Coldstream Guards Has History Dating Back To Cromwell

Radio Record, Volume VII, Issue 9, 8 September 1933, Page 11

Coldstream Guards Has History Dating Back To Cromwell

N OT every regiment can claim the double distinction of the Coldstream Regiment of Foot Guards. It is the oldest corps by continuous existence and is also the sole representative by lineal descent of the first regular army, which was raised and organised by Oliver Cromwell. A Coldstream Band existed in 1742, twenty years before the formation of military bands in England, and within siv yeara the Foot Guards had their "Bands of Musick" in full swing. Their members, saya "Famous Bands of the British Empire," were civilians, whose sole ~ military duty was to play the guard from St. James’s Park to the Palace and back. About 1783 the officers petitioned their Colonel-in-Ohief, the Duke of York, then in Hanover, for his assent to their having a band which they could command on all occasions. Accordingly, a band of regularly attested musicians was enlisted in Hanover by the Duke and sent to England. By 1815 the band (formerly of 12) had been augmented by the © introduction of flutes, trombones and key bugles, until it numbered 20 performers. With this composition it was ordered to Paris dur ing the occupation by the Allies. | Eley, the bandmaster, was succeeded in turn by Messrs. Weyrauch, Denman, and Willman. With the appointment of the latter the Cold- _ streamers began to lay the foundations for its eriable fame. Thomas Willman was acknowledged the finest clarinet player of his era, and held the principal appointments at the Philharmonic and with other orchestras. Under him the Ooldstreamers became a veritable school for clarinet players. Out of it came Lazarus, the famous clarinet virtuoso. Dven to-day this band is noted for its fine clarinet playing; indeed, tt would seem that the hand of Willman is still upon it. Willman retired in 1825, and was succeeded. by Mr. Charles-Godfrey, who had joined the band in 1815 from the Surrey Militia, and was the founder of the family whose name is so intimately associated with military music and bands. The present strength of the band is 66 musicians, and those of us unable to hear them in person have the good fortune to enjoy an excellent substitute in the records. Among the finest of the band’s records are the following, heard last week on 4YA’s programme: Stuart’s "Floradora," Tharban’s "Americana," Thomas’s "Raymond" Overture, Gounod’s "Faust," Ts ilfred Sanderson’s Songs," and Tschaikovsky’s «1319.