Hot music training in the Middle East

Musn O’Brien

Musician Perry O’Brien is a member of the Band of The King’s Division. He was recently part of a short term training team along with members from the Heavy Cavalry and Cambrai Band sent to Kuwait to assist with music training of the Kuwait Army Band.

Maestro masterclass

The Heavy Cavalry and Cambrai Band were recently tasked to provide a short-term training team for the development and positive forward direction of the Kuwait Army Band. Aided by members of the Band of The King’s Division, a team of five personnel ventured to the middle-east.

Upon arrival at Kuwait Airport, we were hunted down in the crowd by Kuwaitis from the British Embassy. We were humbly escorted to the VIP lounge to drink Turkish coffee and Chai (drinks we were to consume thousands of during our stay) while our baggage was being retrieved and visas obtained on our behalf.  We met with our point of contact who briefed us on local etiquette, discipline and culture before moving to the Moevenpick Hotel. We were very well catered for at the hotel and we could see that the Kuwaitis were very grateful to have us over there.

Our first day with the band added another 12 glasses of Chai (an extremely sweet tea with extra sugar but no milk). We met the band who demonstrated their day-to-day schedule and performed how they usually would.  Their ensemble consisted of 2 ‘Maestros’, 17 trumpets, 2 Flutes, 12 Clarinets, 6 saxes, 4 Trombones, 3 Euphoniums, 2 Tubas and a 10-strong percussion section.

Our aim was to focus on the improvement of the ‘Maestro’s’ technique and confidence to enable them to carry on improving the band after we had finished our short time there.  This was no easy job for the Director of Music Captain Riley as the Maestros did not speak English. Captain Riley was no silver tongue in Arabic, either! However, the local translators from within the band did a fantastic job of conveying his lessons to the Maestros.

The band in Kuwait

Short term training for the Kuwait Army Band

Almost instantly - with the help of the team sitting within the sections, a stern approach to reducing dynamics and the number of musicians performing at one time being decreased - we established the progression of significant musical improvement and our ambitious goal of improving the standard of the Kuwait Army Band soon became vastly more realistic. They already produce an incredibly high standard of pipes and drums so there was no reason why the wind band element could not be as successful.

By the end of the first week, the Kuwait Army Band had demonstrated significant improvement and set up a meeting to perform for the Chief Of General Staff, Kuwait Army.  With the help of the brass quintet and under the direction of Captain Riley, the performance was a huge success; The Chief of Staff was very pleased with the improvement of the band and it was clear to see that the work of the training team was having a monumentally positive impact on the standard of musicianship.

Back to the classroom

Over the next couple of weeks, we were hosted by British Officers of the British Military Mission. Our team formed a brass quintet to allow us to perform as a small ensemble whilst we were in Kuwait. We performed with dozens of talented British children to raise money for a charity supporting orphans in Argentina.  We also performed at the Raddison Club for the public and one night in the desert near Iraq, with cyalume® (light sticks) being our only source of light – this was the most interesting performance I have ever been involved in.

We were also due to provide musical support at the Queen’s Birthday Party, but this was postponed out of respect for the late Margaret Thatcher.

We visited Kuwait English School and The English School to deliver educational workshops to classes of children.  This added another interesting dimension to our already diverse visit.  The children thoroughly enjoyed our lessons on all of the instruments, even if it was just the teachers that were old enough to remember “Pigbag”!

Our drivers were on call 24/7 and had our every need catered for before we could even ask.  We were made to feel comfortable and welcome everywhere we went, visiting museums, bazaars, beaches, traditional cafés and impressive national buildings. There were only a few square inches of Kuwait city that we didn’t get to see!

Overall, Kuwait offered an extremely interesting and valuable experience to each one of us.  Not only did the Kuwait Army Band benefit from the effective and positive direction we delivered, but we gained a wealth of knowledge in return.  It was amazing to see the effect we could have on the Kuwait Army Band and to see their improvement as a direct result of our input. I suppose the 35 degree sun, incredible hospitality and interesting culture were the few added bonuses to a very rewarding mission.

Snowboarding with Army Music

Musician Emma Newbold

Musician Emma Newbold is a musician in the Band of The Royal Regiment of Scotland, part of the Corps of Army Music (CAMUS). During a normal working day she plays the clarinet in wind band or marching band supporting the Army worldwide. She tells us about her participation and training in the Army Snowboarding Championships 2013 (Exercise SNOWJACK).

Training week

After a long and exhausting 31-hour drive from Edinburgh to Austria, I arrived in a little village called Neustift. I had previously visited Neustift the Christmas before, for a snowboarding holiday. Coincidentally, I met the Army snowboarding commander whilst I was there. After observing me for the week, he gave me the opportunity and the information to compete for the Corps of Army Music (CAMUS) in Ex SNOWJACK.

As I am the first and only member of CAMUS to compete in snowboarding, there were no ‘training camps’ that I could attend with fellow musicians. So I was kindly placed on to the Royal Engineers training package to prepare the week prior to the competition.

The Royal Engineers training week consisted of four parts. Firstly, we had to establish which riders were at an intermediate or senior level, by completing a full morning of back-to-back riding on all terrains of snow. The slopes come in three different levels. BLACK, being the most difficult. RED, being slightly challenging and BLUE being the easiest and basic level.

The week started off in the ‘fun park’. This is practice for the slope-style racing or commonly known as freestyle event that kicks off the start to the competition. As an Army rider you have to be capable of completing two ‘kickers’ (steep jumps, demonstrating various tricks) either on a blue or red slope. Secondly you are to perform man0euvers and safely tackle the boxes and rails.

After concentrating most of the week on techniques and skill improvement we got the opportunity to rehearse the second and third part of the racing, slalom and boardercross. I deducted 26 seconds off my overall time on slalom in the first week and felt I vastly improved the boardercross route, even though this practice event was not timed or accurate.

Competition - slope style/freestyle.

Brief description Freestyle involves the rider using man-made terrain features, such as rails, boxes and large kickers.
How it is graded: Tricks performed during the race. How many and how complicated the tricks performed are. Also the height, speed and fluency of the overall run on each obstacle.

