Royal Military College of Canada Bands


The Royal Military College of Canada Bands is the official group of bands of the Royal Military College of Canada. The group is composed of four sections: the brass and reed, the pipes and drums, highland dancers, and choristers. Total band membership consists of 105 Officer Cadets from the college. Officer Cadets in the band practice three days a week in the morning on top of attending their individual full-time university programs.
The RMC Band plays an active role in the college by providing the music for all parades and military functions, as well as athletic games and student events on the campus. In addition, the band has played provincially and nationally including the Oktoberfest celebration and parade in Kitchener-Waterloo and the Vanier Cup at Toronto's Skydome.
The Band has also played in venues across North America including the United States Military Academy, the United States Air Force Academy, the United States Naval Academy, Disney World, and the Canadian Embassy in Washington D.C.
As the largest volunteer band in the Canadian Forces, the RMC Band receives its instruction from professional military musicians. The current director of the RMC Band is Warrant Officer Aldwin Albino.
Notable alumni include John de Chastelain.

History

Early years

The RMC Band was first established in 1953 as a pipe and drum band with the addition of trumpets and bugles. While a band with full brass and woodwind instrumentation was initially desired, there was an insufficient number of cadet musicians and so it was decided to pursue a smaller ensemble. Staff member Sgt. Paquin was added to help the formation of the early band.
In December 1952, the necessary equipment arrived at the college and the first public appearance of the Royal Military College of Canada Pipes and Drums took place in both RMC gymnasiums at the Sports Night in January 1953. Notable events this year include the band playing music in the Stone Frigate at reveille, leading the Cadet Wing during the college's annual Church parade, playing at sporting events and playing at the final ceremonial parade of the year.
In 1954, the band was devoted mainly to reorganization, rebuilding and practice in the drafting room and Kingston Armouries under the direction of C.F.L. Hewitt. Through the Staff Advisor, Captain Botting, the band was permitted sufficient time for practices. Since the experience and talent of the founding cadets was lost to the band through graduation, one-half of this year's band were playing for the first time. The first cadet to hold the position of Cadet Wing Band Officer at RMC was 3527 Bruce Cooke. Cooke offered instruction to many new members as he was the only member of the RMC Band who had ever played in a pipe band before coming to the college.
More musicians were added this year to help increase the band size. Royal Roads Military College provided RMC with four pipers and a drummer while Royal Military College Saint-Jean provided a piper. Following C.F.L. Hewitt's policy of "a good band, or no band at all", the band's first public performance was not made until a high degree of proficiency had been reached when they provided half-time entertainment at a sports night in January 1955. The band played relatively simple tunes such as 'Scotland the Brave'. The band continued to lead for the college's church parades.
In 1955, the 35 members of the Glee Club, accompanied by Mrs. R. T. Rich, sang songs once a week in English, Latin, French, Russian and German. This year the RMC Band also produced a recording of the school's march “Precision”, the College Hymn and the Tri-Service March Past accompanied by the R.C.A.F. Training Command Band.
In 1956–57, the Pipe Band was authorized for the College and was under process of formation and training being guided by the Padre, Major Jack Armstrong. Sgt. Mackenzie and Sgt. Blackely of the R.C.A.F. pipe band at Rockcliffe provided the pipers and drummers with professional instruction. A position of Cadet Wing Band Officer was created; C.F.L. Cooke, the pipe-major, trained new members and was responsible for the general direction of the band. Major-General J.B.D. Smith, CBE, DSO, CD, Commandant of the National Defence College remarked to the Cadet Wing that the 1956 parade was a special one because it marked the return of the famous pill-boxes and the first appearance of the RMC pipe-band on a ceremonial parade. Much more extensive use has been made of the pipe band this year than ever before. The pipe band performed on parades, sporting events, and special occasions; the band performed at three ceremonial parades in the first term and at many of the football games, several hockey games and the West Point hockey game. The band acquired new pipe bag covers, new side drums, and the mace and sash carried by Cadet Doyle, the drum-major.
In 1958, the Pipe Band was considerably smaller with six pipers as compared with 15 in 1957. Cdt. G. S. Kingdon took over the drum section. The Band performed at regular Sunday parades, the Church parades to Kingston, all home football and hockey games this year and at one away football game at Ottawa. During Ex-Cadet Weekend, the cadet band played for the first time the ex-cadets to the Arch for remembrance ceremonies. The Band was opened the Tri-Service Bonspiel in Kingston. The band performed between periods for the first time in the Kingston Community Memorial Centre before a crowd of more than 2000 cadets, their guests, and distinguished visitors on the night of March 8 alternately with the Royal Canadian Signal Corps Band throughout the annual R.M.C.-West Point hockey game; Miss Beverley Orr, a member of Canada's figure skating team in the World Championships at Paris put on an exhibition and, a very bewildered chicken wandered onto the ice at the close of the first period. During the first trip to West Point to help cheer on the hockey team in 1959: the band was so well received that the West Point Cadets forced them out onto the ice to play between periods, and again that night at the dance. The band was invited to accompany the hockey team to West Point in 1959. Despite concerns expressed in the 1958 yearbook that this might be the last year for a Pipe Band at R.M.C. the band continued.

