaster of the 84th Regiment band in Vienna.. He later became well known in North America conducting his famous Vienna Farben orchestra. He spent the last few years of his life in Baden . He was a prolific composer of military marches four of which remain popular even to this day. Archduke Albert, Kaiser Joseph, Vienna (Vinsobona) an the 84th Regiment March .
Kopstein Jack b 1934 He began clarinet studies at age 8 and later studied clarinet and saxophone at the Teal studios and Wayne University in Detroit. He was selected for the Ford Motor company band in Windsor and in 1953 he joined the Royal Canadian Navy Reserve. He attended summer camps and in 1958 was selected in audition for the Royal Canadian Regiment band. He played clarinet with the London (Ontario) Symphony and the London Chamber Orchestra. In 1970 he was selected for bandmaster training at the Canadian Forces School of Music and graduated in 1971.. In 1974 he was posted to the Canadian Forces Central band in Ottawa and in 1979 became the assistant director of music. In 1981 he was the leader for the arrival of several heads of state. he held similar posts with the PPCLI band in Calgary and the Vimy band in Kingston. He retired from the military in 1988. His march With Equal Pace is the special services march for Base Gagetown NB. He is the site partner for the Heritage of Military bands of the World and the editor of the Millennium Project(300 years of Military music1700-2000).He has written numerous articles on military bands in Canada.
Kral Johann Nepomuck b 1839 d 1896His father was a bandmaster and he followed in his footsteps. He became a military bandmaster in Amsterdam at the age of 20. In 1862 he became the director of the 13th Regiment band in Budapest. A few years later he was transferred with the band to Vienna and the band became very popular in that city. During his remaining military career he was given the job of improving other military bands in the district. From 1874 to 1878 he was conductor of the 20th Infantry Regiment band. He also was director of the 36th until 1872 and the 17th Infantry band. His final military assignment was with the 23rd Regiment band in Budapest. He wrote several marches including the Austrian Defile march and Danube Greetings a march better known and more popular in North America.
Küffner Joseph b1776 d 1856 He was a German bandmaster and composer who began the study of violin and became a member of the Wurzburg Chapel from 1797. When the town fell in 1802 he became the military bandmaster of the Bavarian Regiment band where he reorganized the band and modernized the music and instrumentation. He wrote several pieces for military band including an overture to his own opera Spurn und Sharp.
L. Laro Johannus(Joop) b 1927 d 1992He inherited his interest and ability from his father and grandfather who were both bandmasters. He studied at the Royal Conservatory of music at the Hague receiving diplomas on clarinet, piano and conducting in 1952. From 1945 to 1953 he was a member of the Marine band of the Royal Netherlands navy. He was a very versatile musician playing both clarinet and violin and piano for concert, string and dance bands. In 1953 he became the conductor of the Johan Willem Friso band of the Netherlands Army Corps. In 1964 he returned as the director the marine band with the rank of Major. In 1973 he was appointed the Command Inspector of military bands. He was eventually promoted to the rank of Colonel. He was well known as he toured with the Marines throughout Europe, Scandinavia, and North America . He retired in 1986. He established a International reputation for his the number and quality of recordings in which he conducted his own works and those of other composers. The marine ban recordings have reached several million and mostly due to the extensive repertoire on the recordings. He has written numerous works for band and his most well known marches are Nulli Cedo Never Yield, his Intrada Festivo is a superb example of his enormous composition skills.
Latann Carl b 1840 d 1888. He joined the military service of the German Confederation as a musician and eventually advanced to the position of bandmaster of the Prussian Navy band in 1872.He remained in this position as leader until his discharge in 1884. At that time he became the director of a military band in Nijmegan Netherlands. The band he led in the Prussian Navy eventually became the German Navy band and is the forerunner of the present day Navy band at Willelmshaven which was formed in 1952.Much of Latann’s work reveals his concert band experience. many of his compositions are still available and in particular his Fest Overture, march Frei Weg (All Clear) which is number 137 in the German Armies Second March book and the British military favorite Light of Foot.
Latey Keith P b1896 d 1987 he began his musical studies with his father and learned the French Horn and cornet very early. At age 15 he joined the US Army and furthered his studies in several different post bands. He learned all of the various instruments of the military band .He was stationed at several military establishments in WW1 and following the war in 1933 he qualified as a bandmaster with the 168th Infantry until 1942. He served with the 744th Air Force in 1944- 45 as bandmaster and the 13th Army National Guard from 1945 to 1955. He participated in the Allied invasion of North Africa and his band were involved in the Kasserine Pass battle and three of his bandsman were killed. He was In a British hospital at the time. He spent most of his life in the military bands of the United States and wrote over 50 works including several military marches for US Forces the most well known being the 34th Division march and Trombone Treat.
Laty Claude b 1887 d 1970 He studied at the local conservatory in his home town of Marseille winning numerous awards. In 1907 he enlisted in the French Army as and passed the sous-chef de musique examination in 1910. He was assigned to the 46th Infantry in Paris in August of 1914. He was awarded a medal for wounds received while gallantly playing La Marsellaise at Vauqois. He was promoted to the rank of chef de musique and directed several bands in France. In 1932 he was the director of the 46th Regiment band. In 1935 he was asked to organize the French Air Force band. He auditioned and selected the musicians and completed the project in 1936. He was promoted to the rank of major in 1939 and retired from the Air Force after the 1940 Armistice. His know works include Impressions de Provence and Marche pour Sainte Cecile.
Lehnhardt Julius b 1837 d 1913. He was the son of a well known German bandmaster and he and his bothers Gustav, Franz all became professional musicians. Julius followed his father’s example and joined the military in the 2nd Guard Regiment band. He became well known for his compositions and remained with the band from 1867 till 1899. He was touted as Germany’s greatest march writer and he wrote several commemorative marches including the march Guard of Honor in 1900and the Call of the Flag a stirring march written for they unification of Germany in 1871.
Leinonen Juhani (Jussi). He is a native of Finland and became a military musician after he studied at the Military School of music and Sibelius Academy in Helsinki. He entered military service as tubist, drum major and conductor. He became the Drum Major of the Finnish Conscripts band. He has composed several numbers for military band including Meripoikkatte mars (Seaman march) and The Hamina March (Ylos Tmpyoista).
Leonhardt Andreas b 1800 d 1866. Born in Bohemia (now the Czech Republic) he became one of Austria’s most important bandmasters. He became a musician in the 2nd Regimental band in Vienna at age eighteen and began the formal study of music. After posting to Naples Italy he began study at the Royal Conservatory in that city. In 1822 he was appointed Regimental bandmaster and later went for further study in Prague becoming the bandmaster of the 55th Regiment band. In 1829 he returned to Italy and conducted the 27th band at Pad ova . He conducted the 27th band until 1846 and organized several musical extravaganzas. He was appointed the commander of all Austrian bands in 1851 and held this post until 1853. He was responsible for the standardization of all Austrian military bands and developing regulations for bands. He also modernized the pension system for military bandmasters. Before his passing in 1866 he laid the ground work for the excellence of Austrian band music and benefits for musicians. His march writing was brilliant and he provided numerous regimental marches. The march Alexander is an example of his quality work. The German Army march books still contain the march and it is a quick march at m=114 as opposed to earlier marches known as präsentiermarsche (slow march).
Liesenfield Paul b1908 d 1985. Born in Marseille he studied at the Paris Conservatory and eventually enlisted in the French Army and became the assistant bandmaster of the 26th Regiment. He left the army in 1947 and enlisted in the French Air Force in Algiers. He was promoted to bandmaster 3rd class and was appointed to the Paris Air Force band in 1955. In 1955 he was selected as director of music of the Air Force band and served in that capacity until 1962. He later was promoted to Command Inspector of Air Force bands . He retired in 1971. He wrote several marches for band including Pavilion Haut (The Air Force march) and the Royal Revue march.
Linden Fred b 1839 d 1891. Born in Holland he emigrated to Canada in 1849 and eventually became a resident of the USA. He became a bandmaster during the US Civil war He studied saxophone and eventually became a member of Gilmore’ band. He was selected as leader of the US Army regular forces and took over duties and bandmaster of the David’s Island band. In 1887 he was named leader of the Military Academy band at West Point. He wrote A Salute to West Point and US Regulation Calls quickstep.
Loboda Samuel b 1916 d 1977. Born in Pennsylvania he joined the US army in 1941 as a infantryman and graduated as Warrant Officer from the US Army School of Music in 1943.He began the study of music in school learning the viola, bass and clarinet and saxophone. He graduated from Indiana University with a B.S. degree in 1936. At the end of the war he was appointed the assistant leader of the Army band in Washington DC. During his association with the band he formed the United States Army Chorus. He remained with the band from 1964 to 1976 as leader and commander. He wrote over 600 musical works and appeared on TV and on the radio. He garnered numerous awards and his best known marches are Screaming Eagles, The 101st Airborne and the Newspaper boys.
Lureman Herman Thomas b 1890 d 1965. He was born in the Netherlands and received early training on piano and trombone. He joined the local militia band and from1911 to 1923 played trombone in the 11th Dutch Infantry Regiment band in Nijmegan. In 1923 he moved to the 5th Infantry regiment band in Amersfoort as a baritone player and was promoted to bandmaster in 1940. He retired from the military in 1949. He composed band music under the pseudonym Paul Herhorn. His compositions were of the highest quality with the Concordia and Groot Amsterdam being two of his finest marches. He wrote over 75 works for band including16 overtures.
M. Mackenzie-Rogan John b 1852 d 1932. He became known as the dean of military music in Britain and began his career as a 15 year old band boy in the 11th Regiment in 1867. In 1880 he was enrolled in the bandmaster course at the Royal Military School of music. In 1882 he was selected as bandmaster of the Royal West Surrey Regiment band. In 1896 he became the director of the world famous Coldstream Guards band During his tenure as the band’s director the establishment more than doubled from thirty-two to sixty-four.. In 1903 the band became the first British band to tour North America and he presented several concerts at the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto where more than 70,000 people heard the twice a day concerts. He became the first director from the Brigade of Guards to be commissioned in the British army in 1907. He continued to receive promotions and in 1920 became a Lt. Colonel. He traveled extensively with the band visiting Canada again Africa, Burma and during World war 1 to France, Belgium and Italy. He retired in 1920 after 43 years military service. In addition to his numerous transcriptions and arrangements for band he composed the highly acclaimed march Bond of Friendship which is unquestionably one of finest lyrical marches ever written.