The weather was freezing for the best part of three days in the training week; it drastically changed for the better on the first day of qualifying for the slope style competition. There were 70 – 80 members overall taking part, from different Corps and Regiments. We had the best part of two days to practice and decide what tricks and obstacles to tackle to allow us to gain the most points. I decided my best option was to straight ride the blue kicker and complete a 50/50 over the box. I qualified in to the top 32, but unfortunately on this event I was wiped out on my third run leaving me in 28th place. 

Musician Emma Newbold taking part in Ex SNOWJACK

Musician Emma Newbold taking part in Ex SNOWJACK

Musician Emma Newbold taking part in Ex SNOWJACK

 

Side-by-side Slalom

Brief description – Riders race head to head on Parallel Giant Slalom courses with the winner advancing to the next round.

The second event was the slalom course, which fortunately we had received many hours of training the week prior to the competition. The qualifying of the slalom took place over two days, as you had to race down twice individually to get an average time. Once the judges had established the top 32 competitors, the riders paired up and raced to get the final 16. Both riders would complete both red and blue course, racing twice, to obviously keep the competition fair.  This process would repeat itself through the top eight, four and then final two. Obviously, ending with the one winner. I managed to qualify down to the final eight but came to a standstill at 6th place!

“Wootang” – Boardercross

Brief description – In Boardercross four riders race down a course similar to a motorcycle motocross track (with jumps, berms and other obstacles constructed out of snow on a downhill course).Competitions involve a series of heats, with the first two riders in each heat advancing to the next round. The overall winner is the rider that finishes first in the final round.

The final three days of the competition were approaching and the final obstacle was making everyone nervous. Boardercross is known for its risky, dangerous and painful outcomes. There were hours of inspecting the course and discussing tactics with the team captain. The “wootang” I found one of the hardest obstacles to concur. It is a vertical drop at the very beginning of the race, which carried four people straight into two steep rollers. It became the first danger trap, putting five competitors in the hospital on the first day.

The races began on the last day. The glacier had a heavy drop of snow the night before the race. It perfected the course leaving it with the best conditions we’d had so far. Like the two previous races, it started off with the qualifying. However, as there were injuring from the practice run of the boardercross and previous races, there were enough people to qualify into the final 64. The first two to finish the race would then proceed into the next 32, then 16 and final eight. Once the final eight were established, we then had the finals of the males and females, racing separately. I qualified to the final and finished fourth overall.

Ex SNOWJACK 14

The Army snowboarding championships takes place every year in March (Neustift, Austria). However, there are training camps/weeks that take place prior to the competition to improve different sections of riding. EX SNOW METHOD (Oct 2013) is the Army snowboarding freestyle championships. However, for those who are not so confident on the kickers, boxes and rails there is only two days of competition and the rest of the week is training. You can still attend as a basic rider and have an introduction to freestyle. This would allow you to take part in the Army Championships the following year.  It would be great to put a CAMUS snowboarding team together to attend Ex SNOWJACK 14!

Short term training for Ethiopian National Defence Force band

Captain Frost

Captain E Frost, Director of Music, The Band of The Parachute Regiment has just returned from a three week trip with a Short Term Training Team to train the Ethiopian National Defence Force Band.

Ethio-Jazz

Preparations for a Short Term Training Team (STTT) to assist the Ethiopian National Defence Force (ENDF) Band began in the middle of December 2012, when a request was received from the Defence Attaché in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for the Corps of Army Music to provide a team.  I was tasked with commanding the team that was to include two other members of The Band of The Parachute Regiment (PARA Band) and one member of a TA Band.

The Corps of Army Music had previously provided three other teams to assist the ENDF Band between 2007 and 2011 so the task for the latest team was to build upon the training already delivered.  Liaison with the Defence Attaché established that the ENDF wanted to concentrate on developing their small ensembles, along with anything new that the STTT could bring to them.  The dates were set for a three-week period in February and March 2013 and the British Embassy in Addis Ababa agreed to cover all necessary administration.  All that remained was for me to choose the team.

The first task was to locate a member of a TA Band who had the necessary instructional skills and who was able to attend during the dates set.  After a request to all TA Bands a number of candidates were identified and after much deliberation Sgt Innes, from the Highland Band of The Royal Regiment of Scotland (SCOTS (H) Band), was chosen to be the woodwind instructor.  Drum Major (DMaj) Ryall and Cpl Kilcoyne, both from the PARA Band, were chosen as the brass and percussion instructors respectively.  Additionally, Sgt Innes would assist the ENDF with their understanding of Jazz and Pop music, particularly in relation to their own Ethio-Jazz, while DMaj Ryall would assist with the ENDF Band’s own Drum Majors, Majorettes and Marching Band drill and deportment. Cpl Kilcoyne would be assisting with instrument/equipment care and maintenance as well as IT hardware and software.  My role would be to command the team while teaching general musicianship to the ENDF Band members as well as relevant musical, organisational and command and leadership skills to their officers.

After a long flight the team arrived at Bole International Airport and after negotiating a tricky situation whereby Customs officials wanted to impound Sgt Innes’ saxophone – amid ‘helpful’ comments by other team members relating to whether the officials were music lovers or had heard Sgt Innes before – we were met by our liaison officers from the British Embassy.  We were then escorted to the Intercontinental Hotel, which was to be our home for the next three weeks, and then allowed to recuperate from the journey and adjust to the high temperatures in Ethiopia at this time of year.

Golf among the giant tortoises

Work with the ENDF Band started the very next day and the first two days of training involved meeting with the band’s chain of command, establishing the training required, observing the band in action, and devising a suitable training programme for the entire period.  It was immediately clear that in addition to small ensemble work time would need to be spent with the Marching Band as, like British military bands, this is the ensemble that performs most regularly.  Nonetheless, as the team had been asked to deliver something new as well it was decided that we would concentrate effort on producing a Corps of Drums display as it was felt that this could be a good focus for the band.  Equally, building upon the musicians’ understanding of Pop and Jazz music, a Big Band was formed from the best players available within the trumpet, trombone and saxophone sections.

Members of Ethiopian National Defence Force Band receive training from Capt E Frost.

Week one also included Music Appreciation lessons, delivered by me, on: western music and the components consistent in military music; Marches, their structure and key features; and an introduction to Big Band music and Dance Bands.  Time was also spent with the ENDF Band’s officers on conducting and rehearsal technique, band management, instruction in the use of Sibelius® software (hardware and software for this already provided by the British Embassy) and an examination of military bands from around the world and how they typify their respective nations.  Week one then culminated in an opportunity for the team to enjoy the facilities at the British Embassy compound, where members enjoyed a round of golf among the giant tortoises that roam the estate.

