On Her Majesty's Service

The Regimental Band of the Coldstream Guards
Conductor: Major Graham O. Jones MBE
Featuring - Rachel Smith, flute. John Storey, euphonium, James Scott, vocals
Egon Recordings: CD SFZ 111
Total Playing Time: 69.17 mins

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4BR get to review all sorts of ensemble and solo recordings, including Wind Bands of all differing types and standards. To be perfectly honest the vast majority that we have listened to have been – for use of a better phrase – not quite Championship Section standard, as they seemed frankly, poorly prepared, untuneful and performing repertoire that is a touch beyond their technical capabilities. We were therefore quite reticent when we took delivery of this release from none other than The Regimental Band of the Coldstream Guards.

What a very pleasant surprise though. This is a very enjoyable CD – full of top class playing, fine ensemble and solo work, tight and accurate technical playing and not a note out of tune. The musicians on display on "Her Majesty's Service" are of course some of the very best in the entire armed forces, but it is still a very enjoyable experience to be able to listen to well balanced playing, colourful and controlled, and with finely chosen repertoire delivered with the crispness of a well ironed military tunic. This is a very good CD indeed.

The Coldstream Guards were formed around 1785 when 12 German musicians were enlisted by HRH The Duke of York to replace the existing 8 civilian performers who really weren't up to scratch. (So European integration was occurring even then!), and they are the oldest band in the armed forces. Today, there are 49 musicians including the Director of Music (although it appears none are German anymore), and since 1945 they have been one of the most well travelled of the Army's Bands, as they have performed all over the World – including representing the UK at the September 11th remembrance events in New York. On the evidence of this release they are very fine ambassadors indeed.

They open with Sir Malcolm Arnold's "Fanfare for a Festival" which has a lovely grandiose feel and controlled sonorous sounds, before they get to grips with Philip, Sparke's enjoyable "Fiesta" which has a Latin Amercian exuberance that is caught to a tee. The hallmarks of Sparke are there aplenty, but the different colours and hues add splendidly to overall effect and the music really comes to life.

Rachel Smith is the soloist in the Chaminade "Concertino for Flute" and she displays a lovely sense of lyricism and rock solid technique in a fine display of quality playing. She has been a member of the Guards since November 2001 and on this evidence, it would be fair to say there can't be many players of this standard elsewhere in the Forces. The other soloist is euphonium player, John Storey, who has an impeccable brass band upbringing – he was taught by none other than the great Geoffrey Whitham, and with this performance of the old pot boiler you can hear that the Whitham influence has rubbed off to super effect. It is a very classy rendition.

Nigel Hess, who wrote "East Coast Pictures" which was featured on the latest Leyland Band CD earlier this year provides two very enjoyable items in the form of "Stephenson's Rocket" and "Monk's March". Hess writes very descriptively and both pieces are musical portraits that capture the essence of the subject matter brilliantly. Hess has written extensively for TV and you can hear why he has been so successful at it – great stuff.

Finally a trio of symphonic suites of music from the pens of some of the great icons of popular music. "Symphonic Beatles" is an amalgam of their best tunes, skilfully intertwined by John Cacavas, whilst "Secret Agent "007"" brings us all the thrills and spills of Britain's greatest spy – no David Shayler this, and there is a super bit of Matt Monroe crooning from one James Scott (no, not that one!) on the "From Russia with Love" section. Both these are very well played.

The last track brings us a bit of Lloyd Weber, which isn't for us the greatest music on the world, but has been neatly put together by Robert Ely and is pleasant enough on the ear.

"On Her Majesty's Service" is a fine CD – perhaps the best Wind Band release we have heard for a long time and is a credit to the musicians, MD and the top brass of the Army. What with the army currently suffering from guns that don't work, tanks that break down in the sand and radios that can't pick up signals it's nice to know they are still very, very good at the important things – making music. Well done one and all.

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