Maillot Jean b 1911 d 1988 He studied flute at the Paris Conservatory and was awarded several prizes. He joined the French Army in at age 18 and won a competition for bandmasters and was appointed the leader of the 11th Regiment band in Metz. He served with the Free French in England during the war and in 1945 he joined the French Air Force and became the conductor of bands in Algiers and Dijon. In 1948 he was appointed director of the Musiques des Equipages de la Flotte9The Marine band) at Toulon. He composed two symphonies and several other works for band including the march Fonenay and march Armee-Jeunesse.
Makwarth Ludwig b 1864 d 1943(real name Ludwig Marquard Rasmussen) A Danish military musician who led the 8th Regiment band in Aarhus. He was a very capable conductor and a fine arranger. In 1911 he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and transferred to the band of the 7th Regiment in Slagelse. He wrote a number of light compositions as well as opera and operetta. His march Slagelse Tappenstreg, became a very popular march in Europe and was recorded by several military bands in Europe.
Mantia, Simone. b 1873 d ? Extraordinary Euphonium and Trombone player, he came to America in 1890 at the age of 17. He played Trombone with the Brooklyn Opera House Orchestra when quite young. He joined the Sousa band in 1896 and had a solid reputation as the best euphonium player in the world. When Arthur Pryor left the Sousa band to start his own band, Mantia left with him. He was Trombonist for the Metropolitan Opera for 37 Years; the last twelve of which he was Orchestra manager. He played with the “Band of America” from its inception until just before his death
Martin Herbie b 1937 An Irish musician he studied saxophone and trumpet and joined the Royal Air Force Music Services in 1956. He had a long career as a bandsman and arranger and reached the rank of Band Sgt. with the Central Band of the RAF. He retired in 1985. He wrote several band numbers including a Hurling Match which won an award in 1983. His march Butcher Radar is a stirring march written in a modern style.
Martin Jacques b 1898 d 1982. Martin was a prolific composer of band music who joined French military at a young age and was selected for musical training. He passed the bandmasters examinations and was assigned to the band of the 7th Line Regiment. He later became the Inspector of military music for the French Army. His most well known band compositions include The Liberte Overture and the fantasy Fleurs de Nice.
Mas Quiles Juan b 1921 He was born in Liria Spain and began the study of the flute and by age eleven was the first flute in the Banda Primitiva. He continued his studies in Valencia until the Spanish Civil war in 1936. At age 19 he entered Spanish military service as a musician. After study with several eminent military conductors he was made a member of the Military conductors association in 1946He conducted bands at Seville from 1946 to 1956 and the military Divisionary band of Valencia. He became the director of the Valencia symphony and retired from the army in 1982. Several of his marches have approved by the Spanish Ministry of the Army and he in 1973 he was awarded a prize for his music for military ceremonies. His parade march Sounds of Triumph and paso-doble Vince Gerado are his two most well known works.
Mayan Jean Joseph b 1875 d 1953 One of the premier military musicians of France he was born in Avignon. He graduated with first prizes in violin and harmony from the Marseille Academy of Music. later he studied counter-point and fugue at the Paris Conservatory. In 1911 he was appointed the director of the French Marine band at Toulon and from 1919 to 1924 conducted a Marine band in Toulon. His transcriptions of orchestral works and various show music is found in most of the band music libraries in France. His navy march Marche des Cols Bleus and concert march Solennelle are exquisite examples of his artistry as a composer and arranger.
Mertens Fernand b 1872 d 1957 Born in Louvain Belgium he joined the Belgian army after graduation from the Royal Conservatory of music in Ghent. He enlisted in the Army as a musician at age 18. In 1897 he moved to Luxembourg and joined the military band of Luxembourg. In 1909 he became the conductor of the band. He retired from active service in 1937. He wrote 19 marches including a march still performed in Luxembourg entitles Benelux and another which is equally as popular Jeanne D’Arc march.
Miller George John b 1827 d 1886 He was the son of a British Army soldier and studied music at the Duke of York’s school. He was accepted as a cornetist with the Grenadiers Guards band in 1842 and in 1854 he joined the Royal Bucks Militia. He performed admirably with this outstanding band. In 1858 he left to join the Royal Irish Rifles band as the bandmaster. He started the band from scratch and made great strides in building the reputation of the band. In 1864 he was appointed bandmaster of the 63rd Regiment of the line The band were posted to Canada and were an instant success performing for various dinners dances and concerts. He also developed a subscription concert series in Halifax which became the sensation in a city starved for entertainment. On his return to the United Kingdom his appointment as bandmaster was terminated because the British Army had ruled that only graduates of the Royal Military School of Music were permitted the appointment of bandmaster. He refused to undergo studies and as a result he was dismissed. His contribution to military music both in Britain and in Canada cannot be discounted however and his influence on the future of Canadian Bands had a far reaching effect.
Miller, George b 1853-1919 (Son of the preceding). Born in Pimlico he had a very distinguished career. Enlisted with the band of the 16th Foot (Bedfordshire Regiment). Attended The Royal Military School of Music 1873-1875 during which time he served as organist and choirmaster for the Whitton Parish Church. He served as Bandmaster of the 16th Foot (Bedfordshire Regiment) 1875-1880, Bandmaster, Royal Military College, Sandhurst, 1880-1884 and Bandmaster, Royal Marines, Portsmouth 1884-1917. During his 33 years with the Marines his band and orchestra gained world-wide acclaim. He received his MusBach. in 1892, composed choral, orchestral and band works and was editor for the ‘Novello Band Journal’. He authored “The Military Band” in 1912 and died in 1919.
Miller George John b 1877 d 1960 (grandson of the former) Born in India, he began the study of instrumental music under his father’s tutelage and later was a soloist with the Children’s Chapel Royal choir. He studied in Berlin from 1893 to 1896 and then enrolled at Kneller Hall in 1896. On graduation in 1898 he was posted to the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry band and served in India, Ceylon and South Africa. He was recalled to England and reorganized the Royal Garrison Artillery band at Plymouth. In 1908 he was transferred to the 1st Life Guards and organized the band into where it could function as either a orchestra or a band. He served a six month period in France during W.W.I. He was named the Director of Music to the coveted Grenadier Guards band and rose to the rank of Lt. Colonel in his 22 years service retiring in 1942 after 46 years of military service. He composed the march Galathea published by Boosey and Hawkes©.
Miller William b 1816 d 1901 (No relation to the above) Affectionately known as ‘Billy the Bugler’ he began life In a army environment as his father was a soldier. It was noticed that he had a aptitude for music and at nine years old became a band boy in the 84th Regiment. He later transferred to the Rifle Brigade. He developed an ability to play and perform on every instrument in the band and in 1842 he was appointed the band-Sergeant of the 1st Battalion in Malta. He was one of the first proponents of the post horn gallop a fiery number played on the keyless post horn. He became a prominent name and character in the British Army circles and later served in Canada and Ireland. He wrote several arrangements of marches for the British army not the least of which was the venerable favorite I’m Ninety-Five and another favorite the Huntsmen Chorus from Der Freischutz.
Mitchell Anthony A b 1917. He spent 32 years in the US navy bands and the last six as conductor of the United States navy band. He was a native of Clearfield Pennsylvania. He began early studies of the saxophone and later added the clarinet/ In 1936 he joined the navy, graduating from the Navy School of music. He was accepted in audition for the Naval series top band in 1938. He was very versatile and played both traditional and jazz forms eventually becoming leader of the dance band and as solo clarinet in the concert band. He was named 3rd leader of the US Navy band in 1956,assistant leader in 1960 and with the retirement of Commander Charles Brendler in 1962 he became the Commander and leader of the band. He developed several different concert series for the band including the “lollipop” and “outreach” series in Washington. He retired from the navy in 1968. His march the John F Kennedy Center was premiered in 1964 to commemorate the opening of the center in Washington.
Moerenhout Jos b 1909 d 1985. One of Belgium’s most important military composers and conductors he was born in a Brussels superb and became interested in music at a n early age. He wrote his first composition at age nine and played clarinet in a band at Laken. At age eighteen he entered the Royal Conservatory of Brussels for the study of clarinet and composition. In 1929 he joined the band of the 8th Regiment of the Line as a clarinetist. In 1939 he qualified as a military bandmaster and was appointed the assistant conductor of the 1st Infantry brigade stationed in Norway. During World War II he was interned a prisoner of war camp in Germany. After the war he was the bandmaster of the 65th Infantry Brigade band at Cologne and later the 7th Infantry Brigade band at Aachen. In 1951 he was promoted Captain and transferred to Antwerp to conduct the 11th Brigade band. He served as commander of all bandmasters for several months beginning in 1954. In 1955 he returned to bandmaster status with the 2nd Division band in Antwerp. He retired from military service in 1960. He composed several marches for military band including the march Mercator as well as several concert band pieces.
Moreau Constant b 1891 d 1975. He was born in Mons and studied at the Mons conservatory of Music. In 1914 he joined the army as a military musician and went into battle with the 2nd Rifles. In 1917 he was appointed as bandmaster of the 23rd Regiment of the line. He continued his studies after the was and in 1923 he became the conductor of the band of the 3rd Regiment in Ostend. He wrote 26 marches including a march which made its way into the Canadian band repertoire March pour un Centenaire.
Mostad Erling b 1913 d 1966. He was born into a family of musicians in Trondhiem Norway. He joined the Norwegian military in 1934 as a musician and remained in the Throndelag Region band until the band was disbanded by the Germans in 1940. After the war he returned to the band as a clarinetist and remained in the band until the time of his death. His DR3’s Honnormarj is one of Norway’s most well know and performed military marches.
