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

20 Parts Concert Band Instrumentation
March or Fox Trot
Key Signature: F Major

Instrumentation:
Solo Cornet Bb (Conductor)
Eb Flute & Piccolo
Oboes
Eb Clarinets
Solo Bb Clarinet (1st written in pencil)
2nd & 3rd Bb Clarinets
Bassoons
Eb Alto Saxophone
1st & 2nd Horns Eb (or Solo & 1st Tenor)
3rd & 4th Horns Eb (or 2nd Tenor)
Repiano Cornet Bb
Solo Cornet Bb (Conductor)
2nd & 3rd Cornets Bb
1st Tenor Trombone
2nd Tenor Trombone
Bass Trombone
1st Baritone Bb
Euphonium (Bass clef)
Basses (Bass clef)
Bb Contra Bass (Treble clef)
Drums

Inscriptions & markings

On envelope: QM145, Olga Flynn, Q131, 346 (Scrubbed out)
Stamped on the reverse of each card: Australian Broadcasting Commission *Sydney*, Charles Godfrey