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

34 parts concert band instrumentation
Quick March
Key Signature: Bb Major

Instrumentation:
Solo Bb Cornet (with Conductor pencilled)
Eb Flute & Piccolo
Oboes
Eb Clarinets
1st Bb Clarinet
2nd Bb Clarinet
3rd & 4th Bb Clarinets
1st Bassoon
2nd Bassoon
Eb Alto Saxophone
Bb Tenor Saxophone
Solo Eb Saxhorn
1st Eb Horn
2nd Eb Horn
3rd Eb Horn
4th Eb Horn
Eb Trumpets
Eb Soprano Cornet
1st Bb Cornet
2nd Bb Cornet
3rd & 4th Bb Cornets
1st Trombone (Tenor Clef)
2nd Trombone (Tenor Clef)
1st Trombone (Bass Clef)
2nd Trombone (Bass Clef)
Bass Trombone
1st Bb Baritone
2nd Bb Baritone
Bb Euphonium (Treble Clef)
Euphonium
Bombardon
Bb Bass (Treble Clef)
Side Drum
Bass Drum

Inscriptions & markings

On envelope: QM146, On Jersey Shore Pryor, Q124, 291 (Scrubbed out)
Stamped on the reverse of each card: Australian Broadcasting Commission *Sydney*, The Property of Musical Director & Arranger Charles Godfrey