Muhlberger Karl b 1857 d 1944.Born in Austria he studied at the Vienna Conservatory and in 1882 joined the band of Infantry Regiment 28 which was led by Karl Komzak jr. In 1885 he moved to the band of Infantry nr 4 the Hoch und Deutchmeister band. He qualified for bandmaster and from 1898 to 1918 he led the band of the Tiroler Kaiser-Jager-Regiment Nr1 in Innusbruck, He was considered one of the leading Austro-Hungarian bandmasters. His band’s were selected to perform for the Emperor. After World WAR I he retired and led a civilian band made up of retired military musicians. He wrote several marches including the well known Regiment der Tiroler Kaiserjager march and the Kriegslieder marsch.
Influential Musicians NOPRST
N. Novacek Rudolph b 1860 d 1929 He was born in Yugoslavia and joined the 11th Infantry regiment in 1879 playing in the military string orchestra under the baton of Karel Komzack. He joined the Infantry band number 74 in Pilsen in 1880. He succeeded Komzack as leader of the 74th Regiment band in 1885. During his tenure as bandmaster he wrote numerous compositions including the Castaldo March which became the regiments official march. His military career ended in 1890 and continued to write music for military band throughout his life.
Olsen Ole b 1850 d 1927. He attended the Leipzig Academy Music in Germany and on his return to his native Norway he became the conductor of a local community band in Oslo. In 1884 he was appointed the director of the 2nd Brigade band. In 1899 he became the superintendent of all Army bands in Norway. He traveled extensively around Norway researching folk music and interviewing army buglers . He then developed several marches and calls from his resources. He retired from the Norwegian army in 1919. His works are rarely played today but he did provide some great material for Norwegian heritage including the Honor March and Fanfare. he also composed three operas and music for orchestra and male choir
O’Neill Charles b1882 d1964. He was born in Scotland and studied organ and cornet in England emigrating to Boston in 1901. In 1903 he joined the newly formed Royal Canadian Horse Artillery band in Kingston Ont. In 1907 he was selected to attend Kneller Hall and on his graduation he replaced George Vezina as director of the Royal Canadian garrison Artillery band in Quebec City. He added to his laurels by graduating from McGill University in 1914 with a Doctor of Music in 1924. He was promoted to Captain in 1919 and in 1924 was appointed as Director of Music of the newly formed Royal 22nd Regiment band. Under his leadership the band became a world class organization performing throughout Canada and the USA. The band appeared on numerous occasions on the cross Canada network of the Canadian Broadcasting system. He was guest conductor for several band and orchestra concerts in the USA and in Canada. He retired from the Army in 1937 and he taught at the University of Wisconsin and at the State Teachers College in Potsdam New York. He wrote several compositions for band including the Souvenir de Québec. He wrote several marches for band including the RCMP march past and the march the Emblem. His march Mon Ami remains one of the most popular marches ever written in Canada.
Ord-Hume, James b 1864 d 1932. He was the second son of a British Army bandmaster He and his brothers all became military musicians. He joined the North Staffordshire Regiment in 1875 at age 12 and his first task was to guard the band room., He began to hone his composing skills while occupied in this job. He soon developed into a first class cornet player and eventually received an invitation to join the Royal Scots Grays Regiment band when he was sixteen. In 1889 he left the army to pursue a career in composition and also became the military band editor of the Boosey and Hawkes journals in 1913. He was the co-author with Alfred Zeally of the book Famous Bands of the British Empire. He wrote over 200 marches for military band including The BB and CF (British bandsman and Contest Field) the march Brilliant is a excellent example of good march writing. He arranged a dazzling array of regimental marches some of which are still in use today including the march Soldiers of the Queen.
Østby Klaus b 1865 d 1945 born in Norway he joined a military band at an early age. He studied clarinet but as was the custom in European bands he also had to master the bugle to play military calls and the parade drum. He spent a great deal of time studying several band instruments and also became a piano student. He was transferred to the military band in Oslo in about 1890 and not long afterward became interested in the work of Salvation army bands eventually becoming a leader. In 1904 he was selected to help organize Salvation army bands in Scandinavia. During the war he continued his work in Sweden. He wrote several military marches as well as marches for the Salvation army his best known work is the Kabelvåg March a march commemorating rough seas.
Pando Giuseppe(Joe) b 1931 He born in Italy and studied both accordion and clarinet. He came to Canada in 1952 and enlisted in the Canadian Army and was posted to the Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps band in Montreal. later he transferred to the Royal Canadian Artillery band also in Montreal. He was selected for bandmaster training at the Canadian Forces School of Music in 1974 and on graduation was promoted to the rank of Master warrant Officer and posted to the Stadacona band in Halifax. He wrote several marches for the Canadian Forces and several arrangements for military band including music from the movie the God Father. His most well known marches include the Confederation march and the Quebec march
Parès Gabriel b 1860 d 1934. His father was the solo clarinet of the Garde-Républicaine band in Paris. It was under his influence that the younger Pares began the study of cornet at age 7. He was a an outstanding student and gained first prize in both cornet and harmony at the Paris Conservatory. He enlisted in the Artillery Regiment band at Vincenses in 1880. He later won a competition for an assistant bandmaster position in the Army, serving in that capacity with the 74th Regiment band in Rouen for two years. In 1882 he became the bandmaster of the 69th Regiment band in Toulon. In 1883 he became the director of the Navy band in Toulon . Within ten years he had assumed the leadership of the world famous Garde-Républican band in Paris. Under his direction the band toured both Europe and North America appearing at the St Louis World’s Fair in 1904. Perès retired from the band in 1911 but later in 1917 was asked to return and conducted the band in a tour of 100 American cities. He composed and arranged over 150 numbers for military band and received an enormous number of honors and citations. His most well known march Le Grognard-The Veteran is a turn of the century march which salutes the French Armed Forces. Pares was a personal friend of John Philip Sousa and met with him on several occasions.
Parlow Albert b 1824 d 1888 A German composer and bandmaster he became director of the first German marine band in 1852. He traveled extensively with this band . For many years he played at the Baden-Baden health resort . He traveled with the marine band on several occasions to Paris and at a band tournament in Lyons he won first prize. When playing Paris he is said to have serenaded Napoleon. He was awarded an Iron Cross in 1872. Many of his compositions become very popular including the well known Anvil Polka. He was bandmaster of the 34th regiment band for over 35 years. He wrote numerous polkas and gallops and the most well known of his marches was the Napoleon march.
Pauspertl Karl b 1897 d 1963 Born in Serbia he studied music in Vienna. From 1916 to 1918 he led the band of the Austrian Infantry number 57 and eventually became the director of the world renown Vienna Hoch and Deutschmeister Regiment band. In addition to several original compositions he arranged numerous works of Austrian masters for band. Some of his works include the Hella overture and the Jubilamus overture.
Pecsi (Prichystal) Joseph b 1874 d 1958 He began music studies as a youth on organ and trombone. He became fascinated with band music and joined the 2nd Regiment band in Vienna in 1892. He then joined the Hungarian 61st Regiment band in 1895 which was stationed in Vienna When this regiment moved in order to remain in Vienna he joined the 3rd Tyrolean Imperial Rifles in 1899.In 1901 he joined the Infantry Regiment Carl I, King of Rumania until to collapse of the empire. In 1905 he moved to Hungary with the Regiment and in the same year was promoted to regimental drum major. This was a position of considerable responsibility and he was also appointed as assistant bandmaster. In 1907 he was selected by the officers of the regiment as bandmaster. At this time Budapest was the home garrison for seven regimental bands and the competition demanded that the bands perform at a very high standard. He also became a adjudicator on a board which selected marches for the German Militia. He served throughout World war I and eventually became a Hungarian citizen taking the name Pecsi. He led his band in numerous concerts and following the war he formed a cavalry band in the communist regime of Hungary of 1919. His other post war duties included a stint as bandmaster of the 5th Regiment at Sopron and he retained this position until 1928 retiring as a major from the military. He wrote and arranged an enormous amount of music for military band including a symphonic poem The Danube Legend and numerous marches with Pro Patria being the most well known.
Pennacchio Giovanni b 1878 d 1979 He was born in Naples and began a very early musical career. By 19 he became the director of the 77th Infantry Regiment as a second Lieutenant. In 1908 he helped to compile new regulations for military bands in Italy. He transcribed a great number of works for military band. He also wrote several orchestral compositions. Much of his music has disappeared his March Militaiire – Marte marcia militaire is only known work still available from a publisher.
Piefke Gottfreid b 1815 d 1884 He was considered one of the most outstanding figures in the world of military music. He was born in Poland and began his career in the8th Life Grenadiers Regiment band at Frankfort at age 20 in 1835 and made excellent progress. In 1838 he was sent to Berlin to study at the Royal Academy of Music where he remained until 1843. After returning to his regiment he continued his studies and became very proficient on all the instruments of the military band. In 1844 he was awarded the Royal Director of Music Degree and named bandmaster of the 8th Life Grenadiers a position he held until 1884. In 1852 his band was moved to Berlin joining six other military bands and four trumpet corps. Piefke’s record of achievement with his forty-piece band was well known in Berlin during this period. He undertook several reforms which had been introduced by Wilhelm Wieprecht. He was considered the perfect bandmaster and he composed numerous works for military band In 1865 he was appointed the Supervisor of Music for all bands of the 3rd Army Corps. He received numerous commendations including one from Chancellor Otto Von Bismarck in 1869.He never retired from the service and died while a member of the army in 1884.His energetic marches were part of his enormous contribution to military music and the most well know and revered were Der Königrätzer and Preussens Gloria (The Glory of Prussia) with the latter being one of the finest dramatic marches ever written for band.
Pope Douglas Alexander b 1904. He was born on the Isle of Wight and attended St Alban’s School and Kneller hall as a pupil. From 1928 to 1930 he was a member of the 2nd Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment and following his graduation from the bandmasters course at Kneller Hall he was the leader of the 1st battalion the Black Watch Regiment band. He was the Director of Music of the Royal Military Academy band at Sand Hurst from 1939 to 1943and the Royal Army Service Corps band from 1943 to 1944.. In 1944 he became the leader of the world renown Cold stream Guards band. The band toured America in 1960 and played to capacity audiences. He retired from the Army in 1963 with the rank of Colonel. Following his retirement he was the retired officer musical director of the Junior Musicians wing at the Guards depot and the Professor of Instrumentation at Kneller hall. His work in the field of recordings of the Coldstream Guards was extensive. The recording titled Overtures On Parade was his crowning achievement and it is still one of the finest recordings ever made of a military band playing great overtures. In addition he was a excellent arranger and transcribed several overtures for band. His most well known composition is the fantasy Nightfall in Camp which is performed for tattoos, searchlight festivals and music festivals around the world.
