| 'Fife and Drums' to 'Brilliant Brass' by Lindsay R. Paterson BA (Music) Grad Dip Ed (Primary) According to one source*, the Hawthorn Band came into being in 1888. Information from local historian Gwen McWilliam indicates the first band in the Boroondara area was probably associated with the Hawthorn and Kew Rifles or Company of Volunteers. They met in "Lynch's large room" in Grace Park not far from the present Hawthorn band room. The South Bourke Standard (3.5.1861) reported that a Mr. W. Smart was training the "Volunteers Band of Fife and drum.....entertaining our evenings", although it had disbanded by early 1863. This group probably played for the laying of the foundation stone of the first Hawthorn Town Hall in 1861. The same newspaper made reference to a band in Camberwell in 1870. The Boroondara Council Letter Book of 8.7.1878 mentions a "newly formed orchestral band" associated with the Camberwell Literary & Debating Society. The Boroondara Standard (22.1.1888)* reported that the Auburn Mechanics Band had changed its name to that of Hawthorn Band. The next few years witnessed more name changes, firstly to the "Hawthorn Town Brass Band", then finally to "Hawthorn City Band" no later than 1899, although some sources identified them as “Hawthorn Concert Band” around 1910. The Standard of 23.11.1888 said that ".....a laudable effort (was) to be made to increase the funds of the Hawthorn Town Brass band". There is a certain irony that the Kennett era saw the demise as Hawthorn as a separate political entity in the mid 1990’s around the same time that the band reverted to its’ original name. Little information or material exists from this formative era; the band however possesses a collection of letters and posters from 1899-1900 when Edgar Goslin was Conductor. The band was contacted by his son in the 1985 and was presented with these which have been framed and are on display in the band hall. According to the Hawthorn and Camberwell Citizen of 9 February 1907, the new documentary film "Living Hawthorn" was planned for local screening with a live entertainment program featuring vocalists and the "Hawthorn City Council's Brass Band". Another notable Musical Director was John Booth-Gore who was incumbent by 1910 and responsible for the band's first known contest successes just prior to the Great War. The band played in St. James Park in Burwood Rd. from at least 1912 as the Council directed their permission on the understanding that it was not at a time when "children were in Sunday School". In 1911, at the suggestion of one-time bandsman and Hawthorn Mayor Cr. W. G. Burton JP, the band amalgamated with the “Hawthorn City Naval Cadets Band”. The musical standard continued to improve, examples thereof being a win in the 1913 A.N.A. (C Grade), Shepparton and Daylesford (A Grade) contests. A gala day was held in 1914 (one source cites 1913) as a band fundraiser at the Glenferrie Sports Ground (now AUSDOC/Glenferrie Oval) with "Merry-go-rounds, goat races, pillow fighting, maypole dancing" and the band playing to "a crowd of about 4000" (Peel, Zion & Yule - 1993 p.84). The musical highlight of the day was a massed band performance during which Hawthorn was joined by the combined bands of Prahran, Collingwood, Richmond, Kew and Fitzroy. A typical concert program of this era is as follows.... March - Queen of the North Valse - Happy Thoughts Cornet Solo - Pro Nobis Fantasia - The Young Recruit March - National Guard Intermezzo - Miranda Selection - Gems of Victorian Memories Valse – Nada March - Invercargill The St. James Park band rotunda, in which the band played until it's eventual removal c.1960, was a gift of Sir William McPherson (Hawthorn & Camberwell Citizen - 19.3.1915) and was made of "jarrah and wrought iron designed by John A. B. Koch". By the 1920's, Hawthorn was a regular 'B Grade' winner enjoying pleasing forays into 'A Grade'. During this time, members Paxton and Meyers played with the highly acclaimed Australian Commonwealth Band along with Alf Cornish (from another band), father of more recent long-serving member Howard. However, things were not running in smoothly in the Victorian banding scene. Ostensibly, the Ballarat based Victorian Bands Association (V.B.A.) represented all affiliated bands across the entire state, however many bands in metropolitan Melbourne felt that their needs were not properly met and that “stagnation in the matter of great contests” was of great concern. In a letter to “The Sun” on 23.11.1923 headed “V.B.A. METHODS / MENACE”, one band supporter proposed that Collingwood, Malvern and Hawthorn were the “gods of the Victorian band world” and that all other bands would switch to a Melbourne-based organisation if those three did. Matters came to a head when band administrator H. J. “Horrie” Sullivan convened a meeting at the Melbourne Town Hall on Friday 10 April 1931 which was “largely attended”. According to Sullivan, at the time there were 37 bands in Melbourne with 28 (including Hawthorn) already