When Sandhurst MD Ian McElligott was first approached to compose a piece of music for his old army regiment, he had no idea of the scale of the project he was about to become involved in.

Standing ovation

One year later he stood to take a standing ovation from a packed Royal Albert Hall audience after the performance of ‘Peninsula!’ by over 300 musicians from the massed bands and bugles of ‘The Rifles’.

The epic three part piece was written to commemorate the heroics of ‘The Rifles’ regiment during the Peninsula Wars, and was the main feature of the concert that celebrated the service and spirit of famous regiment over 200 years of history.

It was the first time the Rifles Bands had performed together as a massed unit since the formation of their new structure in 2007.

Officers and princes

Along with many current and former commanding officers in the audience were several Royal Princes watching events from the Royal Box.

I would love to arrange this piece for brass band, but I will have to give some thought as to how to cover the 45 separate parts in the score!Ian McElligott

Honour

Ian told 4BR: "It was such an honour to be commissioned to compose such an important piece of music for my old regiment. To hear it for the first time in such a wonderful setting is something I will never forget.

I would love to arrange this piece for brass band, but I will have to give some thought as to how to cover the 45 separate parts in the score!"

Other works

The massed band also played two of Ian’s compositions during the concert, written over twenty years ago during his time as Bandmaster of the Royal Green Jackets.

Ian will be back at band rehearsal with Sandhurst on Tuesday where his focus will switch from the grandeur of Kensington, to the somewhat more modest setting of the Leicester contest in Loughborough!