Prévost Arthur b 1888 d 1967. Considered to be one of the finest band arrangers of this century. He was born in Tournai and began studies on clarinet entering the service of the 1st Regiment of Grenadiers in 1906. He also played with the Mint Theatre orchestra. In 1910 he was appointed bandmaster of the 11th Infantry Brigade band and artistic director of the Royal band at Patâturges. In 1913 he directed the band of the 2nd Carabiniers, and during the world war he played bass clarinet in an orchestra formed behind the Belgium front lines. In 1918 he assumed leadership of the well respected and world renown Band of the Belgian Guides. Following the war the band took several triumphal tours including a trip to North America where the band played in twenty cities and was feted by the President of the United States Herbert Hoover in 1929. In 1932 he became the artistic director of the Belgian Sound Studio. During the war the band remained together although they were a civilian group for the duration. He retired from military service in 1945. His transcriptions remain the bulwark of European libraries. He was asked by several composers to arrange their works for band. He also wrote several original works for band His 6/87 march Marche de la Gendarmeries Nationale Belge remains his most enduring and dazzling marches.
Pryor, Arthur. b 1870 d 1942. He was once one of America’s most important musical figures. He was renowned as the world’s greatest Trombonist, a celebrated conductor and the composer of some of the most popular tunes of the early 1900’s. Pryor was a pioneering phonograph recording artist, an educator and a founding father of several major musical organizations. Indeed, during the height of his career (and many years after), Arthur Pryor’s reputation and influence in the music business rivaled that of John Philip Sousa. Learn more at Paragon’s website.
Radeck Ferdinand b 1828 d 1903. He was born in Spandau and very early in life sought a position in Prussian army bands. He was extremely diligent in both the musical applications and in administration and in 1854 was appointed bandmaster of the 6th Grenadier Regiment band in Posen (now Poland) For much of his military career he was bandmaster and administrator in the garrison of Goblets. He wrote several quality marches and his most well known march is Fridericus Rex Grenadiermarsch which is no 136 in book II of German Regimental marches.
Resta Francis Eugene b 1894 d 1968 Born in Italy he proved to be one of Americas finest military musicians. He began his career in Gloria del Colle on clarinet and piano and he made very swift advancement. He came to the US in 1911 and performed in orchestras, musical halls and in hotels. He entered the military during World War I presenting duo concerts on piano with Percy Grainger.. He remained in the army following the war and attended the bandmasters school at Governor’s Island New York and also studied at the Julliard School of Music. He graduated from both schools in 1920 and he then began a fourteen year sojourn in various posts of bandmaster in the US, Panama and Hawaii. In 1934 he was chosen from 485 applicants as the Leader of the US Military Academy band at West Point. He led this band in recordings, concerts and the band also appeared in several movies of West Point. He remained with the West Point band as principal director for 24 years and retired with the rank of Colonel. Resta composed several songs and marches and his Graduation March is still used for commencement exercises at West Point
Rhodes Samuel b 1900 d 1977 He completed forty-four years of military service in the British Army. Both feared and respected he was a giant among the cadre of the military musicians in Britain. He was both in Rochdale in 1900 and learned to play cornet in the brass bands of his community. He began his military career by joining the 2nd Seaforth Highlanders as a boy musician at age 15. Following seven years service he was selected for bandmaster training at Kneller Hall in 1923 performing on both cornet and String bass. He graduated in 1926 and was chosen bandmaster of the 1st Royal Scots. In 1935 he was selected to be bandmaster of the Royal Artillery Mounted band at Aldershot and remained in this post until 1938. In 1938 he was promoted to Lieutenant and appointed Director of Music of the Scots Guards band which remains one of the pre-eminent bands in the world today. In 1955 the band under Rhodes made a triumphal tour of the US and Canada visiting fifty cities in sixty-five days. He retired with the rank of Lt Colonel in 1959. His career spanned five decades. His best known compositions and marches include the slow march Golden Spurs and the march Lothian.
Ridewood Reginal Clifford b 1907 d 1942 A very gifted composer and conductor who no doubt left a lasting legacy on British military music. He was born in York, England and at fourteen enlisted as a band boy in the 2nd Battalion North Staffordshire Regiment. He gained entrance as a pupil to Kneller Hall in 1931 and returned to his unit in 1932 in Gibraltar. In1934 he was selected to undergo bandmaster training at the Royal Military School of Music. He undertook three roles when he began his bandmaster studies. He was the school music librarian , student and also played in the student band.,. He traveled to Canada in 1934 and appeared with the Kneller hall band at the prestigious Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto. He graduated in 1936 and was appointed bandmaster of the 4th Own Queen’s Hussars. He was commissioned in 1938 and became director of Music of the Royal Armored Corps. In 1942 he toured extensively both rehearsing, writing and conducting numerous shows for the troops. His schedule was extremely exhausting and because of a series of mishaps including the death of his daughter he was given a medical discharge from the service. He passed away in July of 1942 . Ridewood was a very talented musician who failed to profit from his many arrangements and compositions. . He was credited however with at least two great marches the Queen’s Own and Convoy.
Rosenkranz Anton b 1827 d 1888 One of the most renown Austro-Hungarian bandmasters he received his early training at the Prague Conservatory of music. He began his work as a bandmaster in 1847 with the band of the Prague Citizen’s Corps. In 1848 he was selected as the first bandmaster of the 2nd Styrian Volunteer corps band and remained with band until 1849. In 1850 he assumed command of the 39th Infantry Regiment “Dom Miguel”. He was frequently located in Vienna during his tenure with band and had ample opportunity to participate in the cultural life of that city. He had several highly successful commitments with his band including outstanding performances during the Emperor’s Tour of 1857. In 1859 he transferred to the 80th Regiment band. He remained with his unit until his death in 1888. During his career he wrote several well known military marches and numerous band arrangements. His marches the highly popular 76er Regiment and the 80th Regiment march were stirring examples of his march writing mastery.
Rozo Jose Contreras b 1894 d 1959 He was a Columbian bandmaster and composer. During his military career he learned to play flute, clarinet and saxophone. He taught music for several years and then in 1924 was sent to Rome where he became qualified as a military bandmaster. On his return to Columbia he was appointed bandmaster of his old regiment and eventually became the director of the national band of Bogatá which he helped to reorganize in 1934. He was also the Inspector General of Military bands in Columbia. He undertook several tours through Latin America with his band and he retired in in 1946. One of his orchestral numbers was broadcast by the BBC Orchestra under Adrian Bolt in 1942. He wrote several regimental marches including a well known Infantry march.
Rydberg Sam b 1885 d 1956 He was known as Sweden’s MARCH KING because of his electrifying marches. He enlisted as drummer boy in the army in 1898 in the Royal Södermanland Regiment. He also was trained on trumpet and the cello. In 1906 he was transferred to the band of the Royal Engineers in Stockholm. He began further studies at the Royal College of music and in 1926 after attaining very high marks in bandmaster examinations he became qualified as a military music director. He was appointed the director of the Royal Engineers from 1932 to 1935 after which time he retired from military service. During his career he wrote for the Swedish broadcasting service. He wrote several orchestral numbers and over seventy marches, of which ten have been adopted for regimental use. His best known work for band was the march On Guard composed in 1945.
Safranek Vincent Frank b 1867 d 1955 He was born in Bohemia but came to the US at an early age. He studied at the Conservatory of Music in Prague and on his return after graduation he became interested in military music and he applied for a bandmaster position and was selected for training and then sent to the 25th Infantry band at Ft Missoula, Montana. He developed some advanced ideas in the concept of the military band and added such instruments as alto and bass clarinets, oboes, French horns and flugelhorns to his band. Many of the military band arrangements were designed for brass bands with extra reed parts. As a result of his work in combing and balancing the instrumentation of the military band Safranek became the chief band arranger for the Carl Fischer publishing house. He made an enormous contribution to the band repertoires including marches, overtures and novelty numbers. He composed two very popular suites for band the Atlantis and Don Quixote suites. He served for 30 years as a US Army bandmaster and retired in 1930 from the army. Although many of his arrangements have disappeared from the band repertoire his International Peace march medley and Master Melodies remain as classic band works.
Saitoh Takanobu b 1924. He enrolled in the composition curriculum of the Tokyo National Academy of Music in 1943. In that same year he transferred to the Army band of Toyama school. as a trainee graduating in 1947. He June of that year he joined the Japan Self-Defense Force band and later served as the conductor of the Central Air Force band until his retirement as colonel in 1976He conducted the Metropolitan Police band until march of 1986. His marches mostly have followed the western influence. His titles suggest amore exotic flavor but as are influenced by western tonality. His two most well known marches Blue Impulse and Gleaming Crown of Victory are both modern and very listen able.
Santelmann William F (Bill) b 1902 d 1984 He began music studies on the violin at age six. He studied at two major American Universities, and on graduating he was auditioned and selected by the Cleveland Symphony however he found a strong attachment to the US military and was selected in audition by the US Marine band on euphonium. He spent many years with this band as a member and leader from 1940 to 1955 and his total service with the band when he retired in 72 was 32 years .His best known work was the march From Eagle to Star march written in 1945.
Santelmann William Henry Christian b 1863 d 1932 father of the preceding. He was born in Germany and started on the violin at a very young age. He entered military service at age 18 enlisting as a volunteer in the band of the 134th Regiment in Leipzig. He continued his studies and eventually emigrated to the US and became a violinist with the Philadelphia Orchestra. He then joined the US Marines band as first violinist and baritone player in the Washington based band. He served with the marine band for 8 years before directing his own band and a the Columbia theatre orchestras. In 1898 he was called back to the US Marines as the conductor and under his direction the band doubled in size to over 60 and as a result he also added an orchestra to the band. During his tenure every applicant for entry in band had to play both on a stringed instrument as well as a military band instrument. This approach gained much favor with both the public and the military.. He was the leader of the Marine band for 29 years and participated in many prominent, national and international events. He retired from his position in 1927. He wrote several marches and Waltzes the most popular of which is the National Capitol Centennial march of 1908 and the Admiral Dewey march.
