Significance

In 1932 the call was put out to the ABC to start a military band. The band’s task was to record music to play on air four times a week, and to perform live concerts for the public. By November 1933 a band was put together with 40 musicians from around Australia. The band was initially conducted by Captain H. E. Adkins, Director of the Royal Military School of Music, Kneller Hall, London. After the tour, Adkins returned to his position at Kneller Hall, and Stephen Yorke, a retired bandmaster of the Gloucestershire Regiment, was brought out to Australia to become the permanent director and conductor of the band, which he did until the band closed in 1951. During the band’s 17 year history they presented a sizable program of music. Their final concert received a standing ovation from its audience of 1500, with a teary-eyed Yorke.

Physical description

23 parts Concert Band instrumentation
Quick March
Key Signature: C Major

Instrumentation:
Solo Bb Cornet (Conductor) - with lyrics in the Trio
Db Piccolo
Oboes
Eb Clarinets
1st Bb Clarinet
2nd Bb Clarinet
3rd & 4th Clarinet
1st Bassoon
2nd Bassoon
Eb Solo Tenor (penciled Alto Sax)
1st Bb Baritone (penciled Tenor Sax)
1st Eb Tenor
2nd Ed Tenor
1st Eb Horn
2nd Eb Horn
2nd Bb Cornet
1st Trombone
2nd Trombone
Bass Trombone
Euponium
Bombardon
Side Drum
Bass Drum
Handwritten Timpani part

Inscriptions & markings

On envelope: QM159, 15 APR 1910, 21 APR 1942, 23 FEB 1943, Q138
Scrubbed out: 419