Learning marching band drill and deportment with Drum Major Ryall.

Cocktail Jazz and Frank Sinatra classics

Week two continued the training and included a focus on equipment care and maintenance.  This also allowed the team to advise British Embassy staff regarding equipment that could be procured on behalf of the Ethiopians.  It was also established that the training would culminate in a performance to the General in charge of the ENDF Band’s area of responsibility.  As the British Embassy Defence Attaché wasn’t going to be able to attend this performance he attended a ‘halfway’ performance to view progress and to understandably check that the training was providing value for money.  The team then formed a small jazz combo that performed at a families’ function at the British Embassy at the end of this week.  It was billed as Cocktail Jazz and was fronted by Sgt Innes with some top class improvisation, as this is an area he regularly performs in during his civilian role as a ‘gigging’ musician in Edinburgh.  Sgt Innes then finished the evening with a set of Frank Sinatra vocal items to iPod backing tracks.  This proved a big hit with all attendees, young and old, and saw much dancing and requests for favourite Sinatra classics.  Equally, the Embassy hosted a number of visitors from other nations that night and a group of Americans were particularly impressed to be visiting “…a British pub in an Embassy in Ethiopia, to hear a Scotsman from the British Army sing Sinatra – really well”!

Sgt Innes giving saxophone lessons.

The last week saw the training focus towards the final performance.  The Corps of Drums honed their display under the tutelage of DMaj Ryall (who had previously served in the RLC Corps of Drums) and Cpl Kilcoyne.  Simultaneously, the Big Band were put through their paces by Sgt Innes and myself, and we also introduced them to some simple showmanship to make their final performance all the more impressive.  The final day’s performance to the General included: a new Marching Band display, complete with manoeuvres simple yet effective enough for a 90-piece band to complete; new static performance works; a Corps of Drums display that included ‘sticking’ in the style of the Royal Marines Band Service; a performance by a Saxophone Quartet, ready for background music at function; and the much anticipated inaugural performance by the Big Band.  The latter was enjoyed by all attending – particularly due to some choreographed moves to the strains of Gershwin’s classic Strike Up The Band – and it was evidently enjoyed by the General who promptly ‘High Fived’ me at the end of the performance!  The band and the team then said our farewells in a traditional Ethiopian candle lighting ceremony and over a traditional lunch of national dishes.

The STTT thoroughly enjoyed working with the ENDF Band and it was heartening to see how much progress could be made in such a short space of time.  The Ethiopians were humble, respectful, attentive and appreciative of all training and this made every day with them a genuine pleasure.  The team also got the opportunity to visit some of the area’s cultural sites and restaurants, while also building a sun tan that looked out of place once the team returned to near 0°C temperatures at London Heathrow.

It is hoped that future teams from CAMUS will be able to assist the ENDF Band and that, with the help of the British Embassy in Addis Ababa, the relationship between the two organisations will go from strength to strength.

The bruises to prove it

Emma Peacock

My name is Emma Peacock, I’m an Army musician and I play flute and piccolo in The Band and Bugles of The Rifles. I have been here a year and a half now, after completing Phase 1 training at ATR Pirbright and Phase 2 at The Royal Military School of Music, Kneller Hall.

Recording the CD

Finally, after about twenty hours of recording, The Band and Bugles of The Rifles new CD was completed!  Over a weekend The Salamanca Band and Bugles of The Rifles and The Waterloo Band and Bugles of The Rifles joined our regular band to record some of the highlights from last year’s Swift and Bold concert held in The Royal Albert Hall.  This took a lot of time but seemed to go well and hopefully the CD will be out for purchase later in the year.

The massed band preparing and warming up for the recording.

The next week we had some visitors to the band.  These were six 14-18 year olds who were on a ‘Look at Life’ course with us.  We showed them many aspects of band life, including a few full band sessions and a fitness session with Corporal Jessup.   We even managed to squeeze in a field craft session, taken by one of our bugle platoon.  They plastered their faces with cam cream and enjoyed the delights of a ration pack!  During the evenings we showed them the social side of band life.  One night this meant going bowling and another night Musician Wood and Musician Dwyer organised a very entertaining quiz.  Nevertheless, we still had to show them what the job entails, so took them on the road with us to Davis Street, London, for our annual Kings Royal Rifle Corps concert.  As always, this concert was really well received and the audience seemed interested to meet the next generation of musicians in the Corps of Army Music.

The day after the ‘Look at Life’ left us we all boarded minibuses.  However, for once we didn’t mind.  We were starting the long journey to Bavaria for adventurous training on Exercise Tiger Swift.  The trip started well, with our minibus driver, who shall remain nameless, stalling.  And, as per last year, we got lost again and this resulted in a lot of banter coming across the radio.  After eight hours on the road we stopped off overnight at Elmpt.  By that time our group were relieved to get out of the minibus as we’d had enough of Lance Corporal Barratt and Musician Wood singing!

Once we had arrived at the slopes we were assessed and separated into groups.  Those who had not skied before were left to learn how to put their skis on while the rest of us headed up the slope for some fun.  The first day went well with not too many falls; however our instructor, Tomo, liked doing jumps so I did manage to spend a little time face down in the snow!  We were staying in a lovely lodge in Ortwanger and in the evenings everyone met up for drinks in the little bar to catch up on the day’s activities.

Ski touring

The next day we returned to a slope that we tried last year.  I hadn’t had a very good experience there previously so was quite nervous, however after a couple of runs down felt a lot happier and like I had conquered a fear!  Our instructor decided that along with jumps, we would all ski on one leg.  This proved difficult as I have no centre of balance, however by the end of the week I could manage a few seconds.  Not only did we ski in Germany, but we made it across the border to Austria.  This was a lovely area with some beautiful scenery.  I was really pleased to be the only one in my group to get over a really bumpy area and make a jump!

On the first night of the trip Corporal Jessup’s red PTI belt had gone missing and throughout the week it seemed to appear everywhere on the slopes.  All groups (even his!) had it at some point.  He was starting to get suspicious of everyone and everywhere by the end of the week and when we all went out for dinner one evening after skiing he was even suspicious of the waitress.