Saro Heinrich b 1827 d 1891He played trombone in several bands and orchestras before joining the German Army with the band of the 11th Grenadiers in Breslau in 1847. In 1856 he was promoted to the rank of assistant leader. From 1859 to 1887 he led the world renown Kaiser Franz Garde Grenadier Regiment band. He composed and arranged several pieces for band including the Grand Military Tattoo one of the most well known military fantasies ever written. He toured America in 1892 and appeared in numerous concerts with his band.
Saverino Louis b 1915 He is a veteran of twenty-five years in the United States Marine band. He has numerous accomplishments including restoration and collection of rare string bass instruments and he is a gifted composer. He has composed several orchestral numbers and at least twenty-six marches. He was born in Windber Pennsylvania and studied with his father a musician and barber. He began to perform on the Sousaphone and completed courses at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and won a scholarship to the prestigious Eastman School of Music at Rochester New York. He graduated as a tuba major in 1938 and enlisted in the United States Marine band in 1939. He became proficient on String bass and the Bass Clarinet. He has been rated during his career as one of the great tubists and string bass players of his time. He developed into a fine jazz musician as well as a classical musician. In 1964 he retired from the Marines and continued performing in Jazz groups in Washington DC. Several of his marches for band have been published and the most important of his compositions include The Leathernecks, March of the Woman Marines and Pride of the Corps.
Sawerthal Joseph Rudolph b 1819 d 1893 brother of Hugo Zavertal and uncle of Ladislao Zavertal. He was born in Austria and studied at the Prague Conservatory of Music and after graduation was appointed bandmaster of the 6th Cuirassiers. He became very well known for his musical associations and also made a study of Austrian band music. In 1845 he assumed leadership of the Infantry Regiment 53. He reorganized this band into a very fine ensemble and the band was involved in the Italian campaign from 1849-1849. He became the leader of the 60 piece Austrian Navy band at Trieste in 1850 and once again developed this band into a top grade band. In 1868 he was invited to become bandmaster of 4th Kings Own Regiment band. In 1871 he became bandmaster of the Royal Engineers at Chatham. He was very successful as a bandmaster in Britain and was called upon to adjudicate at music festivals. He retired from the British Army in 1890 and returned to his native Austria. During his musical career he wrote several marches including a Funeral march and the Elegy on the Death of the Emperor.
Scala Frances Maria b 1920 d 1903. He began music studies at the Naples Conservatory. In 1841 he enlisted in the US Navy as a third-class musician however left the Navy in 1842. In 1842 he joined the US Marine Corps as a musician and eventually rose to the rank of Pipe-major or leader of the Drum and Fife band. later in 1859 he became the director of the US Marine band in Washington. The position of Leader was created in 1862 and he was the first to hold this position. He retired from the marine band as a Warrant Officer in 1871. He wrote nearly 50 compositions for military band including two of which were quite prominent in American history-President Grant and President Lincoln’s Inauguration marches.
Sebor Karl b 1843 d 1903 He entered the Prague conservatory of Music in in 1844 when only 11 years old . He was considered to be a child prodigy and many of his works were played while he was a student at the Conservatory. He became a substitute conductor for both orchestras and theatre orchestras. He also worked under the auspices of Anton Dvorak at the National Opera. While living in Prague he composed 4 operas. In 1871 he enlisted in the army and was appointed director of the band of the Infantry number 34.The band moved from their normal location in Lemberg to Vienna in 1874 and he his band became noted for their excellent performances. Johann Strauss remarked that he never heard his waltzes played better than by Sebor’s band. He left the 34th band and transferred to the 89th Infantry band from 1885 to 1887. In 1888 he succeeded the illustrious Karel Kozak I as leader of the band of the Regiment 88 in Prague and retired in 1890 remaining in Prague to write and lead the Prague Grenadiers band a group of former military musicians. He wrote several sparkling marches some of which are still performed today and they include Ungarischer march, Plevna march and the Jovanovic march.
Sellenick, Adolphe b 1816 d 1893. He was born in France and studied with his father who was bassoonist in a French Army band. Sellenick began to study violin and later switched to cornet. He performed with the Strasbourg theatre orchestra and directed a National Guard band in Strasbourg. In 1853 he became the leader of the 2nd Regiment Voltigeurs band in Paris and eventually was selected as leader for the 2nd Legion Republicaine band. In 1873 this band under his direction became the world renown Garde Republicaine band. Most of his works have almost disappeared in France but his March Indienne and fantasy Retreat of the Tarters can be found in several band catalogues. His march Le Voltigeur was arranged and renamed for the Les Voltiguers de Quebec by Joseph Vezina.
Setoguchi Tokichi b 1868 d 1941He was one of the most influential bandmasters and military band composers in Japan. He joined the navy band in 1882 and later became the leader and held that position until his retirement in 1917. In 1907 he led the band in a European tour playing in 16 countries and accompanied Prince Yoshito to London in 1910 for the coronation. He was instrumental in developing Japaanese military bands to a very high standard and he was the most honored military musician in Japan prior to World war II. He wrote a number of marches for band but his March Gunkan remains the his most beloved and finest work.
Silva Caetano A b 1868 d 1920 He began his musical studies at the convent in San Lorenzo and played cornet as well as studying composition. He later switched to French horn. He moved to Buenos Aires and became a bandmaster of a series of army bands including the 7th,11th,3rd,9th,6th,and 15th Infantry Regiment band. He moved several times particularly across the Pampa of Argentina He organized several community bands and military bands across Argentina. He help promote military band music in Agentina and his composition the San Lorenzo march remains a favorite in that country. Composed in 1899 it was recorded by the John Philip Sousa band in 1909.
Schneider Georg Abraham b 1770 d 1839 He was one of family of well known and respected German musicians. He became proficient on oboe and horn and performed in a Hessian regiment band. He also played in court orchestras of Darmstadt, Schwerin, Rheinsberg and Berlin. In 1812 he undertook of theatrical conductor and also led several military bands at Reval and Berlin. In 1816 and again 1820 he became the Kapellmeister of the court opera and leader for Army bands of the realm. He had a rare knowledge of musical instruments and wrote a large number of orchestral works as well as for military band. His symphonies and concertos were all transcribed for the wind band. His marches which are now extinct were mostly based on the Harmonie Musique concept.
Sebor Karel b 1843 d 1903 He was a Czech bandmaster. He failed to conclude his musical studies at the Prague Conservatory however he went on to develop a many sided career in music in 1871 he assumed leadership of the Infantry band no.34 bandmaster. In 1885 he became bandmaster of the 89th Regiment band. In 1888 he succeeded Karel Komzak I as leader of the band of Infantry Regiment 88 in Prague He retired in in Prague in 1894 and became the bandmaster of the Prague Grenadiers as a civilian. During his lifetime he wrote a good deal of music for the Czech opera and as well several military band numbers including four Hungarian marches, the Plevna march and the Jovanovic march.
Shore Mathias b? d 1700 A trumpeter who eventually became a King’s Trumpeter. In 1687 he was appointed to the post of Sergeant-Trumpeter to the Royal Household. He was a performer of Purcell’s day.
Shore William b ?d 1707 Brother of the preceding and also a trumpeter and King’s Trumpeter. He accompanied William III to Holland in the period 1690-91. He served with the Life Guards as Trumpet major. He appeared on numerous occasions with his brother to sound arrivals of plenipotentiaries and eventually succeeded his brother as Sergeant Trumpeter. His most famous work was the March Prince Eugene’s march into Italy.
Shore John b 1662 d 1752 He was the third family member to distinguish himself as a King’s Trumpeter and was a member of the King’s band of music in 1695. In 1699 he was a member of the a band of seven whom played for the arrivals of European Royalty. He replaced his uncle William Shore in 1707 as Sergeant Trumpeter and became the most celebrated trumpeter of his time. Numerous trumpet obbligato were written for him including several by Purcell. Shore’s trumpet tune which was famous in it’s day is attributed to him .
Slatter John b 1864 d 1954 Born in England he played euphonium and trombone and in 1882 he joined the Life Guards band. He emigrated to the US in 1886 and was hired by the Victor Herbert orchestra. In 1896 he came to Canada and became the leader of the 48th Highlanders band in Toronto a post he held until his retirement in 1946. Slatter became the most well known and respected military band musician in Canada. He was the director of bands, buglers and music for the Canadian army during World War I. He was a charter member of the Canadian and American bandmasters association and led the 48th Highlanders on numerous tours to America and to Europe. He wrote numerous arrangements for military band including a Scottish medley called The Bonnie Brier Bush and a patriotic march Under the British Flag. He organized book Patriotic band book which contains several Canadian Forces marches and anthems is still being marketed.
Snell Joseph Francois b 1793 d 1861He began early musical training on violin and eventually studied at the Paris Conservatory He became a violinist in the Vaudeville theatre. In 1813 he returned to his native Brussels and became the director of the bandmasters school of the Netherlands in 1828 and inspector of Army bands in 1829. In 1831 he was appointed as conductor of the Royal Society Grande harmonie (The Royal band). In 1837 he was made head of the of music of the Civic Guard. He wrote numerous compositions for orchestra and band and the most well known of his military compositions was a concert march Les Barricades.
Sousa John Philip b 1854 d 1932 Much has been written about this American legend but his greatest contribution to the heritage of military bands is that above all of his achievements he was a patriot. He began his musical career in Washington DC with several teachers. He studied violin and was equally at home on the flute, piano, cornet, baritone, trombone and piano. His father was a trombonist in the Marine band and he was permitted to sit in with the band at age of eleven. At age 13 he became a apprentice musician in the Marines . He left to perform in various theatre orchestras but in 1880 he was called upon to become the leader of the US Marines band. He held this position for 12 years and through his marches and compositions as well as arrangements brought the Marines to the highest standard ever reached by any military band in America. By the time he left to form his own band in 1892 his name had become a household word. Sousa’s career in the military did not end because he returned in 1917 to organize the bands at the Great Lakes Naval Training station, a job he did for one US dollar and for which he was granted the exalted rank of Lieutenant senior grade. Sousa had a outstanding career both as a military and civilian musician and his marches continue to flourish worldwide. The number of recordings of his works exceed well over a thousand units and his entire works are part of the Robert Hoe collection recorded by the US Marine band. Most of his marches have a flag waving quality and military precision is replicated in several of his compositions including The Gallant Seventh, Glory of the Yankee Navy, Sabre and Spurs, Raiders of the Flag, The Us Field Artillery March. The Black Horse Troop.