1960s

In 1960, CWBM 5131 Jon Lynn Moffat implemented a training, reorganization, rebuilding and practice program for the RMC band. He took about 20 volunteers from the recruit class and started work on the chanter practice in the Trophy Room. 5805 Bill Evans recounts that it was the smartest thing they could have done because they avoided the 6 am morning parade all winter.
In 1961, the band put thirteen pipers and drummers on parade. Pipe Major Hill, Canadian Guards judged an individual piper and drummer competition, won by Al Clarke, Springford and Turcotte. The band performed at two parties in the Martello Tower. The band members piper in a haggis at a Burns Night dinner, with the Commandant, Dr. Hutchison and Mr. McBride as guests. The band travelled to West Point where they performed during the annual RMC West Point hockey game.
During Westpoint weekend, 1961, a combined USMA and RMC Protestant Church parade formed up outside the gymnasium, led by the RMC Pipe Band, the parade marched up the hill to the Cadet Chapel at 1000 hours Sunday morning. In 1961, the 60 member Glee Club, directed by Col. Gelley, assisted by Fred Webster performed for the Canadian National Institute for the Blind at the Quinte-St. Lawrence Lodge. The Band Supervising Officers from '59 and '61 were Protestant Padres. RMC Drama and Glee Clubs performed in joint programs this year. The glee club also performed at the annual Christmas Ball this year. The Glee Club and the Pipe Band produced a long-playing album, which was sold to the Cadet Wing through the canteen.
The Glee Club performed on T.V. on the C.B.C.'s “Timmy Parade of Stars” show, sponsored annually by the Easter Seals campaign. This program originated from Toronto's Maple Leaf Gardens on 26 March, and was telecast on the nationwide network. The Band performed for the first time at the Graduation Parade in 1961, albeit in a secondary role to the Royal Canadian Signals Band. The band performed in the normal scarlet uniforms; Only the bass drummer with his leopard skin and the Band Major with his sash and mace were different.
In 1962, the RMC Glee Club, the University of Toronto Glee Club and Syracuse University Glee Club performed at Hart House, University of Toronto. The RMC Glee Club underwent a daily noon hour practice. In the fall, the RMC Glee club performed at Kingston Women's Penitentiary and acted as an audience for a play produced by the prisoners. The RMC Glee Club and the Queen Elizabeth Collegiate and Vocational Institute Concert Band performed two nights at “Musicland”. The RMC Glee Club performed "Crucifixus from the Mass in B minor" accompanied by the RMC band.
This same year,No. 5504 Ron Charles Murray led the RMC pipe-band, as Cadet Wing Band Manager. The band performed at many college activities and parades, ranging from Ex-Cadet Week-end and the West Point game to football games and Sunday church parades.
The Band established its Robbie Burns Dinner as an annual event in honour of the Scottish poet Robert Burns. In November the Pipes and Drums travelled to Ottawa with the football team to perform during the half time show.
In 1964, Cadet Wing Band Manager Taylor and Cadet Wing Drum Major Dendy implemented a training, reorganization, rebuilding and practice program for the RMC band; focussing on 15 new bandsmen. The RMC band performed at Sunday morning church parades and performed during the halftime at the Carleton University football weekend in Ottawa. The band's repertoire included "42nd Highlanders", "The Siege of Delhi" drum solo, "We Three Kings". During the winter term, the band performed the Tattoo Ceremony for West Point Weekend. The RMC band and the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals Band performed music for the graduation parade.
The RMC Pipes and Drums played at the 52nd Grey Cup in 1964, at Exhibition Stadium in Toronto. This same year, gauntlets were issued to all the drummers. Led by director Dr. D. G. M. Diaper and Cadet chairman CWA John Carson, the RMC Glee Club sang eleven concerts. On November 23, 1963, the RMC Glee Club, the University of Toronto Hart House Glee Club and Syracuse University Glee Club performed at Hart House, University of Toronto; During the Winter term, the Glee Club sang in Brockville, and at the Kingston Women's Penitentiary. The RMC band sponsored a concert by the Hart House Club, and appeared in a joint concert with the RCAF Central Command Band at Vimy. On February 29, 1964, the RMC Glee Club and RMC Band performed in Ottawa; for the last three numbers, the band accompanied the choir. The Glee Club performed on March 4th during a meeting of the Kingston Music Society. In 1963-64, under Jim Taylor's leadership, the cadet dance bands were recognized as official College organizations under the Recreation Club. The "Iroquois" were renamed the " Voids" in 1964. Before 1965, the band uniform consisted of scarlet tunic with RMC pants, gaitors and pillbox hat.
In 1965, the Band performed Retreat Ceremonies for the old Ensign Flag and the new Canadian Flag. The Mackenzie tartan has been associated with the university and its pipe band since they were first acquired in May 1965. The RMC Pipes and Drums played at the 53rd Grey Cup Game in 1965, at Exhibition Stadium in Toronto.