The following day a large group went for a day’s ski touring.  This is the equivalent of walking up hill in skis.  I did this last year and was quite happy to not have to do it again this time around as I much prefer to go downhill.  When they came back they all seemed to have enjoyed themselves, yet a few were very relieved that it was over.  That evening Musn Dwyer and Musn Howes did a great quiz in the bar.  I actually learnt a few things, including that an octopus has three hearts!

The last day of skiing was upon us and we were all determined to make the most of the day. When we got to the top of the gondola however, we couldn’t see a thing as the clouds were so low.  This resulted in us getting a little lost and heading down a black slope with very little vision.  Thankfully we all made it down safe, despite a few people falling over and sliding down the length of slope on their bums!

Exercise Tiger Swift group photo.

With skiing now over the majority of the band and bugles now hold their SF2 qualification and are thoroughly exhausted!  While most of the unit were away skiing some decided not to go overseas and went to Wales where they did rock climbing, mountain biking, horse riding, go karting and kayaking.  Apparently they had good fun and the highlight of the trip was watching one of the Lance Corporals trying to get on to a horse which was much bigger than her while she couldn’t stop giggling!  Now we’ve returned to the unit we’re back to everyday life, but with a little more of an adventurous streak, and the bruises to prove it.

Musician Emma Peacock wrapped around a tree!

Army band tours the USA coast to coast – part three

Musician Paul Williams

Musician Paul Williams plays cornet in the Band of the Scots Guards, (Corps of Army Music) and is currently touring North America.

The Band of the Scots Guards (Corps of Army Music) and the Pipes, Drums and Dancers of 3 Scots (The Black Watch) have now been touring the United States for nearly seven weeks. So far we have played 33 shows in 32 venues. Mileage is fast approaching 10,000 and we have stayed in 31 hotels, covering 18 States. Nearly $38,000 has been raised in support of the Scots Guards Colonel’s Fund.

Amazing Grace

Our show, entitled British Isles of Wonder, provides the audience with a musical journey throughout the Home Nations. Music such as the Keel Row, Jerusalem, Men of Harlech and the Piper of Dundee are performed throughout the show. The Finale section starts with a Tribute to the Armed Forces which features the marches of the US Army, the US Navy, the US Air Force and finally the US Marine Corps. During the performance of these marches ex-members of these forces are invited to stand and be acknowledged by the remainder of the audience. The volume of the applause, whooping and cheering could only be heard in the US but is symbolic of the respect and thankfulness the American public feel for their Armed Forces.

The Finale piece itself was composed by Major Simon Haw MBE, our previous Director of Music. As well as Amazing Grace (a clear favourite with our audiences) it features the evening hymn Dear Lord and Father of Mankind, the Last Post and its American counterpart Taps. This provides a fitting ending to our evening of British military pageantry.

On Tuesday 12 February we performed at the the University of Illinois in Champaign- Urbana. On this occasion, our performance of the Finale was particularly moving as it was dedicated to Sergeant Shawna Morrison US Army, a graduate of the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, who was killed during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2004.

Members of the Scots Guards at Graceland

We have been really fortunate to fit in some sightseeing too either on our few days off or on stops on journeys between hotels. We have been able to visit Graceland (the home of Elvis Presley) as well as the Gateway to the West, a horseshoe shaped building in St Louis representing the beginning of the West of the USA.

The quality of the venues and the warmth of the audiences have not ceased to amaze us and we count it a privilege to represent the British Army and the UK in such a way.

Army band tours the USA coast to coast – part two

Principal flautist Sergeant James Dutton

In part two of the Band of the Scots Guards’ (Corps of Army Music) tour of the USA, principal flautist Sergeant James Dutton tells us about more grand venues, defence diplomacy and visiting some of the greatest natural phenomena in the world.

Monday brought another travel day for the band – this time from Manassas Virginia northwards to Worcester Massachusetts. This represented the furthest north we had come since arriving in the USA, and an end to the retracing of a track up and down the East Coast that we had been following for the past couple of weeks.

It also heralded a rare luxury on this tour, being able to feel relatively stable and stay in the same hotel for three nights! By not living exclusively from a suitcase, it allows a little downtime for us and to recharge our batteries (and not just in our iPads).

The Mechanic’s Hall

Worcester seemed on the surface a town like many others we had visited – but it threw up a number of surprises. The show on Tuesday 29th was in the supremely beautiful Mechanic’s Hall a short walk from the hotel. This is one of the most historic music venues in the United States, and made a welcome change from the theatres that we had been getting used to.

Aside from the radical change of style of venue, we had to alter the show quite substantially, owing to the nature of the hall being designed for orchestral and chamber music performances. Logistically the biggest change was entering and exiting the stage because of the limitations of the narrow steps leading to the stage. Once on stage, room was at a premium! For the second time on this trip we cut the numbers of those marching – this time to 24. However the rest of the band formed up on the choir steps either side of the organ – in a position that was humorously named “Fraggle Rock”!

The beautiful Mechanic’s Hall.

Despite the changes to the performance, once again it was a rousing success and the audience were generous in their praise. One of the most popular segments in the show is the “Tribute to the Armed Forces” – and the sight of a very elderly woman in the front row rising to her feet, with the help of her walking frame to acknowledge the applause from the audience during the service marches was a very moving sight.

The Boston blowout

The following day was a true day off – no travel and no show. As on previous occasions, we were treated to the opportunity to visit a nearby city for the day. This time it was Boston, one of the most historic cities in America, and the chance was eagerly seized on. I don’t think the drama of our entrance into Boston though had been anticipated! About 20 minutes from our scheduled stop one of the front tyres of the coach decided it didn’t want to remain attached to the rest of the wheel and exploded with a resounding bang and a pungent smell of burning rubber…thankfully the driver Jeremy (who is driving the coach for the Black Watch) proved supremely calm and brought us to a relatively gentle halt at the side of the highway. A Massachusetts State Trooper arrived shortly afterwards followed by a tow truck, which dragged us unceremoniously to a nearby bus depot…

The dramatic entrance didn’t detract from our enjoyment of the day, and several hours were spent exploring the attractions of Boston, including the Freedom Trail which winds through the downtown area from Boston Common to Bunker Hill Memorial.