Derek Stannard b 1929 He began studies on trumpet at an early age with his father Ted Stannard who was a vaudeville musician. At age 17 he was selected for the Hallé orchestra under Sir John Barbirolli. He joined the Irish Guards band in 1949 as part of his National Service. He emigrated to Canada in 1952 joining the RCAF Tactical Air Command band in Edmonton. In 1958 he transferred to the Lord Strathcona Horse band. In 1960 he was selected for bandmaster training at the Royal Military School of Music at Kneller hall graduating with honors in 1963. He was commissioned as Lieutenant and posted to the Royal Canadian Regiment band in London Ontario. a post he held with distinction. In 1969 he was appointed associate director of the Norad band in Colorado Springs Colorado. In 1972 he became the Director of Music of the Central band of the Canadian Forces in Ottawa. His works for band include a composition for Concert band called Suite For Band written in 1961.He is presently (1999)the director of the Boca Raton Concert Orchestra.
Stanley Leo b 1885 d 1966 This was the psudonym of Randolph Robjent Ricketts and he was the brother of eminent British march composer Kenneth J Alford(FJ Ricketts). Stanley however developed into one of the world’s most prolific march writers. He was born in east London and began the study of French horn at an early age. He was attracted to military life and at age 15, enlisting in the 2nd 28th Royal Irish Regiment and was accepted at Kneller hall as a pupil in 1901. In 1910 he was selected for bandmaster training and graduated with several prizes including the Memorial medal from the Company of Worshipful Musicians. He was selected as bandmaster of the 2nd Essex Regiment in 1913 and saw service in Malta, Turkey, India and during World war 1 in France. He remained in various posts until his retirement in 1925. He became the civilian conductor of the Band of the Royal Signals an unofficial band withal professional director. He retired from this position in 1938. He wrote several sterling marches and several other works for band under his pen name of Leo Stanley. His most popular marches are Alamein, The Contemptibles, slow marches Pageantry and Colours.
Starke Hermann b 1870 d ca.1920 He wrote nearly 800 works for band most of which has disappeared from the scene. He was reportedly an non commissioned officer in the German Army with Infantry regiment band no. 168 in 1900. Most of his work was published just prior and during the First World war. Three of his works including the marches Bavarda, Light Cavalry and With Sword and Lance are still under copyright by Boosey-Hawkes of London with the latter being the most successful of his works.
Stauffer Donald W b 1919 He studied music at an early age and gained his Masters degree from the Eastman School of Music on Tuba and String Bass in 1942. He performed with the Rochester Philharmonic and Civic orchestras. In 1942 he joined the US Navy band in Washington DC. In 1956 he became Leader of the New York Naval base Band and in 1958 became the Head of Academic training at the Naval School of Music. In 1960 he was posted to the US Navy band as the third Leader and he was promoted to Lieutenant Junior grade in 1963. He held various other postings in the mid 1960’s including leader of the Atlantic Fleet band at Norfolk Virginia. In 1968 he reached the pinnacle of his career by being appointed leader of the US navy band. In 1970 he was promoted to the rank of Commander. He received several honors during during his sterling career including the Service Commendation medal. His crowning achievement with the band was the completion of the 15 albums of march music for the Heritage of the March series sponsored by Robert Hoe. He composed several works for band as well as numerous articles related to the wind band. His most important work for band is the march named in honor of President John F Kennedy and dedicated to the naval air craft carrier the U.S.S. Kennedy march.
Stieberitz Ernst b 1877 d 1945 He was a well known and respected conductor in Germany who gained prominence between the wars. His importance as a march composer equals that of Franz von Blon, Hermann Blankenburg, arl Tieke and Paul Linke.He began his musical career as a flautist, and entered military service in 1896 when he was eighteen. He was assigned to the 8th Rhenish Infantry band. In 1899 he was transferred to the Danzig Infantry band. In 1902 he was sent to study at the Royal Academy of Music in Berlin. He completed the bandmasters course in three years and at age of only twenty-nine became the bandmaster of the Danzig Infantry band. The list of the band shows that the musicians were very proficient on both band and orchestral instruments. During First World war most musicians were involved in war time duties. Following the war Stieberitz returned to his prewar employment as director of the Danzig 128th Infantry band. The city of Danzig was declared a free city and all of the German Troops departed including the band. However he was given the direction of the State Police band This band which was totally military in structure became one of the finest ever organized in the German Republics. Steiberitz had developed into a superb leader and showman. As the dark clouds of war rose again Stieberitz continued to play concerts and for his work he was promoted to the rank of major. He was killed during a Russian bombing raid on Danzig in 1945. He wrote numerous works for the concert and parade band including sixty marches. His arrangements of orchestral works were of extremely high standard. Two of his marches remain very prominent today and demonstrate his enormous legacy to the military band repertoire. They are It is Sunday, (Sonntag ist’s) and Under the Star of the Guard (Unter dem Gardestern).
Streck Peter b 1797 d 1864 He was a Bavarian bandmaster and he was the supervisor of seven military bands stationed in Munich. His concerts in the Munich ” Glaspalast” were sensational. and he was appointed the senior bandmaster in 1851. He composed several titles for military band. Several of his works for band were written in a series of related titles including the Jager march for Bavarian Army marches and the Munchen march for city marches.
Suma Yosaku b 1907 He has made a tremendous contribution to military music in Japan. He graduated first from the military band class at the Toyoma School of the Imperial Japanese Army in 1926. He became the principal trombonist of the Army School band. In 1939 he was promoted to the rank of Warrant Officer and assigned as assistant director of music at the Japanese Army Headquarters in Hong Kong. later he was promoted 2nd Lieutenant and director of music of the 2nd Command band of Asia. Following the war with the bands inactivated he played trombone in the NHK Symphony. In 1950 when the army bands were reorganized under the Self Defense programmed he established the Central Army band of the Ground Forces as a world class ensemble. He also supervised several other band . He was appointed the director of music for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. He retired in 1963 with the rank of Colonel and taught at the Musashino Music Academy in Tokyo. He has composed over 200 works for military band and his march Blue Sky remains as a superb example of his command of instrumentation and a wonderful feel for western idioms.
Takayama Minorou b 1907 d 1964. He began military service as a band boy in 1923 on cornet in the Yokosuka Naval Depot band. He later studied violin and theory at the Tokyo Academy of Music. He made steady progress and was posted to the Navy band of Tokyo and eventually after he had completed his studies he was commissioned and promoted to the rank of sub-lieutenant with title of Fleet bandmaster. He served for several years as conductor and executive officer of the Imperial navy band. Following the war when Japanese navy bands were reactivated he was appointed the director of the Japanese Coast Guard band which was renamed in 1954 the Maritime Self Defense Force band. His work in selecting and training musicians for the navy was of a very high standard and under his leadership the maritime band began traveling abroad and visited the USA, Hawaii and several Asian countries. He retired with the rank of Captain (Navy) in 1961. He had a tremendous influence on naval military band music in Japan which had a general impact on wind band music . His recordings of band music in Japan are very highly regarded as superb renditions of his own compositions and those of other Japanese and western composers. He wrote and arranged a number of works for band including the well known march Japanese Naval Craft (Akebono)
Tanzer Sepp b 1907 d 1983. One of Europe’s most well known and gifted musicians Tanzer was born in Austria. His outstanding musical ability was recognized ata very early age and he began studies on clarinet with eminent teachers. At the age of 12 he could perform nearly all of the known repertoire for clarinet and his skills as a instrumentalist were well known. At age 19 he began a career as solo clarinet with the 12th Trolean Mountain troop. He continued his studies and learned both conducting an theory. In 1930 he also became he conductor of the Innsbruck-Wilten band . Following his retirement from the military forces he became the permanent conductor the band and during the 1964 and 1977 Olympics gained international publicity for the band. He developed an enormous amount of wind band literature and under his leadership the Tyrolean wind band became world renowned. He composed over 150 works for band including preludes, fantasies, marches and suites. His most popular march is the march Red-White-Blue a march which honors the colors of Austria
Teike Carl b 1864 d 1922.He is considered to be one of the pre-eminent composers of his generation and his works remain extremely popular despite the fact that he has been gone from the scene for over 75 years. He was born in a small town in Prussia and began his musical career on the French Horn at age fourteen. In addition as part of his studies he learned the string bass. In 1883 he joined the 123rd King Karl Regiment band in Ulm. He was able to supplement his meager military earnings by playing in the local theatre orchestra and began to compose march music, the first of which was On the Banks of the Danube march. He was however disappointed in his bandmaster’s lack of appreciation for his most famous composition Old Comrades march which the bandmaster indifferently advised Teike to throw the manuscript into the fire. Following his bitter experience, he resigned from the army and became a policeman with various postings in Ulm and Potsdam. In 1909 he moved to Landsberg which is now in Poland. He took a position with the post office department and continued to write marches for military band. He wrote over 100 marches in his lifetime and at least 20 concert numbers consisting of waltzes, polkas, mazurkas and Rhinelander’s. In addition to the Old Comrades march he wrote the well known Graf Zeppelin march and the march Staunch and True. Although these marches remain at the top of the list in recording and performance it has been said that every march he wrote was magnificent and there is world wide concurrence in that observation.
