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E3NEWS DESK Published: 10-May-2005
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13 EDITORIAL
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The Red Machine
The Band of Her Majesty's Coldstream Guards
Conducted by Major Graham Jones, MBE
El RANKINGS Egon: CD SFZ 123
Total
13 playing time: 71.18 mins
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Having been Involved with a band, it Is only natural that one follows its
progress down through the years, and so I must declare an interest when
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Page I of ýq 9)
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E3CREDITS
considering 'The Red Machine'. the recent recording by the Band of Her
E3SRASS ALIVE 200S
Majesty's Coldstream Guards featuring the music of Peter Graham - not that
any of my contemporaries remain, the last having moved on to pastures new
E3 4SR DOWNUNDER within the past few months.
It Is also opportune to reflect on some of the changes over the Interim period:
during my tIme. wIth the band, there seemed to be very little contact between
the worlds of the brass band and military music-making, although there were
several of my colleagues who came from a brass band background.
Music-wise, there was very little cross-fertilisation regarding repertoire,
mostly limited to the occasional "brass and reed" arrangement, Intended to
provide flexibility but In many cases proving less than satisfactory for either
group. When It came to new repertoire, most works of note seemed to come
from the USA, and It has been good to see a recent growth In output from
British composers, and works Initially conceived for one medium being
properly reworked for the other, with composers such as Philip Sparke,
Kenneth Hesketh and Martin Ellerby being equally at home writing for either
group. On the evidence of this recording, and others by the Royal Norwegian
Navy Band and the Royal Marines, then Peter Graham's name must be added
to their number.
The presence of woodwind as well as brass offers the composer/arranger a
wider range of tone colours, and the overall effect Is often somewhat lighter,
with flutes and oboes In particular not carrying the weight offered by the
brass, although the flutes, piccolo and clarinets In their top register can
certainly make their presence felt In the climaxes.
Peter Graham Is the first civilian to be appointed as Composer-in-Residence
with the Coldstream Guards, and they In their turn have been appointed Band
In Residence at Salford. The opening number, 'The Red Machine, takes Its
title from the band's nickname (not known In my dayl) and Is In effect a
concerto for band, taking as Its central theme the Lutheran hymn 'Eln Feste
Burg', familiar to all Guard's musicians due to Its use at the annual Queen's
Birthday Parade In the troop march 'Les Huguenots'.
The composer makes the most of the tone colours available to him, with
prominent tuned percussion, french horns and euphonium. In the quieter
central section there Is a feature that seems to be becoming something of a
signature -a descending trlplet figure - as If emphasising the calm and
repose. When 'Eln Feste Burg'returns In an Imposing climax, it Is decorated
with scurrying woodwind phrases, again showing an arranger at ease with the
forces In hand.
The 'Intrada on a theme by Tal/is'was Introduced at Regent Hall In its origInal
liftn'/Axrtxrx-xr Al"--+ I MC -
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