Marches are always popular and none better than when played by the Royal Marines Band

TRACK LISTING

THE WORLD’S GREATEST MARCHES

The Band of HM Royal Marines School of Music, Deal.

Conductor: Lt Col F Vivian Dunn

 

Compact Disc £12.00

 

A release by the Royal Marines Historical Society, The Eastney Collection featuring 21 world famous marches.

“All the recordings on this Compact Disc, and others in this series, were recorded in the famous EMI Abbey Road Studio No.1 between 1960-67. They were originally made for and issued on Long Playing records made of vinyl, processed and pressed at the EMI factory at Hayes, Middlesex.

 

Each programme was carefully chosen by Vivian Dunn and myself after many hours of listening to the band at the Royal Marines School of Music at Deal, Kent. There followed, over a period of weeks, hours of rehearsal in preparation for the recording sessions which were spread over one and half days, making nine hours in total. Prior to the start of the first session, I would ensure that the microphone positioning and balance were to my liking and this having been achieved, we would commence recording, evaluating each ‘take’ as the recording progressed. After completion of the sessions, editing and mastering would follow according to my instructions.

 

This programme has a wide range of music from classical marches arranged for military band commencing with Wagner’s Grand March from Tannhäuser, through to Sir Malcolm Arnold’s contemporary march from his Little Suite, arranged by another Royal Marines Director of Music, the late Captain Peter Sumner. However the compositions of the great John Philip Sousa and Kenneth Alford are not included here because they are already featured on other CDs in the Eastney Collection series, namely Kings of the March, Music at Sunset and The Splendour of the March.

 

Brian B Culverhouse, © 2006

EMI Recording Producer 1952—1972

 

Playing time 74 minute 30 seconds.

The purpose of this CD is to provide a programme of music which reflects both the history of the Royal Marines since its formation in 1664 and some of the world’s finest marches. The recordings span the period 1960-67, the apogee of which, in spectacular terms, was undoubtedly 1964 when the Corps celebrated its tercentenary; and many of these recordings are drawn from the LPs issued by EMI at the time, notably 300 Glorious Years and The World’s Great Marches. Over forty years on the fabulous quality of these recordings has ensured that they remain as exemplars in the military band world. Thus we have no hesitation in paying tribute to the musicians of the Royal Marines School of Music of that period who produced them to this magnificent standard thereby ensuring their longevity and the subsequent award of an EMI Gold Disc.

 

In many ways that is not surprising since the Band Service at that time was led by the doyen of British military music, Lt Col F Vivian Dunn, who had painstakingly nurtured the finest standards in the Royal Marines Band Service since joining it in 1931. Nevertheless 1964 was a monumental year for the Corps and at all the major celebratory events in London and elsewhere the bands provided their usual glittering presence, military precision and superb musical entertainment. For example at the Lord Mayor’s Review on the Artillery Ground in the City of London; at Greenwich where the symphony orchestra played during the Corps’ dinner for HM The Queen and HRH The Prince Philip, Captain General Royal Marines, and afterwards during the fireworks display; at the Royal Tournament in Earls Court arena; and also at the Royal Review in the grounds of Buckingham Palace. But the event which captured the public’s imagination most was the quite magnificent spectacle of Beating Retreat by the Massed Bands on Horse Guards Parade for the Captain General’s birthday on 10th June. That day over 400 musicians were on parade — the largest ever performance by the Royal Marines Massed Bands — and it goes without saying that their playing and precise drill were quite frankly both exquisite and unforgettable. Eye witness accounts record that many wept as they applauded. But today there is no doubt whatever that the benchmark standards set then have been maintained even with a far smaller Band Service.

The Massed Bands beat retreat on Horse Guards Parade, London, June 1964

Stephen Misson’s favourite track:

The Gladiator’s Farewell

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