Another notable feature of the day was the unseasonably warm weather – a near record high of 16C which felt more like spring than winter. However this was to change radically in the coming days!

Shows in Binghamton and Schenectady followed, before we made a 300 mile trip inland to Buffalo, right on the border with Canada and the nearest major town to Niagara Falls. The morning of our departure from Albany was greeted with blue skies and -12C…and the promise of snow to come!

Niagara Falls

After a brief overnight stop in Buffalo with a show in another magnificent university theatre, we left early for the crossing into Canada. Sometime had been built into the schedule to allow for possible delays, but in the end it proved very quick and took less than 20 minutes. This afforded us a fantastic unplanned visit to see Niagara Falls. In a temperature of -18C and blue skies, with thick snow and ice around it proved just as majestic a sight as it promised to be. At this time of year it takes on an almost otherworldly feel, with icicles perhaps 40ft-long clinging to the rocks and huge blocks of ice being carried inexorably over the waterfall’s edge. A truly memorable visit.

Lance Corporal Glen Little at Niagara Falls.

The show in Toronto took place in the world famous Roy Thomson Hall – home of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. A truly magnificent venue, it was again a resounding success – and the audience proved just as generous in their donations to the Colonel’s Fund charity as in their praise for the performers – it was a record night for the charity collection.

Defence Diplomacy

Our show in Ottawa was also a great success. It was testament to the popularity of the show that someone made a four hour flight to be in the audience! We were delighted to be invited to a reception afterwards hosted by Lieutenant Colonel Fran Chilton-Mackay, the Director of Music of the Governor General’s Foot Guards Band. In 2009, we had the pleasure of working with them during the Bermuda Tattoo, so it was great to be reunited with some familiar faces. We had the morning off in Ottawa before we left for Kingston, so we layered up and braved the -23C of a typical Ottawa morning! The sight of the Rideau Canal frozen over and used as an ice skating commuter route through the heart of the city was probably one of the more unusual sights that we would see on this trip!

The Director of Music and Band Sergeant Major of the Governor General’s Foot Guards presenting Major Yates with a regimental plaque

Defence Diplomacy also plays an important part in this tour, and we were very fortunate to receive an invitation to provide some background music for a drinks reception hosted by the High Commissioner at their official residence, Earnscliffe. Among the dignitaries present was the American Ambassador to Canada. A wind trio of Colour Sergeant Mike Hernandez (clarinet), me (flute) and Musician Elizabeth Smyth (bassoon) provided entertainment for the guests and were very well received. After another well attended show in Kingston, our brief journey into Canada was over and we had the prospect of another long travel day back in to the USA and Cleveland, Ohio.

Cleveland offered another magnificently well-apportioned venue in the Palace Theatre. The wings were so generous that we were able to form up as a full band offstage without having to wheel into position – a rare treat! Although not the wealthiest of cities, almost everyone in the audience donated what they could to the Colonel’s Fund, making it one of our most successful nights so far.

After two days spent in Cleveland, we endured two long travel days with shows in the evening in both Richmond, Kentucky and Detroit, Michigan before the first internal flight of the trip back down south to MemphisTennessee. This will be the furthest south and west we have been so far on the tour and will provide a change of scenery and climate for the band! We have been lucky so far to miss the worst of the winter weather, and watching the scenes unfold on the TV of the blizzards enveloping the North East of the USA, where we were only a matter of a few days ago, we can be thankful that we weren’t subject to the draconian restrictions on transport that were placed by several states.

Army band tours the USA coast to coast – part one

Band of the Scots Guards performing in the USA

Lance Corporal Rob Howe

Lance Corporal Rob Howe is a Percussionist in the Band of the Scots Guards and is currently touring the United States of America and Canada.

Pipes, Drums and Dancers

Ever since I joined the Band of the Scots Guards, I knew there was a opportunity to tour the USA and it was something I had been looking forward to for some time.

Since arriving at the band, I have seen three other guards bands complete the tour; Welsh Guards (2006), Coldstream Guards (2008) and Irish Guards (2010).

Before we even arrived at the airport, months of hard work had gone into organising the tour. Certain jobs were delegated to various members of the band by our previous Director of Music and the Band Sergeant Major. I was given the responsibility of media and photography, which I have a keen interest in.

Joining us on this tour are the Pipes, Drums and Dancers of the Black Watch, 3rd Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland under the leadership of Pipe Major Richard Grisdale. Interestingly, on our last tour to the USA in 1998, the Black Watch also provided the pipe band. They are a young and relatively inexperienced ensemble and have risen to the occasion superbly, being one of the most professional pipe bands we have worked with recently.

On Wednesday 9th January, the band flew to New York and then travelled by coach to Philadelphia. We stayed in a magnificent hotel in the middle of Philadelphia and were looked after very well. Musicians Dave Cook and Paul Smith really splashed out, spending $45 on breakfast in bed!

Standing ovation

The next day was spent rehearsing our show as it had been some time since we had rehearsed it with the pipes and drums. It also gave Major Vernon Yates, our new Director of Music the opportunity to put the final touches on the musical aspects of the show. This took up most of the day, but some managed to squeeze in a Philly Cheesesteak in the evening!

Friday morning was spent sightseeing by most of the band, visiting the Liberty Bell and running up the steps that feature in the movie ‘Rocky.’ Some found this easier to do than others!

The band had its first show that evening, performing at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia. The afternoon consisted of a final rehearsal in the venue, kit cleaning and finished with a lovely buffet that had been put on for us. It took a while to get used to the chocolate chip cookies with rock salt though.

The show started at 8pm and we played to a packed out audience. One of the highlights of the night was playing ‘Amazing Grace’ with the pipes and at the end of the evening, we received a standing ovation. ‘Amazing Grace’ was written especially for this tour and features Dear Lord and Father of Mankind, Last Post and its American equivalent Taps.

In the first 10 days of the tour we travelled over 1,000 miles, performing shows in Philadelphia, Greenvale, Easton, Rockville, Gettysburg, York, Union and New Brunswick, stretching across four states. We received standing ovations in all shows and the reception from the audiences has been tremendous.

The band had the opportunity to visit New York City on our first day off. We managed to fit in most of the tourist attractions, including the Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty and Times Square to name a few. The Band also visited the 9/11 Memorial at Ground Zero. This was a very moving experience and our tour guide reminded us what happened on that day almost 12 years ago.