1970s

The bands were fully recognized by the Canadian Forces in 1970. Thanks to the efforts of 2364 Air Commodore Leonard Birchall, then RMC Commandant and H8829 Col. The Hon. George F.G. Stanley, then RMC Dean, the RMC pipes and drums were equipped for the first time with most of their highland kit. They began wearing the Mackenzie tartan but continued to wear the pillbox hat. The feather bonnet came in 1970.
The Pipes and Drums competed for the first time in 1971. RMC came in 3rd at the Niagara Wine and Grape Festival Band Competition. 4860 John de Chastelain, RMC Commandant 1977–80, joined in playing the pipes when the Band performed at the US Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs and at USMA in West Point. When RMC Pipes and Drums played on Parliament Hill in 1979, a single piper succeeded in accidentally drowning out a performance of the Kingston Symphony Orchestra.

1980s to present day

In 1979 and 1988, the RMC Pipes and Drums performed at Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, at Exhibition Place, Toronto. The Pipes and Drums performed at the Air Canada Silver Broom International Curling Championships at Moncton, New Brunswick, in 1980; Canadian Rick Folk was victorious.
The Pipes and Drums performed during the Olympic torch lighting ceremony in 1988 for the XV Olympic Winter Games held in Calgary, Alberta. That same year, the RMC Pipes and Drums played at the 76th Grey Cup at Frank Claire Stadium in Ottawa.
The Bands take care of the mascot of College Paladin. Today the Bands are one of the most well-known groups on campus. They celebrated their 60th anniversary in 2013.

Organization

The groups that make up the RMC Band, is based out of Yeo Hall on the RMC campus. The band is led by a cadet drum major and pipe major.
The Pipe and Drum sections and Brass and Reed section are both authorized Canadian Regular Force voluntary bands. This status, as defined in Queen's Regulations and Orders Chapter 32 and the Canadian Forces Band Instructions, requires that the bands follow all of the applicable Department of National Defence and Canadian Forces regulations concerning military bands and the provision of musical support. Additionally, all band uniforms must be as described in Chapters 5 and 6 of the Canadian Forces Dress Instructions.

Composition and membership

The band membership is broken up into distinct sections:
The bands also include the RMC mascot, a Paladin.
The band is a volunteer organization, which consists of undergraduate students and graduate students. RMC Band alumni are allowed to play with the current ensembles and will occasionally join at practices, performances and competitions.
Band members typically come from a wide range of musical backgrounds, some with very little musical training before joining. Students are provided musical instruction in bagpiping, highland drumming, and highland dance.

