DOCTOR OF MUSICAL ARTS PERFORMANCE PORTFOLIO ...

Profile - Ma'oi 6raham Jones MBF, Director of Music Coldstieý.
m-i Cuaids ll, md
band sergeant major? I then looked at the
Courses that were already in place, such as
the TEQI (Trade Employment Qualifications
First Class) and compared it with the Trinity
College ATCL diploma. Supported by Trinity
College I mapped out the whole thing so
that all our musicians now take the ATCL
diploma, which is more useful in civilian
life than the TEQ1.
"My intention was to take this through
to LT(L and FTCL level and then to
investigate the possibility of adding
degrees to our curriculum, However, before
I could do this I had the great hanouf of
being posted to the Coldstream Guards,
taking over from Ian McElligott. However, I
remain proud of the fact that I got the ATCL
course off the ground and as a
consequence of my work with Trinity
invited me to be an
external examiner for
them. "
When Graham took
over at the Coldstream
Guards, his predecessor
had been working with
the composer, Nigel
Hess, on a new work
Monck's March, traciný
General Monck's march
south from Scotland to
England in 1660 with
7,000 men - (named by
Oliver Cromwell as
Monck's Regiment of
Foot from which the
Coldstream Guards are
directly descended) -
which brought about the
restoration of Chades 11 to
the throne. "The project
was already half-way
through to completion
when I took over from
Ian and I developed it
further and took it to its
conclusion. "
they
11 is clear from what has already been
accomplished that he did not embrace the
Coldstream job from a standing start. rather
he took over at full speed For example, lie
commissioned Peter Graham to write The
Red Machine (The Regiment's nicknamel
and invited Peter to become the band's
c omposer- in
-residence, the first civilian to
be given this position in the Army.
"I see my position now as being at the
cutting edge of musical development
whilst remaining sensitive to the great
heritage of military music.
"Peter is writing a piece entitled Figaro
Variations, based on the band's slow
march. It is a musical journey tracing the
band's history since their early days at the
end of the 18th Century. For example. in
1785 the first Coldstream Guards Band
consisted of Christopher Eley and 12
German musicians -
(which was
appropriate since the Hanoverian, King
George III was the monarch at the time) -
and they played their music in and around
St James' Palace.
"With the help of David Diggs, a
81 WN
Musical development (ollabolatloo
with Professor David King (above)
enabled Grahain to airange for 16
Guards bandsmen to undertake
Masteis degree performance courses al
University of Salford.
researcher and great friend in New York,
the music of the [ley era was uncovered
With such an outstanding (ollection of his
music it just had to be recorded so I
decided to record it as authentically as was
feasible. My French horn players used
natural horns as did the trumpet player
and Stephen Wick, son of the famous
trombonist, Denis, played the serpent and
we also used oboes and clannets
"We enquired if it would be possible to
make the recording in St lames' Palace and
were given permission to do so. This was
another great experience. "
Consistent with his desire to provide
Army musicians with the best possible
training, Graham met with Professor David
King and discussed the potential for
musical development amongst Coldstream
musicians. As a
consequence of this 16
of his bandsmen are
working on a Master's
Degree Performance
course with the
Univeisily of Salford.
"This will be profoundly
useful it and when
they decide to leave
the band arid assume
a civilian life. " Always
leading from the front
the music director is
flow in his final year
studying for his
doctorate at Salloid.
In fact, the
collaboration with
Salford continues to
prow. "We are now the
Band -in-Residence it
Salford whilst Salfurd'%
students are providing
lis with flew
Composilions and
arrangements, which
means they aiv also
learning. "
All work and no play is hardly a re(ipe
for a healthy, cheerful, resourceful We
Happily, despite his massive work load.
Graham has time for hobbies and for two
especially important people in his life,
Susan, his wife and Claudia, 15, his
daughter
I enjoy walking in the New f o(esi
pub walks are best. I also like to tiavel,
anywhere really. I just love to be in new
cifies, meeting new people and enjoying
their CLOWIC. There is nothing betlei than a
weekend break somewhere in f mopi,
"Susan arid I are also great fans of the
USA and at every new place I visit I find a
church and light a candle foi my mom who
died far too YOUnp and foi Susan's mwn
who also died too young. We weic, both
profoundly influenced by nui 111LIMS1
"Eating out accompanied by good wine
is always a special treat To oilset the
effects of indulging iny appefite I maki,
sure I spend time riding my bicy(le. whid) I
also enjoy. Amongst my mote sedentafy
cleliqhts aiv hisloty, especially bond
(267)
history, poring over Ihe 1)(11ahly Impels
ovvi )it Ingli%li bteALisl asict 1ollowin!,, my
lavoutite football wani I ill 111 '11dollf I'll of Mon(heslef United,
I
1111001 Indeed [it'll
Ille ýllblv(f of thl% Profit(' 1" .) Illan of
signili(ant pel%pl(d(fly Ond vood ta%iv ) 1A
mallot of opinion I d)
-Su%an is rny sold imilt, Wo h(si met in
Romania helping (hildien with Aid% Wv
later met up again, fell in love, and
marfied %he is my best friend atid advisor
It I needed an agent if would be Susin
Claudia goes to school in Cambridge orid
whenever I tuivel she wants to (onit, alonýj
and support. I ihink it's more to do with
the potential shopping expenencel She's
I
discoveied retail ilw(apy arid boys, help! "
Keeping so many iron, in the file it
continuous round of engagvinerils such is
maintaining a busy calendar of official
commitments wiih life Coldstream Guaids
that include (on-irnissioning and iecording
new Must(, several visils overseas th-, it this
year embrace (ondi. icting and lecturing if
an American ulijve(siiy and adjudicating if
the Norwegian National Wind
Championships and [tit, SIDOIS b(ass band
entertainment contest, (Linstantly Ilunkiiij,
up new projects. finding ways of
broadening his players' musical edu(mion
whilsi studying for a major devive himself
- cannot be easy
There remains i major omission,
however "My toots are firmly in the bwss
band world I've WdlLhed it grow. I've been
privileged I() be in a position to talk and
enjoy the (ompany tit tire !, fears; within
brass banding I've attended the British
Open and the National (hampionships at
the Royal Albert Hall and I now believe I've
reached the point where I feet I would like
to conduct at these great Lontests.
'It's made me leel that it is time fix me
to give something back to brass banding,
since it was the brass band that inade
everything possible lot nw in the first plate
"My band has benelilvd qivatly by the
kindness of composvis who ate well
known within the wodd of brass band% Ili
addition to Peter Graham, Black Dyke's
(omposei-in-residence, Peter MeeLhan,
lids dedicated his Pimell Valiants to (is
Koldstreani) and Rodney Newlon has
produced n wind band version of hit.
rchoes of the East
"Tomorrow morning (two days ifivi liv
iviorned from Italy) I am meeting Martin
I Herby at the airport and lie is poinly, to
spend a day with my band lie lm% wriuvii
,I six movement SLIlIV for its, The 6ws (if
london, based on Ill% impressions of the
(apilai Lily "
"The lao is, I feel veiy ptivilegt-cl it) bu
itiv MD of the (oldsiteam Gimids lot the
support and financial backinq the Remmelil
has given me to (ommi%%ion now mo%j(
from woocivilol (ompo-wi% -, mfi wý Potei
'llid Maltill I Ilelby
"But I know wheiv my toots are and If's
Illov Im %oll)(' (01hlyllivill One day, it
wo(ild be I privilege to (onduo
bolld ill
my old
Glos%op"
11 "tilellf (an oflIv N, .1 of flow a