Memorial

Musicians get to do some sightseeing.

We were also given a coach tour of Washington DC by our driver, Gabe. We visited many memorials and attractions, including the White House, Martin Luther King Memorial and the Marine Corps War Memorial.

At every show members of the band have been fundraising for the Scots Guards Colonel’s Fund. Charity wrist bands are a 1st battalion Scots Guards driven fundraiser. Proceeds will entirely go to assisting wounded guardsmen and their families. In the first 7 shows, we have raised around $7000, which is a great start.

The 1st Battalion, Scots Guards are currently serving on operations in Afghanistan and the Regimental Band wishes them a good tour and safe return.

In the coming weeks we are travelling to Canada, the Mid West and the Deep South. So far the tour is going really well and we look forward to performing our show and promoting the United Kingdom as well as the British Army across the USA and Canada.

Bringing the magic of music to frontline troops

Corporal Dave Campbell

Corporal Dave Campbell a member of the Band of the Adjutant General’s Corps (AGC), part of the Corps of Army Music (CAMUS) has recently returned from Afghanistan with the Band. The Band was deployed over Remembrance and the festive period to supply music for troops serving on Op Herrick.

Equipping musicians to play on the front line

In the spring of 2012 the Director of Music (DOM) the Band of the Adjutant General’s Corps informed the band that we would be deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Herrick 17 from the beginning of November 2012 to the end of January 2013. This would be in the form of three weeks in theatre supporting Remembrance Sunday before returning to the UK, and then re-deploying two weeks before Christmas. This was initially met with some trepidation, combined with the realisation that Christmas would be spent away from our families. We were informed that it would be a demanding tour but also one of the most rewarding and memorable, and all these predictions were to prove accurate.

The first step in preparation for the tour was the acquisition of some new instruments and electrical equipment ranging from a powerful speaker system to an acoustic drum kit in a box called a cajon. This new equipment gave the band the capability to perform in remote locations with a small group, to full-scale rock concerts for thousands of troops. The small groups quickly adopted the term FOB (Forward Operating Base) group, with the DOM leading one and Bandmaster (BM) leading the other. The FOB groups were to travel to as many remote bases as possible, while the remainder would provide logistical support as well as cover the main locations in theatre.

After passing all the Mandatory Annual Training Tests (MATTs) the band were ready to attend the Operational Training Advisory Group (OPTAG) course which would bring us up to speed on everything we would need to know about our tour. The subjects were wide ranging from history lessons on Afghanistan to battlefield first-aid. By this stage we had received all of our operational equipment and clothing and the reality of going to a warzone was sinking in. By the end of October all members of the band were fully prepared and trained for the tour, and were keen to get going.

Flying out to Afghanistan was supposed to be a fairly simple affair of getting on a plane and making a quick stop in Cyprus, however this was not to be. The plane from the UK was delayed by seven hours and on arrival in Cyprus the two-hour wait became almost three days. Luckily the welfare facilities at RAF Akrotiri were excellent with wireless internet, mobile phones and games consoles all of which were free enabling everyone to keep in touch with back home.

Medical support and boosting morale

Eventually we arrived in Camp Bastion at 0200hrs with our liaison cheerily informing us that our week-long Reception Staging Onward Integration (RSOI) package would begin at 0600hrs. This was another training course to reinforce all we had learned previously and also to bring us up to date on current events in theatre.

After all the travelling and training was finished with, we could get down to the job of providing musical support and boosting the morale of the troops. With Remembrance Sunday being an obvious date on the calendar the band split in order to cover the main services being held at Kabul, Kandahar, Lashkar Gah and Camp Bastion. This was an emotional time playing for these services and one that is sure to stick in the minds for many band members.

The band was helped in covering the four main locations by members of the Band of the Corps of Royal Engineers and Lt Petriz-Watts from CAMUS. With everyone returning to Camp Bastion the band then started working towards gigs across the base which were coming in thick and fast. The rock band (ROW8) performed an acoustic set outside the main NAAFI which was enjoyed by a crowd of around three hundred including US, Danish and Estonian personnel. The next day the band split into three groups and travelled to several external locations to Camp Bastion. These locations are remote locations where troops can be based for up to six months. The music was well received and offered the troops based there a brief respite from their daily routine. It also offered the band a few helicopter flights, and a chance to see life around Helmand Province.

Performing for James Bond

One weekend saw the acoustic group invited to perform at Camp Leatherneck, which is the American sector of Camp Bastion. This invitation also included a visit to their dining facility (DFAC) which had all the luxurys you would expect, including ice cream sundaes and free beer (non-alcoholic of course!) The next night ROW8 performed outside the NAAFI in Camp Bastion which attracted a large crowd. The Pipe Major from 1st Battalion Scots Guards also joined in for a few tunes backed by the band, to the delight of the audience. The Director of Music’s rendition of “500-miles” by the Proclaimers was also a particular highlight for the Scots in the crowd.

The AGC Band with Daniel Craig in Afghanistan

Towards the end of the first part of the deployment the band were asked to provide some entertainment for a special screening of the new James Bond film “Skyfall”. There were rumours of a special guest and the Bandmaster was asked if the band could play the James Bond theme. The BM worked late into the night and the next day produced a big band arrangement. Just before the screening it was announced that the producers of Skyfall and Daniel Craig himself would be dropping in to answer questions and introduce the film. The band struck up as they entered the theatre and Daniel Craig said he would be in touch regarding the music for the next film which the DOM promised to hold him to. After the highs of performing for James Bond himself, the band continued the showbiz by doing some recordings at the British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) studios in Bastion in order to advertise the forthcoming tour, and to give the troops in the PBs a taste of what was to come.

20 PBs in ten days

After an uneventful flight home and a couple of days rest, the band were back in work learning new material for the second surge. This would see the band visiting almost every UK-manned location in Afghanistan over the Christmas and New Year period, from small compounds at the front line to the British Embassy in Kabul.

All too soon the date came round for the flight out to Afghanistan via Cyprus again, although this time there were no delays. After settling back in to our tented accommodation, the different groups were give their itineraries for the coming weeks and the locations they would be visiting. For the two FOB groups this meant over twenty PBs in ten days and for the brass quintet left in Bastion a number of carol playing engagements. The FOB groups left for the flight line with everything they would need for ten days away, including their weapon, body armour and instruments.