Cadet leadership

Within the Band's organization, there are cadet appointments. These are:
The Brass and Reed Band is a multi-purpose section, used primarily as a parade march and concert band. The Pipe Section and the Drum Section perform at mess dinners; parades; sporting events; ceremonies ; weddings; funerals; public relations; wing events; Christmas Ball and Graduation Balls; private events; and holidays. The Highland Dance Section perform at many of the same functions with the exception of parades and funerals. The Choir performs the Canadian national anthem; sings at mess dinners; and accompanies the Stage Band on selected pieces including: folk, jazz, traditional music, French music, show tunes, African music and Christmas songs. The Stage Band is versatile, performing dinner music followed by marches at college mess dinners.
Notable RMC Band performances include:
They are also active during Royal Military College of Canada Start of Year weekend, playing while officer cadets march through the Memorial Arch. The bands performs at military ceremonies such as the Battle of Britain and Remembrance Day at the College and in local churches. During parade inspections, the Pipe circle, the Drumline and the Brass and Reeds perform separately.

Athletic events

For home games, the Bands lead a parade of Royal Military College of Canada fans from the main campus to the football stadium at Queen's University.

Cheer Band

The Cheer Band is a subsidiary of the Brass and Reed section, and performs music indoor RMC sporting events, such as the Carr-Harris Cup against Queen's University and the Westpoint Weekend. Wearing Paladins jerseys, the band entertained a record 3,122 fans during the annual RMC vs Queens Carr-Harris Cup at the K-Rock Centre in January 2012.

Television and media events

The Glee Club performed on T.V. on the C.B.C.'s “Timmy Parade of Stars” show, sponsored annually by the Easter Seals campaign; This program originated from Toronto's Maple Leaf Gardens on 26 March, and was telecast on the nationwide network.
The bands performed Trooper's "Raise A Little Hell" when Rick Mercer Report filmed a segment called "Learning the ropes at the Royal Military College" which appeared in January 2005 on the CBC.
The Aboriginal Leadership Opportunity Year cadets at the Royal Military College of Canada performed on the drums at the opening of the annual Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards in 2010.

Traditions

During the RMC Reunion Week-End, the bands perform at the Badging parade in honour of new cadets and the Old brigade parade held at the Arch in honour of RMC ex-cadets who died while in the service.
The bands play "funny" music and wear costumes during the annual gash parade, which is a practice for annual Sunset Ceremony in May. During the gash parade, cadets sang "O Canada" along to "The Hey Song" in 2010. The musicians are known for playing skylarks on each other.
The Bands perform pre-game and half-time shows at Royal Military College of Canada games, such as the Carr-Harris Cup annual challenge match varsity hockey game held at Kingston Memorial Centre and lead the crowd in singing the RMC cheer: "Call: Gimme a beer! Response: Beer! Esses! Emma! T-D-V! Who can stop old RMC! Shrapnel, Cordite, NCT! R-M-C Hooah!"
To celebrate the 60th anniversary for the RMC Band; the band was presented in 2013 with artwork displaying a lone RMC piper and a RMC bugler playing last post; kilt pins featuring the RMC logo, and a drum skin featuring the RMC logo.

Uniform

The female highland dancers wear Scottish dress consisting of a velvet jacket with gold or silver braid edging and gold or silver buttons, over a white shirt with lace ruffles at the neck. They wear a kilt and tartan hose, and black laced ghillies, or dancing shoes. The male highland dancers wear the kilt, sporran, or pouch, jacket, bonnet, tartan hose and a sgian dubh, or ceremonial knife. The members of the pipes and drums wear scarlet tunics, trousers or a kilt, shoes and a feather bonnet or Glengarry cap. The members of the brass and reed ear scarlet tunics, trousers, shoes, Wolseley helmet or pillbox hat on parade.
Attached to the bass drone of the Scottish Highland bagpipes, the pipe banner is a two-sided, swallow-tailed flag with the RMC badge on the obverse side and the CMR de St-Jean badge and the donor's college number on the reverse. The Banner is fringed along the outer edges with gold wire and both badges are embroidered in gold and silver wire and coloured threads.

