Salvation Army History >
The International Staff Band
The
International Staff Band
The Army's Premier Musical
Combination
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The I.S.B at
Berne 1907.
Bandmaster George Mitchell
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The
Junior Staff Band of The Salvation Army was commissioned on April
22nd 1889 under the direction of Bandmaster Samuel Webber. The new
band consisted of office boys and junior clerks from International
Headquarters in Queen Victoria Street. After having been in
existence for about two years, most of the players were too old to
be regarded as 'junior', and in October 1891 a memorandum from the
Chief of the Staff brought into service the International
Headquarters Staff Band. Staff Captain, Fred Fry was appointed to
take charge of the newly formed band.
In September 1893 the band was reorganized, with Jabez Lyne becoming
the first officially appointed bandmaster of the International
Staff Band.
His time with the baton did not last long however, |
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and in 1894
Caleb Burgess, late of the Household Troops Band, took charge. He was
succeeded later the same year by George Mitchell, who served as bandmaster
until 1920. Upon Bandmaster Mitchell's retirement the band ceased to
function for two years, due, in the main to the toll taken by the First
World War.
Reformed in 1923, with Major George Fuller, the new Bandmaster, the
I.S.B's first engagement was at Bideford in Devon. Major Fuller had been a
member of the band since 1891 and was Deputy Bandmaster for some 23
years. As part of the band's golden jubilee celebrations, the I.S.B. were,
in October 1941, accorded the honour of playing in the forecourt of
Buckingham Palace.
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In
1942 Major Fuller was presented with the Order of The Founder by
The Chief of the Staff, Commissioner Alfred G. Cunningham, after
serving in the position of 19 years. Major Eric Ball, a well
known name in Salvation Army music circles took up the baton
upon Major Fuller's retirement. On 31st August 1942 the I.S.B.
broadcast under the baton of it's new bandmaster for the first
time over the BBC Forces network.
Major Ball left the I.S.B. in 1944, having resigned his
commission as an officer of the Salvation Army. As a temporary
measure, Lieutenant-Colonel Bramwell |
The
I.S.B in 1978. Bandmaster Col. Ray Bowes
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Coles was asked to conduct the band for the
remainder of that season. In September 1944
Brigadier William Stewart, an ex cornet soloist with the I.S.B.,
was appointed it's new bandmaster. Two years later Brigadier
Stewart asked to be relieved of the bandmastership and was
succeeded in the position by Major Bernard Adams. Major Adams
was to become the longest serving bandmaster of the
International Staff Band, serving for some 28 years until his
retirement in 1975. He led the band on many tours both in the
United Kingdom and overseas, including the first visit to
mainland Europe for 23 years when in 1949 the I.S.B campaigned
in the Netherlands.
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A
Benhams 'Silk' cover for the
Cent. of the I.S.B.
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The Band celebrated it's Diamond Jubilee in 1951 with around 85
former members attending a reception on Saturday October 15th,
including 81 year old Colonel Alfred Hamilton, the I.S.B.'s
first flag officer. The climax of the celebrations was the
Monday evening festival in the Royal Festival Hall, presided
over by General Albert Orsborn before an audience of some 3,000.
Eight days later the band were again playing by Royal command in
the Forecourt of Buckingham Palace. Upon his retirement in 1975,
Colonel Bernard Adams was admitted to The Order Of The Founder
by General Clarence Wiseman. Major Ray Bowes was appointed to be Colonel Adams successor as
bandmaster of the I.S.B. |
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The following year Major Bowes
celebrated 25 years as bandmaster at Harlesden Corps. He was to
conduct the I.S.B. at Westminster Abbey for the Commonwealth Day
Service held in the presence of Her Majesty The
Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh. In 1976 the I.S.B. attended the
Army's Holiday Plus Fellowship Camp at Butlins, Bognor Regis,
for the first time playing to over 4,000 guests.
To date there have been two other bandmasters of the
International Staff Band, Major Robert Redhead, and the present
incumbent, Bandmaster Stephen Cobb. The Army's premier band has
now given nearly 110 years, 78 years of that unbroken, carrying
the message of Salvation to the world through its' music. Long
may their unique way of spreading the word of God continue.
For
further reading we recommend what is perhaps the definitive
history of the International Staff Band. 'I.S.B. The Story Of The International Staff Band' by
Colonel Brindley Boon.
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