The equipment and instruments had been chosen because of their practicality due to the unique constraints relating to helicopter flights. Landing in the PBs the FOB groups were immersed in the reality of living in a remote location. The facilities were very basic with some PBs having hot water only once every three days and frequent power outages. These facts made the performances all the more appreciated by the personnel stationed there who thoroughly enjoyed listening and singing along to the latest chart hits being covered by the FOB group. In some locations the troops even took over the entertainment taking part in live karaoke and a few Gurkhas took it a stage further playing guitars and the cajon.

The AGC Band entertaining troops

Back in Bastion the quintet were travelling around playing carols in the DFACs (main kitchen areas), various churches and NAAFI shops, as well as individual departments who had booked the band for their own Christmas parties. These included the Joint Force Support Headquarters, the Role 3 Hospital, the Flightline and the Christmas Eve service at the Vigil site which attracted a crowd of two thousand. Another gig on Christmas Eve was the Santa Sleigh Race which saw a number of units entering a homemade sled which they had to carry through an improvised obstacle course in fancy dress, with the band playing for the awards ceremony.

After the Christmas rush the band was reunited in Bastion and swapped stories, did some washing and prepared to go to Kandahar. This was the first visit there for some of the band and was a very different place to Bastion. Predominately an American base there were many facilities including popular takeaways and free ice cream in the DFAC. The real reason we were there though was to perform outside the UK coffee bar and shop and by the start of the show a crowd of around three hundred were waiting. As before, ROW8 played a solid set of current chart hits with a brass line helping out for some of the numbers.

After Kandahar the next main engagement was a smaller rock group at Lashkar Gah. This meant another helicopter flight with all the heavy electrical gear, and on arrival it was clear it was going to be a cold night. Despite the temperature a crowd still came out to enjoy the performance and the next day the band returned to Bastion with just under a week to go until the end of the tour.

Rewarding and demanding

The final engagement for the tour was a rock concert in the same tent we had done our training package in two months earlier. The NAAFI brought down a makeshift bar and some food, and every unit on base was given the opportunity to bid for tickets to attend. The band had achieved a quasi celebrity status by this stage due to the support from BFBS playing our recordings and advertising the various engagements, so it was necessary to control the numbers as the limit in the tent was five hundred. The next morning the final admin was completed in preparation for returning to the UK, including the weighing and logging of all our freight. At the last minute the jazz group were asked to perform by a General in Kabul for an important function so they left and would return to the UK a day later.

On the way back to the UK we stopped in Cyprus for to unwind and relax before heading home. On arrival in Cyprus we received a briefing about what to expect followed by a bus trip to the swimming pool and bowling alley. Everything was complementary and other activities included go-karting, horse riding and clay pigeon shooting. There were mobile phones and laptops available throughout the stay and in the evening we treated to a show by the Combined Services Entertainment group (CSE) which was a comedian and a band, followed by a film. The next morning the band returned to the airport and flew back to the UK to be treated to ice and snow.

The Afghanistan tour was definitely rewarding and demanding, with the band facing some unique problems. The band travelled throughout the country from the main bases to remote patrol bases, performing to thousands of deployed troops and judging by the reception were much appreciated.

The Band of the AGC Band entertaining the troops on Op Herrick

Scarlet and Gold of London town

Massed Bands of The Household Division perform the Scarlet and Gold concert at Central Hall, Westminster.

Musn Batai is a musician in the Band of the Irish Guards. During a normal working day he performs on the oboe and may play at state and ceremonial events across the capital and around the world.

Ride of the Valkyries

After a serious week of preparation for the Scarlet and Gold concerts, the Massed Bands of The Household Division, part of the Corps of Army Music, gave fantastic performances on the 22nd and 23rd of November at Central Hall, Westminster, with a versatile programme. Great soloists and breathtaking ensemble work from all the members of the band delighted the audiences.

I felt very privileged to sit in the band as the principal oboe and had a great pleasure to be part of this musical spectacular. The concert started with the National anthem followed by Wagner’s The Ride of the Valkyries, with the Fanfare players on the balcony, decorating the venue and filling the hall with their glorious sound. The opening was truly powerful and instantly gave an insight as to what the audience was to expect from the rest of the concert.

Following Gounod’s March Militaire we played a piece, which was in my opinion one of the highlights of the evening - Alfred Reid’s Armenian Dances which were originally composed for a concert band and there are truly challenging moments for all the instrumental parts; in particular woodwinds. The Band played extremely well and demonstrated its excellent skills.

The other highlight was the world-renowned film music from Spielberg’s Oscar winning drama Schindler’s List. I would like to mention Lance Corporal Rebecca White who played the solo violin with a superb taste and fantastic musicality. My part was not particularly busy in the piece so I had a chance to glance at the audience and notice that they were clearly ‘blown away’ by the unity of the ensemble and the soloist’s sensitivity. It was a real gem in our programme.

Massed Bands of The Household Division perform the Scarlet and Gold concert at Central Hall, Westminster.

Star Wars

The show had a sudden change after the solemn melody as the Corps of Drums, 2^nd Battalion, The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment marched on. They made a spectacular show with use of ultraviolet lights while using fluorescent yellow drumsticks as the venue’s lights were switched off. The following marches made everyone stomp their feet and enjoy the traditional military music. I heard people whistle or hum the well known marches even when we went out for the interval. Upon return the Band performed Star Wars by John Williams. This piece also received support from the fanfares and the lightning display which again made this musical event more effective. It almost felt like the moments from the film, ‘Star Wars’ were brought into the auditorium.

The pipes are always loved, it was not different this evening either. The well known tunes played by the Pipes and Drums of The London Regiment, were very well received and set the mood to a very light hearted overture from the MGM Classic film ‘The Wizard of Oz’.

Massed Bands of The Household Division perform the Scarlet and Gold concert at Central Hall, Westminster.

Beautiful marches

The film music led us to the Guards Big Band’s performance of three pieces. They were led by Colour Sergeant  Jason Libby. I must admit this was the first time in my life I wished I could play a brass instrument or saxophone and be part of this ensemble. The superior playing was breathtaking. The members of the ensemble were completely unified and clearly had a great time performing. Their enthusiasm made everyone feel part of their show. Third piece, A Foggy Day in London also featured a soloist/singer, Lance Sergeant James Scott.