Influential Musicians UVWXYZ
Uhlir Jan b 1894 d 1970 He joined the army in Bohemia in 1911 becoming a member of the Infantry Regiment No.1. He was taken prisoner by the Russians in World war I and eventually became the bandmaster of the 12th Czech regiments stationed in Russia. He returned home in 1918 and became bandmaster in various locations including Prague. He also took time to study at the Prague Conservatory of Music. On his graduation he was named Commandant of the Military School of Music. later he was inspector of Czechoslovakian military bands and taught instrumentation at the Prague Conservatory. He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1958. He wrote an enormous amount of material for band including 34 marches,10 Intermezzos 6 Waltzes,6 Polkas and 8 other works. His march Radost is his most well known work and was recorded by several bands in Czechoslovakia,
Unrath Carl Ludwig b 1828 d 1908. He was orphaned at birth but went on to become one of Germany’s most well known and popular composers of military marches. He became an apprentice bandsman at age 15 and entered the 4th Wurtemberg Regiment playing clarinet with the band for four years. In 1847 he was promoted to the band of the First Brigade. In 1848 he was selected for conservatory training. He was appointed bandmaster of the 14th regiment band in Ulm in 1850 at age twenty-two. He remained as bandmaster with this band until 1872. He had a distinguished war record serving with his regiment in the Seven Weeks war of 1870 and later in 1870-71 his regiment helped to overthrow the French Empire. He retired in 1878 and undertook a civilian occupation with the war ministry. He wrote approximately 100 marches and his works became known both in Europe and North America. His King Charles march is still performed and recorded in North America and has been programmed by several US and Canadian service bands. His march Pass in Review (Defiler) became staple for several Canadian Army bands following visits and postings to Germany in the 1950’s.His melodic compositions are among the most well scored music in the history of military music.
Urbanec Rudolph b 1907 d 1976 He had a very early interest in music and was able to learn violin under his own guidance. He attended the Military School of Music in Prague from 1924 to 1926 majoring in violin and baritone. In 1926 he joined the Czech Infantry Regiment band 35 at Pilsen. He also continued his studies at the Local Music School. In 1933 he left military service to perform with several civilian orchestras. From 1934 to 1936 he attended the Prague Conservatory and on graduation was accepted as an bandmaster in the Czech Army. His first appointment was as director of the Regiment 17 band and when broke out he left to forma band in Iran. He later led bands in Israel and eventually made his way to England. Following the war he returned to Prague and led the band of the Castle Guard and on retirement was music editor and manager and chief editor of the State Music Publishing House. He led the Supraphone concert band who made several recordings of concert band music. His known works consist of nine pieces three of which were marches including, Catherine March, The Peoples Army, and Wave Flag of Ours.
Van Der Glas, Jan Roelof b 1879 d 1972. At age six he began studies on the piano. Later at age 16 was selected for service in the Dutch Army Staff band stationed at Assesn. He proved to be a quick learner and the band conductor encouraged him to continue his studies. He learned to perform on French Horn, euphonium and cornet. In 1923 he was appointed director of the 5th Regiment Staff band stationed in Amersfoort. His band made a steady improvement under his direction and gained wide acceptance. He retired from the army in 1939. He composed a number of works for band which included several marches some of which were later recorded by the Royal marines Band of the Netherlands Navy.
Van Leeuwen Adrianus Cornelius b 1887 d 1962 born in the Netherlands he joined the 8th Regiment band as a young man in 1903 where he received his training both in theory and as an instrumentalist. He learned flugelhorn and eventually became a senior musician. later became a assistant leader of several military bands before qualifying as a bandmaster in 1936. He wrote several works for band and his most well known compositions include the Dutch Army march and March Heroique.
Vezina Joseph b 1849 d 1924 He was known as the father of Military bands in Canada. He was a very highly respected teacher and composer as well as an outstanding conductor. He was born in Quebec City and studied with the eminent composer Calixa Lavalleé who wrote O Canada. He was however a self taught musician who had a natural flair for music. He learned organ and many of the wind instruments of the band., He became a baritone player in the 9th Battalion of the Quebec Rifles and remained with that band from 1869 to 1879. In 1898 he became the bandmaster of the first permanent band in Canada, the Royal Canadian Garrison Artillery band. He also formed several civilian bands in Quebec city. He was responsible for organizing all of the musical events for the 300th anniversary of Quebec in 1908. Although he never actually joined the military forces of Canada serving as a civilian bandmaster on the civil service list he was considered one of Canada’s top military musicians. He wrote a vast amount of music for band and orchestra most of which remains unpublished. His most enduring work was the Marche de Parade -Parade March.
Villeneuve Charles A b 1930 He began an early career at the Quebec Conservatory of music . He joined the Royal 22nd band in 1952 as an oboist. In 1957 he was selected to attend Kneller hall in England on the bandmaster course. While at the school he became a member of the London Wind ensemble. He graduated in 1960 and on his return to Canada he was appointed as director of the Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps band in Montreal. On the amalgamation of the Canadian Forces in 1968 he became leader of the Royal Canadian Artillery band in Montreal. In August 1978 he was selected as the director of the famous R22nd Regiment band in Quebec City (commonly known as the Van-Doo’s) with the rank of Major. In 1980 he was promoted to Lt Colonel and became the supervisor of music for the Canadian Forces. He retired in 1984 and continued to serve as music coordinator for the Army cadets in the Quebec region . His most popular composition was La Belle Equipe -The Fine Team.
Voigt Friedrich Wilhelm b 1833 d 1894 He was born in Koblenz and received his initial training with his father. His talent was quite noticeable and he was sent to the local 30th regiment band at age 16. He furthered his studies at the Rheinishe Music school in Cologne from 1851to 1853.He was given a royal commission to study with August Wilhelm Bach at the Royal Academy of fine Arts in Berlin. He continued his work both as a performer on violin and as a composer winning numerous awards. He was recommended by William Wieprecht the supervisor of all German bands to become bandmaster of the 1st Regiment Foot Guards in Potsdam. He remained in this position from 1857 to 1887 He eventually was selected to become the supervisor for all German bands in 1887 to 1890. He retired in 1890 . In 1892 he led the combined bands of the German Army in a concert of music by Richard Wagner and this work was acknowledged by Wagner when he sent a portrait to Voigt. He wrote over 100 works many of which were for military band, including the exciting and unique march the German Emperor’s Guards (Die deutsche Kaisergarde)
W. Wake Wilhelm b 1864 d 1944 He was born in Bohemia and studied at the Prague Conservatory from 1879 to 1882. He entered military service in 1882 joining the Infantry Regiment band no.74. He left the army and became a music director in the town of Brixen. Later in 1894 he was appointed the musical director of the Infantry Regiment band the famous Hoch and Deutchmeister band. Under his direction the band gained wide acclaim often referred to as the philharmonic in uniform. He led this band until 1918. He retired after the collapse of the monarchy and began to write seriously for both orchestra and concert band. His march Thundering Cannons is his most well known and thrilling works for band.
Wagner Josef Franz b 1856 d 1908 He was born in Vienna and in his short lifetime became the march king of Austria. He studied at the Royal Military Institute in Kaschau and following military duty in the army n 1878 he was appointed bandmaster of the Royal 47th Infantry Regiment band. He remained in that post until 1892 he was appointed bandmaster of the 49th Infantry band which had several stations including Krems, Brünn and Vienna. He retired from the army in 1899 and began devoting more time to writing. Over 250 of his works were published and his opus numbers exceed 400 for total compositions. He wrote numerous marches, waltzes, concertos, and songs. His music has been recorded by several eminent bands including the Sepots Guards and the US Naval Academy band. One of his most widely acclaimed and popular marches was the Tyrolean Woodchopper march, Napolean march and his march Under the Double Eagle remains a universal favorite.
Wagnes Eduard b 1863 d 1936 Born in Graz Austria he began study of the piano and French horn at an early age. In 1878 he began a professional career by touring with the orchestra of Eduard Strauss. He served in the army from 1882 to 1885 with the 27th Regiment band of the Austro-Hungarian Army. In 1890 he became the bandmaster of the Uniformed citizens corps of Graz. In 1895 he moved to Yugoslavia to become the bandmaster of the 2nd Bosnia-Herzegovina Infantry Regiment. He did wear a uniform but like many bandmasters of the time was a civil servant. He remained as bandmaster with this band until 1919. He wrote over 300 compositions including operettas, forty waltzes and 100 marches as well as several other compositions. His most well known and beloved march is The Bosnians are Coming.
Whitcom, Kenneth George b 1926 was born in Battle Creek Michigan and attended Central High School in that city. Considered to be a superb natural musician he was selected for service with the United States Military Academy band at West Point in 1946 where he performed on clarinet and saxophone and was the chief arranger and assistant bandmaster. While at West Point he wrote a march called The Jubilee march under the pseudonym George Kenny. He later became the band master of the 30th Army band overseas in Germany. Following his retirement from the army in 1966 he became one of Americas top arrangers and composers . He arranged all of the music for the opening of the Epcot Center at Disney-World in 1982 and continues to play an active part at Disney-World each year. Besides Jubilee he wrote the concert march Coat of Arms.
White, William C b 1882 d 1964 He was a long serving American military musician, with 41 years service. He began musical studies at age 12 on violin, clarinet and saxophone. In 1907 he joined the US Army as a member of the 19th Coastal Artillery band at Fort Banks. He also had an opportunity to continue his studies at the New England Conservatory of Music graduating in 1911. His next appointment in the Army was as adjutant of the Army School of Music in Governor’s Island New York. He graduated as bandmaster in 1914 and was appointed as the Assistant Principal of the Army Music School in Washington and later became the Principal. During peacetime he had several military postings including Hawaii in 1928 and in New York and Washington. When war broke out in 1941 he again assumed the leadership of the US Army School of Music in Washington training musicians for military units. In 1946 he was appointed the director of the 321st Army band and he retired in 1948 with the rank of Chief warrant Officer.. He composed 8 marches all published by the Fischer Company the most well known is The General’s march 1932
Whiting Chester Earl b 1901 d 1985 Born near the city of Boston Mass he began the study of music by learning clarinet and saxophone. later he also played trombone and drums. In 1915 he joined the local National Guard band . He later attended Boston College and the New England Conservatory of Music. From 1924 to 1940 he was the director of the 110th Massachusetts National Guards band. During the early part of the war he was chief of bands of the 26th Yankee Division and earned the Bronze Star on New Caledonia for helping to raise the morale of the troops. He was sent back to the US at the end of the war to form the 1st Combat Infantry Corps band and traveled across the US helping to sell war bonds. In 1946 he organized the United States Ground Forces band which eventually was renamed the Army Field band. This band traveled extensively playing concerts in every corner of America and in Europe as well as in Canada. He retired from the army in 1960. Most of his marches were composed while he was serving in the Pacific Theatre of combat and a few have been published including Americal Division and Minnesota State Fair written after the war in 1949.
