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

11 Parts Incomplete Concert Band Instrumentation
One Step-March
Key Signature: F Major
Boosey's Military Journal 155th Series No. 2

Instrumentation:
Eb Clarinets
Solo & Ripieno Clarinets in Bb
Bassoons
1st & 2nd Horns in Eb
3rd & 4th Horns in Eb
Ripieno Cornet in Bb
1st & 2nd Tenor Trombones
Bass Trombone
1st Baritone in Bb
Basses
Drums

Inscriptions & markings

On envelope: QM142 ABC, The Old Grey Mare, Panella, Q130, 332 (Scrubbed out)
Stamped on the reverse of each card: Australian Broadcasting Commission *Sydney*, The property of Musical Director & Arranger Charles Godfrey