After the magnificent performance of the Big Band, the concert reached its finale which consisted of pieces such as Bizet’s Farandole, Handel’s See the Conquering Hero Comes and a very effective arrangement by Lieutenant Colonel Duncan Beat. The arrangement was a combination of Will Ye No Come Back Again and Auld Lang Syne, with the bugle call Last Post.

The audience seemed to love the show and I have no doubt that they will return eagerly in the future to this unique musical spectacle. I really hope that I shall be in the band again to take a part in this great event, as ‘Scarlet and Gold’ is one of the rare opportunities for the members of the band to engage with the public in the concert ambiance and share the beautiful marches and versatile music from all around the world.

Massed Bands of The Household Division perform the Scarlet and Gold concert at Central Hall, Westminster.

Sinfonietta – sound of strings

Musn Wright

Musn Wright is a Musician in the Royal Artillery Band, part of the Corps of Army Music. As a violinist he is given the opportunity to perform with a small orchestra namely the Corps of Army Music Sinfonietta. During the normal working day he will perform on a wind instrument at key ceremonial events and in support of the Army worldwide.

One-size-fits-all, cream of the crop ensemble

An unusually cold autumn morning set me up perfectly for rummaging through my wardrobe for a different hat. As an Army musician, I’m sure many have seen the plethora of different head gear that adorn the tunics; from bearskins to busbies and mirror-like brass to the humble beret. But few will be so familiar with the metaphorical cap that many of us sit under throughout the year – that of trained orchestral musicians.

Granted, the image of a macho soldier lending their hand to the subtleties of a violin or cello, are not the first to spring to mind when one thinks of  ”jobs available in the army”. However, our country’s orchestral heritage can be traced directly back to this. The first official orchestra in Great Britain was that of the Royal Artillery Band in Woolwich, who as a unit, very proudly celebrated their 250th anniversary in October this year.

Other small string groups can also still be seen, made up from musicians of both mounted and Foot Guard Regiments of the Household Division.

So back to this cold autumn morning. What we have is musicians from the Royal Artillery Band and the seven bands of the Household Division descending upon the Royal Military School of Music in Twickenham, for a one-size-fits-all, cream of the crop ensemble. Known as the ‘CAMUS sinfonietta’, its anticipated annual occurrence and careful selection of players offer it up as a very distinct jewel in the crown of military music. And the extra sparkle comes in the form of the finest woodwind and brass players, trawled from all corners and cupboards of the corps of army music. Indeed this year, as in some previous, we have the pleasure of some guest players from the RAF.

Our first rehearsal was the usual mixture of emotions. A meet and greet of those that have seen each other recently and those who, as in any working environment, may be grateful that they haven’t. But tensions over who spilt whose coffee last year soon subside as we recalibrate ourselves for the task in hand. And this year it’s quite a task, yet with even less preparation time than last, owing to such a busy month for bands. After several hours playing I feel much more relaxed into the larger string section than normal, and by the sound of the rest of the orchestra it promises to an exciting program of music to get stuck into and bring some passion and energy to both venues in the concert series.

HRH The Countess of Wessex meets LCpl Shellard clarinet soloist

The two venues for this years CAMUS  Sinfonietta concerts were the Newbury Arts Centre and the prestigious Menuhin Hall at Cobham.

The audiences at both venues were a mix of music lovers, military top brass and even royalty at the Menuhin Hall. Yes we had the privilege of our Colonel in Chief , HRH the Countess of Wessex in attendance. Nothing like a spot of royalty to ratchet up the pressure and encourage the best possible performance.

So to the music…

The woodwind section of the Sinfonietta

Our opening piece was an overture by the lesser known Rosenberg. And quite an opener it was, possibly an eye-opener for those less familiar with 20th century composers of his ilk. It’s a sort of marmite music with not much between loving or hating it. I’d say the audience were split on both nights. No matter the stance taken on the style of music, there would have been no doubt as to the ferocity and commitment it was delivered with. The conductor, Lt Col Meldrum, could easily have been mistaken for an evil wizard as he tried desperately to conjure every ounce of the composer’s intent from the bold phrases and the gut-wrenching harmonies. Well that was my take on it. A passer by or those less familiar with the concert hall might have thought Paul Daniels had just pulled an orchestra out of a hat. However, I suppose unless you’re a musician it would be difficult to grasp the effect a conductor can have on an orchestra.

Alongside the great variety of musical observations to be had, there was plenty on show for the non-musical military contingent who seemed equally transfixed by the performance.

For example, the discipline and timing involved in synchronising the bowing and rhythms of a well-oiled orchestra could match the prowess of a top class drill team or air display without a second thought. Likewise, the hawk-eyed observation and self control required in those pin-drop moments that see a full string section playing together quieter than a whisper, wouldn’t be out of place in an ambush or reconnaissance role.

LCpl Shellard performs at Arlington Arts Centre Newbury with the Sinfonietta

I’d say my two favourite works of the program were ‘ Banks of Green Willow’ and Gordon Jacob’s  ’Mini Concerto for Clarinet and Strings’. In the latter we had the pleasure of LCpl Alan Shellard from the Band of the Grenadier Guards as a soloist.

The ‘Banks of Green Willow’ by Butterworth offered a welcome respite from some of the more jarring chords found in the first two works. Its flowing folk-based melodies, painted with expert writing, would certainly have warmed the audience on such a cold evening. Notable colours oozed from the orchestra in the form of Lance Corporal Chris Spencer’s opening clarinet motif, Lance Corporal Rebecca White’s stirring solo violin moments and Warrant Officer Class 1 Guy Bennet’s harp contributions. I did think ‘fair play’ on his behalf as most sergeant majors wouldn’t admit to knowing what a harp was, never mind strumming their own in public.

The response from the audience as the energy in the hall wound up to an impressive, if slightly sweaty, finish of Bizet’s 1st Symphony was most encouraging. So presuming they were as generous to the Soldiers Charity ABF (whom the concerts were in aid of) as they were with their applause, the entire project will have have been of great worth. It’s certainly one I would gladly take part in again.

Public events featuring the bands of the Corps of Army Music