Widner, Ivar Fredrik b 1891 d 1973 Born in Sweden he began to study cornet at an an early age. At age fourteen he joined the band of the Royal Västmanland Regiment. In 1909 he was accepted for study at the Royal Academy of Music in Stockholm and graduated in 1915. In 1916 he became the Director of Music of the band of the Royal Norbotten Regiment. From 1923 to 1932 he was the director of the Hälsinge Regiment band with the rank of Captain. He was selected as the Director of Music of the prestigious Royal Navy band from 1932 to 1947. He retired in 1947. He presented very popular concerts at the Skansen, the open air museum in Stockholm. He was awarded the Royal Order of Vasa for his service to Sweden. He wrote over 100 works including 30 marches, several waltzes. His most well known marches were Swedish Signal March No 1 and Our Navy.
Widqvist Magnus Viktor b 1881 d 1952 Born in Stockholm he began early studies of music on violin and tuba.. He joined the army at age 17 with the Royal Engineers band In 1918 after several years of serious study he was appointed as director of the Royal Engineers band in Boden. He later was transferred to the Royal Engineers band in Karlsborg. He retired from the army in 1925. He returned to civilian life and earned a reputation as a professional violinist. He composed a number of light concert pieces for both orchestra and band his most well known numbers for military band were the marches Queen of Malaren and Under the Blue and Yellow Flag.
Wieprecht, Wilhelm b 1802 d 1872 He was one of most influential military musicians of his age.. He developed the instrumentation for various types of bands in Germany and Prussia and through his leadership the military band gained vast prominence and acceptance throughout the world. His work in the development of piston brass instruments heralded the advent of the valve trumpets, horns, tubas and euphoniums. He reorganized 30 infantry bands and ten cavalry bands in Germany and by 1838 he became the director of the band of the Berlin Guide. He was born into a family of military musicians. He learned violin and oboe from his father later learning clarinet and trumpet. He studied with musicians of the Royal Orchestra of Bernberg. He was encouraged by Carl Maria Von Weber and eventually joined the Royal Orchestra. He began work on cavalry marches and composed several marches for the German Army. By 1838 he was the civilian instructor of military bands of Berlin. Several of his marches and compositions are in the repertoire of today’s bands in Europe. He is said to have transcribed all of the symphonies of Beethoven for military band and several pieces of Mozart. He gained international prominence in1867 by winning first prize at the celebrated Paris Band Festival. His futuristic approach to band music and his conducting style was brought to the attention of composers, Franz Liszt, Giaccomo Meyerbeer and Gasparo Spontini who admired both his bands and his novel symphonic conducting style. His marches Dessauer, Parade march and the Festival of the White Rose remain as a testament to his compositional technique and his knowledge of band scoring.
Willcocks, George Henry b 1899 d 1962 He joined the 4th Battalion Royal Fusiliers as a bandsman Bb Cornet and later was transferred to the 1st Battalion. In 1920 he was selected for training at Kneller hall and on graduation in 1924 become the bandmaster of the 2nd battalion South Wales Borderers. In 1937 he was selected as bandmaster of the Royal Artillery band at Salisbury Plain. In 1938 he was appointed Director of Music of the Irish Guards band and received his Queen’s Commission. He retired from service in 1949 and became closely associated with the British Brass band movement. The most well known of his marches include the Youth Triumphant and the Spirit of Freedom March.
Winterbottom, Frank b 1861 d 1930 His transcriptions and arrangements of works for military and concert band remain as a shining example of works for band. He began his musical career on cello and after a short career in several residential orchestras he was appointed professor of music at Dulwich College in England. In 1890 he joined the Royal Marine band service and was appointed Director of Music of the Royal Marine band at Chatham. He remained in this position until 1910 when he was appointed instructor of band instruments at Kneller hall. Over 300 of his works were published by Boosey or Chappell. His Transcription of Capriccio Espagnol and hundreds of other arrangements remain as a tribute to his enormous ability in the field of band scoring.
Wornes, William Thomas (Major) b 1940 He started his career with the British army as a Band-boy studying the Flute. He attended the Royal Military School of Music, Kneller Hall and studied under R. J. Boddington. He emigrated to Canada in 1964 as a member of the Royal Canadian Dragoons Band. He performed as principal Flute for the New Brunswick Symphony Orchestra and toured frequently with the New Brunswick Woodwind Quintet. He served subsequently with the Vimy Band under Capt. Ken Moore and The Royal Canadian Artillery band under Major Charles Villeneuve. He was selected for training as a Director of Music in 1979 and after extensive training, was commissioned as Director of Music in 1980. He served as a training officer at the Canadian Forces School of Music and promoted to Captain. In 1984 he took over the Vimy Band as Director and later, the Artillery Band. He was promoted to Major in 1990 and appointed Commandant of the Canadian Forces School of Music. After retirement in 1992, he served for a further three years as Inspector of all Reserve Force bands across Canada.
Y. Young, Alfred b 1900 d 1975.Born in England he began studies of piano with his father. At age six he began violin lessons and became part of the music scene in Colchester, England. At age 13 in 1913 he enlisted in the army as an under age member of the Durham Light Infantry. In 1919 he went with his band to Russia as part of the Russian Expeditionary Force. His playing skills were very much in demand and he was a featured performer in concerts by the Durham Light Infantry band .In 1921 his unit was transferred to India. He studied for the entrance examination to the Royal Military School of Music and in 1924 he was accepted for bandmaster training . He graduated in 1927 and was appointed as bandmaster of the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry band . He remained with this band until 1938 until he was appointed the first bandmaster of the Royal Army Service Corps band . he held this post until 1942 touring widely and giving numerous concerts. He was appointed director of music of the Royal Engineers band in 1942 and while on tour with the band in 1944 contracted malaria. He retired and eventually became the professor of instrumentation at Kneller Hall from 1959 to 1966. He is still considered to have been one of most underrated composer in Britain. During the war he wrote directed and arranged the highly successful radio and life concert series “Band Review”, “Calling all Services” and “Stars in Battledress”. He composed a considerable amount of music during his lifetime including well known marches such as Boots and Saddles, Sovereign’s Escort and the superb march the Matador. He also composed under the pseudonym Earl Brigham.
Zaverthal Laislaus b 1849 d 1942 He was Italian by birth and studied at the Conservatory of Milan. He made his first appearance as a conductor in Milan and following this appearance he was selected as the conductor of the Milan Theatre Orchestra. In 1865 he emigrated to Scotland settling in Glasgow. He became the civilian director of the 11th Foot Regiment in 1872 and in 1881 he was appointed the director of the Royal Artillery band . He remained in this post until 1907. His work with the Artillery band and orchestra gained him international plaudits. His concerts became the highlight of the London concert season. He was one of the first conductors in Britain to take the music of the military band to the people when he began to play outdoor concerts in the summer months in the sea-side cities. His work gained him recognition by British Royalty and he received numerous awards including the Victorian Order of Britain. He was one of the first military band directors to require that musicians have a dual skill in both military band and orchestral instruments thus making the organization of the Artillery band very versatile. The most well known of his works for band included the stirring grand march Queen Victoria and the 76th Italian Regiment march.
Zehle, Wilhelm b 1876 d 1956 Born in what was known as Prussia he began music studies in Magdeburg in 1895 at age nineteen. He eventually joined the Royal German Mobile 2nd Sea battalion at Wilhelmshaven as a military bandsman. He was very talented cornet and trumpet player and soon became the band soloist. In 1900 his battalion was ordered to China to help quell the boxer rebellion and was part of the joint invasion forces from Austria, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States. Shortly before sailing the band leader became ill and Zehle was appointed in his place . Following his service in China he began writing the suite “Sounds of Peking”: which was later published. On his return to Germany he resumed his role as solo trumpet, He left military service in 1903 taking the position of Administrator at the Civil Port Authority in Wilhelmshaven. He won the prestigious march composition contest sponsored by Hawkes and Son with the march Viscount Nelson in 1900, Army and marine in 1901, Wellington in 1906 and Trafalgar in 1908.He had a great influence on future composers with his strong melodic and harmonic structure of his marches. He was an enormous talent and his marches are still performed around the world. The Wellington march is considered his tour de Force in marches. Many of his marches are still being recorded by major bands world wide.
Zita, Frantisek b 1880 d 1946 Born in Austria he joined the military service as a band boy with the 3rd Bosnian Infantry Regiment. He was able to learn several instruments including violin, tenor horn and euphonium. The band conductor at this time was the eminent composer Franz Lehar. On Lehar’s recommendation he was accepted into the Budapest Musical Academy. In 1902 he became the Drum Major of the Infantry Regiment 97 band at Trieste. In 1911 he became the band leader. His most famous period was from 1919 to 1921 when he led the 2nd garrison band and the Infantry Regiment 43rd band at Brno (1921-36). He was a very proficient conductor and he helped to raise the standard of his bands by introducing symphonic and operatic transcriptions into his repertoire. He retired in 1936 and left behind 11 works for band. He wrote eight marches for band some of which are still being performed in Hungary today.
Zimmerman, Charles A b 1862 d 1916 He had a long and distinguished career as bandmaster at the US Naval Academy from 1887 until 1916. He is best remembered for the march Anchors Aweigh. He began musical studies with his father who was a musician in the Naval Academy band. At age 20 he attended the Peabody Institution, Baltimore majoring in instrumental music, becoming a skilled pianist and learning several instruments. He became leader on the Naval Academy band in 1887. He gained national recognition by leading the Academy band orchestra and was offered the post of director of the US Marines band when Sousa retired in 1892. He remained a beloved campus figure at the Academy until his death in 1916.
You have not included the German composer and Music Director Herms Niel who composed many famous marches (including the march “Erika”) during the 1940’s
Dear Mr Hayes:
Many thanks for your note regarding HERMS NEIL. I will be adding the info I have on him shortly. However I should point out that his real name was HERMANN NIELEBOCK and he wrote under the pseudonym Herms Neil. Again thanks for bringing him to our attention.
Sincerely
jack