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

25 parts Concert Band Instrumentation
Quick March (Pas Redouble)
Key Signature: Bb Major

Instrumentation:
Solo Bb Corner (Conductor)
Piccolo (Pte flute)
Oboes
Eb Clarinet
1st Bb Clarinet
2nd Bb Clarinet
3rd & 4th Bb Clarinets
1st Bassoon
2nd Bassoon
Saxophone Alto Eb (or Tenor Clar.)
Saxophone Tenor Bb
1st Eb Horn (Alto Mib)
2nd Eb Horn
3rd Eb Horn
4th Eb Horn
Solo Bb Cornet
2nd Bb Cornet (Bugle ou)
1st Trombone
2nd Trombone
Bass Trombone
1st Bb Baritone
Euphonium (Basses Ut)
Bombardon (C. Basse Mib Treble)
Side Drum (Tambour)
Bass Drum (G. Caisse)

Inscriptions & markings

On envelope: QM162, March Punjaub Payne, q139, scrubbed out 426
30 Apr 1940, 6 May 1940, 16 Dec 1940, 12 Jun 1944