Postcard: Malvern Tramways Band, 1924 (Source: Jeremy de Korte Collection) Introduction: Sir.  I desire to bring under the notice of our authorities and your readers the splendid status of the Malvern Tramways Band, and that public interest may be awakened with a view to sending the Australia’s champion band to contest against England’s best at the famous Crystal Palace brass band contest in London.  Our soldiers and sailors, actors and singers, riflemen, footballers and politicians have won fame for Australia, and I feel confident our bandsmen can add fresh lustre to our laurels, a ..read more

Figure 1: Digital scan of march card back with Victorian Police Band stamp. (source: Victorian Bands’ League Archive) Introduction: His duties as Librarian (self-imposed) were to clean up the room after practices and to arrange the various sets of music so as to have any particular set “right under his thumb,” if required, at a moment’s notice; which was itself no sinecure. No practice or public performance was complete without him to distribute the music, whilst everyone always had a cheery word for Billy Wardle, whose ready smile was always evidence on such occasions.  Old age and ill ..read more

Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind Band. ca. 1890. (source: State Library Victoria: cr001189) Please note: This blog post has drawn upon information from photographic and print resources whereby the names of managers and deceased persons from former orphanages, secure health institutions, and penal institutions may have been mentioned.  Also, there are depictions of the recreational activities of such institutions described in this blog post.  Introduction: …undoubtedly music had a fundamental relationship to humanity.  It softened and soothed the hardness and ha ..read more

The Malvern & Caulfield East Juvenile Band, 1922. (Source: IBEW) Introduction: If there is one aspect that defines the band movement of yesteryear, it is the relationships they formed through the course of their existence.  Some of these relationships were beneficial, others were not. Maintaining these relationships was sometimes difficult as issues needed to be ironed out.  On occasions, some issues became insurmountable, and there was never any proper resolution. When we look at a typical brass band from the era of the early to middle 1900s there were several stakeho ..read more

The Victorian Bandmasters’ Association, approx. 1931 (Source: Victorian Bands’ League Archives) Introduction: There is no doubting that any band requires leadership and that the leaders of bands, whether they be musical – conductors/bandmasters, and Drum Majors – or in administration, require a set of qualities that are different from other band members.  This has been the case in our band movement from almost the beginning and many musicians have aspired to be in such leadership roles.  Often, they have succeeded.  At times, the needs of the band have not been me ..read more

Inspection of the B Grade Bands at the South Street Eisteddfod, 1949. (photograph of The Courier photograph taken by Jeremy de Korte on 30/09/2021) Introduction: The secretary will arrange for supply of Brasso etc. for polishing all instruments on the journey and the management committee will inspect the instruments from time to time.  Members are asked to note that it is imperative to have hair cut very short (back and sides) and all wearing black shoes laced alike – with no tags showing. (“Rules and Itinerary,” 1937) If the above directive from the conductor and management of the ..read more

Postcard: Besses o’ th’ Barn Band. (1908) (Source: Jeremy de Korte collection) Introduction: The visit of one of the premier bands of Britain to Australia would be an event of great interest, and Mr. Hume, speaking on the matter, said that if the railways would guarantee to grant free passes to the members, he could almost promise that either the Besses o’ th’ Barn Band, of Lancashire or the Black Dyke Band, of Yorkshire, would come out.  That the venture would be a success Mr Hume says he has not the slightest doubt, and he considers that the playing would come as a revelation to Austra ..read more

Introduction: My favourite period of band life in Australia is between 1900-1950 and the posts on this blog reflect this.  It is a time of rapid development of bands in this country and tied in with major historical events (Wars, a pandemic and the Great Depression), the life of bands was certainly eventful.  It was also a time of great musical achievement in the band scene with many fine bands coming to the fore, competitions gaining national prominence, and individual band members becoming household names. It would be fair to say that bands create their own history, and ..read more

Postcard: Artillery Band playing at the Band Rotunda, Hyde Park, Sydney. (Date unknown) (Source: Jeremy de Korte collection) Introduction: They stand in parks and gardens throughout Australia as monuments to public entertainment before the days of broadcasting music through the wireless.  A source of civic pride, they are of a distinct purpose, yet cover a very wide variety of design and architecture.  They were built as memorials to musicians, royalty and service personnel, for bands and bandmasters, and also for the towns.  If there is one structure that provide ..read more

A large room of tables stocked with fruit and vegetables with a brass band in the centre of the crowd. (Courtesy of the State Library of Western Australia: 8292B/A/6851-1) Introduction: From conversations I have had with bandmasters in Australia it would appear that the bands generally have been very hard hit by the depression, but I have been struck by the fine spirit and courage shown generally by them in these passing troubles.  Undoubtedly brighter times are coming, and they will be rewarded for the admirable attitude they have taken right through. (Adkins, 1934) The years from 1900 ..read more