(Bertram Walton, Rudolph and Percy O’Donnell)
The Band of the RAF College
In my shop now! A largely Irish flavoured programme featuring extraordinary and ahead of their time original works for wind band from the early and mid 20th century and some arrangements which made by Bertram Walton O’Donnell and his brother Percy when they were, consecutively, Musical Directors (Percy followed Bertram Walton after his untimely death) of the BBC Wireless Military Band. Many of these are unknown and hand-written scores were supplied to me by Percy O’Donnell’s granddaughter Alison, herself a very well-known Irish folk singer. Bertram Walton advised Holst when Holst was composing ‘Hammersmith’ and the latter work was dedicated by the composer to BW when it was completed. Rudolph became Principal Director of Music of the RAF and conducted the RAF Central Band and Orchestra, both of which contained many of London’s finest orchestral musicians who had joined for the duration of World War II. A CD of wonderful music, much of which is unknown but has now been published by Bandleader Publications. Now available here ONLY pre-release (official release early November). The music is performed by the superb Band of the RAF College and recorded with Tony Faulkner as Recording Engineer in the glorious acoustic of St Michael’s Church at the RAF College, Cranwell, Conductors are Wing Commander Piers Morrell OBE MVO, Squadron Leader Richard Murray and Squadron Leader Chris I’Anson, A MUST FOR LOVERS OF MILITARY BAND MUSIC, WIND BAND CLASSICS AND IRISH MUSIC.