signed up to the new Victorian Bands League and it was hoped that a majority of the 150+ country bands would also join. The new V.B.L. was duly constituted that year with Hawthorn a founding signatory. From late 1933, the band attempted over many months to broadcast over A.B.C. radio, noting that some bands already broadcasting were specially formed for the said broadcasts and were hence “not fully recognised” by the V.B.L. and that it was “not considered fair that these bands get semi-government engagements when they are not concerned in charity or any other public utility”. It would appear that Hawthorn was unsuccessful in their endeavours to broadcast over the airwaves. They were however engaged to play dancing engagements at such places as the Zeigfeld Palais in Glenferrie Rd. and at the Ferny Creek & Sherbrooke Centenary celebrations. Following a win at Ballarat's prestigious South Street contest in 1934, permanent promotion was confirmed with success in the 1935 Melbourne Centenary Contest (now regarded as the band's first 'Nationals' title). Other high-profile opportunities resulted, such as a season at The Palais theatre in St. Kilda, resplendent in WHITE uniforms! The present band room near Grace Park between the Kew Railway and Glenferrie Oval was completed in 1933, a valuable resource in its day as many bands then, as now, do not enjoy a permanent base. Alf Paxton was now Musical Director and produced many clever arrangements, the most notable being of Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 5, and the first complete (and only?) transcription for brass band. This premiered at the Hawthorn Town Hall in 1939. In the audience was (the later Sir) Malcolm Sergeant who signed the score at the completion of the evening, as did all players and band President Cr. Rigby. World War 2 brought many difficulties with many players "joining up" and the band hall lost the Volunteer Defence Corps for a time in 1942. Despite obvious tribulations, strong community support was evident with Mayor Cr. Pridmore already a Committee member and “Trustee” as well as J. Fowler (of Vacola food preserving fame) who was elected as band President in 1940. The band struggled on with greatly reduced numbers while playing patriotic events, recruitment drives and “wireless broadcasts”, such as in 1942 on 3AR and from Wesley Church. Early in the War, ill health forced Alf Paxton to move to Queensland, successfully conducting the Brisbane Excelsior Band prior to his untimely death from tuberculosis in 1943. In 1940, Hawthorn split from the Victorian Bands League with several other top bands to help from Horrie Sullivan's rebel Victorian Band Association. Hawthorn delegate Alec Leffanue was later cited as being instrumental in the reintegration of both groups in 1946, Hawthorn re-affiliating on 25 January, 1947. During the War, long-time player Norm U'ren became Musical Director. As all bands took some time to rebuild after the massive wartime social upheavals, the first Ballarat contest was run in 1948 and Hawthorn took out "A Grade". Hawthorn’s repertoire choice was “Themes from Beethoven’s 9th Symphony” (arr. Ball) and “Epic Symphony” (Fletcher). This was followed by two second placings in 1950 (Nationals and Ballarat) and another South Street in 1952, Hawthorn's last contest win until the South Australian titles some 20 years later. This immediate post-war era saw the band playing such events as ANZAC Days, the 1949 International Motor Show and the Empire Day celebrations of 1951. The early ‘50’s also saw several young players join who were to excerpt some influence, either musically or otherwise, over the next generation; Vincent Fryer taught brass to many youngsters (author included) and Sam Coffa went on to become a successful weightlifter and sports administrator. The genesis of the first Hawthorn Junior Band was in 1959 when the band wrote to the Council requesting instruments that would enable the formation of a youth training ensemble. Under the guidance of one W. Granland, the first Junior Band commenced on 29 April, 1960 under the direction of John Woods, later to be associated with Box Hill City Band, taught at C.B.C. St. Kilda and the Victorian College of the Arts. The senior band reported in 1963 that the junior membership comprised of “19 to 20 boys from 10 to 15 years of age, all learning to play brass instruments” as well as a President, Secretary, Treasurer and “a Committee of six parents”. Harry U’ren (brother of MD Norm and senior member since at the 1930’s) had assumed conducting duties by the time the author commenced playing in 1964, not long after the arrival of the Junior Band’s first female member Jessica Farrands. This initial ensemble disbanded due to lack of numbers by the early 1970’s with only two members, the author and Phillip Hunter, graduating to the Senior Band (although at least one other, David Farrands, continues to enjoy a successful professional musical career with the Melbourne Brass Ensemble and teaching / lecturing). For more detail on the Junior Band, please go to www.hawthornjuniorband.8m.net. The author's first memory of the Hawthorn City Band was in 1960 during a street parade in Burwood Rd. observing the Municipality's centenary of proclamation. I also have fond memories of sheltering from a rain storm in the now-demolished band rotunda in St. James Park during a walk with my grandfather circa 1959. Hawthorn Football Club's first premiership witnessed wild celebrations at the Glenferrie Oval in 1961 when the band played the club song many times to an enthusiastic throng awaiting the arrival of the team on that momentous September evening. By the mid 1960’s, Prime Minister Robert Menzies had been patron of the band for a number of years. Norm U’ren was still Musical Director, although some disquiet was evident with a petition of “no confidence” by 16 players on 1 March, 1965. Advertisements for his replacement were posted even as far afield as in the prestigious “British Bandsman” weekly, drawing enquiries from the U.K. and Canada. A Mr. Broadbent became the successful incumbent but his tenure appears to have lasted barely 12 months; it appears that some legal action arose from his short tenure. Arguably the first step towards Hawthorn's re-emergence as a top-frame band was the appointment of New Zealand virtuoso Ken Smith around 1967. He was followed by Sqd. Ldr. Laurie Hicks in 1972 and the band's first National ‘A-Grade’ hat-trick followed in 1975-6-7. Probably the main highlight of the next decade was an invitation to compete in the 1982 British Open in Manchester with David King, now M.D. of Yorkshire Building Society Band., in the Principal Cornet chair. Peter Jackson, Ken MacDonald and Michael Pine lent their considerable conducting talents during this period. The band's second 'A Grade' three-in-a-row was in 1985-6-7. The 1990's witnessed an unprecedented third hat trick between 1993 & 1995 with Ken MacDonald once again at the helm. He is one of three expatriate "top frame" British players who, like Tom Paulin and Tom Miller, have been associated with Hawthorn at various times. Two compact discs were recorded in Hawthorn Town Hall, these being Colonial Brass (1993) and Australian Fantasy (1994), the former being the first by an Australian community band. Also notable was an invitation to the 1994 Nth. American Brass Band (N.A.B.B.A.) Championships in Raleigh, Nth. Carolina. This necessitated a frenzied round of fundraising which included a cooking demonstration by celebrity chef Gabriel Gate in his Burwood Rd. premises in July of 1993. Hawthorn became the first overseas ensemble to win a NABBA crown and also played several high profile concerts with local bands in Chicago, New York, western Nth. Carolina and Washington DC. Salvationist Ross Johnson became M.D. in 1996. 1997 saw the band host Sheona White from the United Kingdom in concerts in Melbourne and Warragul. She was also part of the playing team at the 1998 Nationals which saw Hawthorn disqualified under much controversy, despite her inclusion being ratified by the Victorian Bands League prior to the contest. The band took out another Nationals in 1999, followed by the CD release of Glasshouse Sketches [Muso's Media #MM2-003] in 2000. Ex-CWS (Manchester) and Grimethorpe virtuoso cornet Tom Paulin was next to take up the baton until his departure as Musical Director in January 2005. Lt.-Col. Howard Ward, former commandant of the Defence School of Music, led the band for a short time thereafter before Peter Sykes took over next, with his incumbency appearing to cause an unsettled period with some resultant departures from the ensemble. Certain stability was re-achieved with the next appointment of Euphonium virtuoso Wayne Bowden as Musical Director. The start of 2016 witnessed the band downgraded to ‘B Grade’ for the first time since the early 1930’s. Regrettably, several players decided to depart given this news, apparently wishing to continue playing elsewhere at A-Grade level. With neighbouring Kew Band facing a similar situation, both groups tentatively began to rehearse and perform together from the start of 2017. They were able to maintain their top grading (due to a successful legal appeal through VCAT) and this combined ensemble continued to compete as Kew Band Melbourne up until the completion of a merger process which was finalised at the end of 2019. This new band is now known as Glenferrie Brass and retains A-Grade status. Copyright : 2021 by Lindsay R. Paterson, Melbourne, AUSTRALIA. Sources: Hawthorn Band archives;
“A History of Hawthorn” by V. Peel, D. Zion & J. Yule, Melb. Uni. Press, 1993;
Hawthorn Historical Society Newsletter, September - 2004;
“Australia’s Band World” magazine, Kangaroo Flat, Vic.;
The late Jack Marchingo collection;
Private research undertaken by the late Ted Cousins (courtesy of ex-member Wally Woods);
The late Lew Zillies;
Gwen McWilliam; Dr. John Whiteoak collection;
Personal memories of past band members; Author's personal archive. | |