Badges

The brass or gold thread lyre is awarded as a proficiency badge for brass and reed by the Band Officer when a student is considered capable of participating in parades. A brass or gold treble clef is awarded by the Band Officer as a proficiency badge for choir when a student is considered to be ready for concerts. A brass or gold thread pipe is awarded by the Band Officer as a proficiency badge for pipes when a student is considered capable of participating in parades. A brass or gold thread drum is awarded as a proficiency badge for drums by the Band Officer when a student is considered capable of participating in parades. The brass or gold thread thistle is awarded by the Band Officer as a proficiency badge for highland dance when a student is considered capable of participating in parades.

Repertoire

The bands perform traditional military, pop, modern and highland music, as well as a few jazz and contemporary numbers.

Marches and military music

The official march of the Royal Military College of Canada is "Precision". It was composed in 1932 by Madame Denise Chabot and orchestrated for a military band by Captain F.W. Coleman, RCHA.
The Pipes and Drums play "Alexander Mackenzie", the official slow pipe march of the Royal Military College of Canada was written by Don Carrigan and arranged by Brian Williams. Pipe Major Donald M. Carrigan composed the `Stone Frigate` Reel in 1983 in honour of the HMCS Stone Frigate, formerly the home of the Royal Naval College of Canada
To honour the College, the bands play the 'RMC cheer', the College Hymn; 'The R.M.C. march & two step ' for piano; and songs from 'Leo the Royal Cadet,' or `When RMC is on the field.` 194 Major Edward Theodore Barclay Gillmore composed 'The R.M.C. waltzes for piano ' dedicated to the Gentlemen Cadets of the Royal Military College of Canada, which was published by A. & S. Nordheimer in 1891.
To honour the academic staff of Canadian Military Colleges, the bands play “March of the Peers: from Iolanthe” words Sir William S. Gilbert, music Sir Arthur Seymour Sullivan, arrangement Bryceson Treharne which opens with a fanfare leading to a swaggering march from Sullivan's 'Iolanthe'.
To honour Royal Roads Military College, the band plays its official songs "Hatley Park" or "Going Home". To honour the Royal Military College Saint-Jean, the bands play "La marche du Richelieu" or the slow march "La Gaillarde". To honour the environments, the bands plays and the Tri-Service March Past: "Heart of Oak" ; "The Great Little Army" and "RCAF March Past".
During reunion parades the bands play 'The Boys of the old Brigade' and the College hymn 'Fight the good Fight', words and music by John S. B. Monsell and William Boyd, 1863. 'Officer of the day' is played during graduation parade. "O Canada", the national anthem is regularly played and sung.

Ceremonial music

During military funerals and ceremonies commemorating those who have fallen in war, the buglers play Last Post and The Rouse.
The Highland Dancers perform Scottish highland dance and Irish stepdance: "Wilt Thou Go to the Barracks, Johnny?", "Highland Laddie", "The Irish Washerwoman", "Flora MacDonald's Fancy", "The Sailor's Hornpipe"; Highland Fling; Scottish sword dances, Slip jig, 'Argyle Broadsword dance', the 'Scottish Lilt' and 'Chantreuse'.

Popular music and jazz

During the annual Christmas concerts, the band played diverse pieces such as "Cold Play on Stage", a jazz arrangement of The Beatles' "Yesterday", superhero theme songs, "Black Orpheus" from Luis Bonfa, sing-along Christmas songs and more diverse pieces. In previous Christmas concerts the band played "Nightmare before Christmas", "Sabre Dance" from Khachaturian, a Herb Alpert trumpet feature, "The Longest Time" from Billy Joel, jazz music like "Take 5".
During spring concert, the band played "O Canada", Igor Stravinsky's "Firebird Suite" ; `Lord of the Rings` ; `Gabriel's Oboe` ; Drum salute ; Pipes & Drums & Highland Dancers ; `Highland Cathedral`, `Rose of Calvin Grove` and `Precision` to end the concert.

Recordings and albums

Various recordings of the RMC Band exist. These include: