Royal Canadian Artillery Band

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Royal Canadian Artillery Band
Musique de l'Artillerie royale canadienne (French)
Master Warrant Officer
Daniel Keels

The Royal Canadian Artillery Band (French: Musique de l'Artillerie royale canadienne) is one of six Regular Force

jazz combos, rock bands, and chamber groups, through stage and show bands to full marching and concert bands.[2][3][4]

History

The RCA Band traces its roots to the "B" Battery Band of the Royal Canadian Artillery in

Shilo, Manitoba, and then Winnipeg. In 1952, the Royal Canadian Artillery Band was formed in Halifax under Captain E.R. Wragg, and in the following years it travelled overseas to entertain troops in South Korea. In 1955 Captain Kenneth Elloway became the new bandmaster and was vital in highlighting the RCA Band on an international stage. He arranged appearances on BBC radio, invited guest performers, and led the RCA Band in the 1957 Bermuda Tattoo. After the Unification of the Canadian Armed Forces in 1968 the RCA Band in Halifax was dissolved and reformed in Montreal. The RCA Band performed for over 100,000 spectators in 1988. The RCA Band was moved from Montreal to Edmonton on 4 December 1997.[6]

Uniform

Band of the 15th Field Regiment
, an affiliated reserve band with the RCA Band.

The RCA's musicians uniforms are based on the officers pattern of the ceremonial uniforms of the now dissolved

bearskin cap
), with tall plumes attached to ferrule to the top of the front. Unlike the Royal Artillery, the RCA Band wears white plumes, and do not wear the cavalry spurs. Bandsman wear navy blue tunics, quilt lined with a standing collar, fastened with hooks. Navy blue cavalry-style pantaloons are also worn, with an RCA stripe in scarlet sewn onto outside of each leg.

Role

The role of the Royal Canadian Artillery Band is to provide a comprehensive, professional musical service to 3rd Canadian Division Support Group, 3rd Canadian Division, the Canadian Armed Forces and the government of Canada.

Performance history

In 1994–95, the RCA Band participated in the Canada Remembers program, which took the band on a tour of

Kungstradgarden and Strängnäs as well as marched in the 20th Swedish Military Tattoo, which included a parade to the Stockholm Palace while performing pieces such as "The Voice of the Guns" and "Glorious Victory".[6]

In June 2017, the band provided musical support for a contingent of the 2nd Battalion,

Queen's Guard. It was one of the rare occasions when the band wore the Atholl-grey greatcoats authorized for wear in the autumn and winter.[9]

Organization

The band's commanding officer (CO) is the unit's principal conductor. The CO is responsible for the creative direction of the band and all facets of musical performance. The principal components of the band are the following sections:

  • Brass
  • Woodwind
  • Percussion

The RCA Band is a 35 piece band that also performs in the following configurations:

  • Parade Band
  • Concert Band
  • Jazz Big Band (10 piece ensemble)
  • Windage Salon Orchestra
  • The Soul Orchestra
  • Jazz Task Force
  • Chamber groups
    • Woodwind Quintet
    • Brass Quintet

Members of the band spend most of their time engaged in training activities when not delivering formal performances. Musical training usually includes up to three hours of individual practice per day and collective practice sessions in groups ranging in size from quartets to full unit rehearsals.

Pipes and Drums

In 2008, for the first time in its then over 100 years history, Corporal Jim Douglas, who was a piper in the CF, was posted to The RCA Band as part of what is now the RCA Pipes and Drums, which as of 2010, had four members. In November 2012, it appeared in public for the first time to perform at a public concert in support of a charity.[6] The Pipes and Drums of the RCA serve as the Canadian counterpart to the former and current pipe bands of the British Royal Artillery.

Music

The RCA Band regularly performs the regimental marches:

King William III of the Netherlands
and soon after became popular in the country and was known as the Royal Artillery Grenadiers March unofficially until 1882. It first appeared in print as 'The British Grenadiers' in 1740. The popularity of the tune 'The British Grenadiers' subsequently led to its adoption by all regiments who wear as their cap or collar badges, the symbol of the grenade. This included the Royal Artillery and as a result is now used by the RCA.

Notable members

The following are notable members of the RCA Band:[10]

See also

References

  1. ^ https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1391639619911 [dead link]
  2. ^ "The Edmonton Chamber Music Society | the Royal Canadian Artillery Band".
  3. ^ "RCA Band".
  4. ^ "A Christmas Celebration Featuring the Royal Canadian Artillery Band at Winspear Centre (Edmonton) on December 7, 2018 at 7:30 pm".
  5. Encyclopedia of Music in Canada
    . Retrieved 1 September 2019.
  6. ^ a b c "The Royal Canadian Artillery band | Canadian Army". 25 February 2013.
  7. ^ "MCLB Band performs with Canadian military bands".
  8. ^ Pugliese, David (16 June 2017). "Canadian military units take on ceremonial duties as the Queen's Guard in London". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved 28 December 2019.
  9. ^ "The Royal Canadian Regiment and the Royal Canadian Artillery Band to assume public duties as the Queen's Guard". 19 October 2018.
  10. ^ https://theheritageofmilitarymusic.com/military-musicians
  11. ^ https://www.murphyfuneralhome.ca/book-of-memories/167115/Frederick-Leadston/obituary.php?Printable=true [dead link]

Footnotes

  • CWO (Ret'd) Jack Kopstein CD ' When the Band Begins to Play: A History of Military Music in Canada (1992).
  • CWO (Ret`d) Jack Kopstein CD & Ian Pearson `The Heritage of Military Music in Canada` (St. Catharines, Ont.: Vanwell Pub., 2002)
  • CWO (Ret`d) Jack Kopstein CD & Ian Pearson `The History of the Marches in Canada: Regimental/Branch/Corps` (Hignell Printing Ltd, 1994).

External links

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