DOCTOR OF MUSICAL ARTS PERFORMANCE PORTFOLIO ...

The Regimental Band of Her Majesty's Coldstream Guards conducted by Major Graham 0. Jones
MBE
The Eley Project - Original Compositions and Arrangements by Christopher Frederick Eley
BHSS 05 15 Duration 78.49 minutes
This latest CD from the Band of the Coldstream Guards (there have been three other releases this year)
shows the band once again embarking on unusual and interesting repertoire. This time they play very
much close to home with an album dig is an archival presentation with immediate associations with
the Regimental Band and its long history.
There are some 33 tracks, some very briet with the longest coming in at around five and a quarter
minutes. The original band of the Coldstream Regiment of Guards was formed in 1785 with
Christopher Eley (1756-1832) being hired as Music-Major, an appointment generally considered the
turning point in both quality and regard for the military band in England. Eley's first band was not the
48 strong ensemble we know today. A mere 12 musicians comprised this first Regimental Band. Eley
was himself a fine clarinettist and cellist, his playing and teaching being well respected in London. He
continued as the Bandmaster of the Coldstream Guards until 1793 after which he became Bandmaster
with the Royal East India Volunteers Band.
Eley is best remembered today for composing The Duke of York's March, first published in 1785, and
which has remained continuously in the repertoire of the Foot Guards bands. This piece opens the CD
and it should be made known to listeners from the outset that this recording has been made using
period brass instruments, hence the unique, and once accepted, sound of the 'modern' ensemble paying
tribute to an era long past by. In many ways this is a strength and in no sense a weakness - as listeners
we are transported to a style of military band music and playing that is reverential to its source material
and to the history of the Regiment Several marches, arrangements of contemporary pieces, dances and
other items comprisi the contents of this album. At approximately the halfway point we receive The
Duke of York's New March, now known as Yhe Figaro March, the official regimental slow march of
the Coldstream Guards.
The liner notes (by Major Jones) are comprehensive and illuminating, the playing of the high standard
we have become accustomed to from this fme ensemble, and the programme both enlightening and
enjoyable. This enterprising project has been well worth the journey and is a tremendous archival
artefact to the history of the Coldstream Guards as well as working on a completely separate level as a
purely aesthetic experience.
Congratulations to all concerned on another fine recording from this, possibly the finest of our military
ensembles, to the sensitive musical direction provided by Major Jones, the intelligent playing and
unobtrusive production and engineering by Daniel Lock.
It's a pity that Winter is nearly upon this reviewer as this is a fine lpý disc, perfect for a Summer
afternoon soirde whilst sipping a convivial cocktail or maybe even two!
Highly recommended
on SO many counts.
Martin Ellerby - November 2005
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