Malvern City Band – Band Blasts from the Past

Hype versus reality: why the Malvern Tramways Band never travelled to the United Kingdom

February 28, 2024February 29, 2024 Jeremy de Korte1 Comment

Postcard: Malvern Tramways Band, 1924 (Source: Jeremy de Korte Collection)

Introduction:

Sir. I desire to bring under the notice of our authorities and your readers the splendid status of the Malvern Tramways Band, and that public interest may be awakened with a view to sending the Australia’s champion band to contest against England’s best at the famous Crystal Palace brass band contest in London. Our soldiers and sailors, actors and singers, riflemen, footballers and politicians have won fame for Australia, and I feel confident our bandsmen can add fresh lustre to our laurels, and at the same time advertise our resources. The time is opportune to show the mettle of our pasture on the English contest platform, where the best in the world compete. In Malvern band we have the men, and in Mr. Harry Shugg we have the man. Yours, etc., J. STURT ANDERSON
(Anderson, 1920)

This letter by Mr. Anderson was published in the Prahran Telegraph newspaper on the 6^th of November 1920, two weeks after the afore mentioned Malvern Tramways Band won the A Grade Section at the Royal South Street contests. His letter is telling for many reasons, namely, for the high-praise language that he used, and because he advocates for the band to travel to the United Kingdom (U.K.). This is for a band that in 1920 is only nine years old, yet up to this point, had a contesting record which was enviable in the Australian band movement. What Mr. Anderson probably foresaw, but could not have known at the time, was that Malvern Tramways Band was going to get better in the very near future…and they did.

As will be seen throughout this post, there is an ongoing tussle between hype and reality, and expectation could probably be mixed into this as well. On one hand, we have a highly regarded brass band that is lauded at every opportunity for their playing. With this reputation, commentators and others talk up the prospect of sending the MTB to the U.K. compete and try to predict how well they will do when they get there. This is the hype. One reality, as we will find, was that the MTB was that good. However, the other reality is that travel overseas for any ensemble was expensive, as we saw in a previous post.

This is the story of why the MTB never travelled the U.K. within a time frame that spans the best part of a decade from 1920-1927. In this post we will unpick the reputation of the MTB in the 1910s and 1920s, their contesting record, and the inter-related stories of other bands that were also trying to travel. We will also see where the travel plans took them and the talk about the personalities that were involved. This is a band that gained an amount of support for their endeavours and plans. Alas that it never came to be.

The Malvern Tramways Band: building a reputation:

Postcard: Malvern Tramways Band : Contesting Record, 1924. (Source: Jeremy de Korte Collection)

Above is the contesting record of the Malvern Tramways Band up to 1922 which was printed on the back of a souvenir postcard published in 1924. This record established the reputation of the MTB as one of the finest brass bands in Australia at the time. When considering the range of measures the MTB had in their favour during these years, including fine musicians and conductors, as well as a very active committee and the industry that supported the band, the advantages immediately become obvious.

Just looking at the conductors by themselves up to 1922, the MTB had the very best. From their inception in 1911 to 1914, they were conducted by Mr. William Ryder of Besses o’ th’ Barn Band fame, a musician who was detailed in a previous post (de Korte, 2018b). He led the band to its first contest win in 1912 in C grade after only thirteen practices where they surprised everyone – the Victorian Bands’ Association promptly promoted the band to B grade (Zealley & Ord Hume, 1926).

The second conductor of the MTB was the great Mr. Robert McAnally who took over for a short stint up until 1915 when Mr. Harry Shugg started a very long association with the band that lasted thirty-one years (Lawson-Black, 2010). These three famous musicians provided a foundation of musicianship and conducting for the band that set the MTB on a path to greatness in the early years of the band. By the time Mr. Shugg started at Malvern, he had already several successes at South Street with the Geelong Harbour Trust Band (Quickstep, 1920). Out of the three of these men it was Mr. Shugg that had the greatest impact and it is during his tenure that the MTB was primed to travel to the U.K.

The Malvern Tramways Band at South Street:

Thanks to visits from some of the top bands in the world at the time, namely the Besses o’ th’ Barn Band and adjudicators from the U.K. from the early 1900s and beyond, the Australian band movement underwent a rapid rise in standards (de Korte, 2021). The Malvern Tramways Band, although having started during this rise, was also a beneficiary with the mentioned conductors doing their part to take Malvern to new heights. In addition, the South Street band sections, having been added to the eisteddfod programme in 1900, were regarded as the premier band competitions in Australia (Greaves, 1996).

If we drill down into the MTB contest results a bit deeper, it is the last three on the postcard that provide the most interest, a hattrick of wins at the Ballarat South Street Eisteddfod in 1920, 1921, & 1922 (Royal South Street Society, 1920, 1921, 1922). Of course, their earlier contest results were important in the development of the band. However, in terms of context, the MTB achieved a string of results that cemented their status, and prompted the speculation and commentary of when, not if, they would travel to the U.K.

The MTB was not only renowned for their contest successes. They were an extremely hardworking band that endeared themselves to the local community through their charity work, community singing events, performances, and parades (Lawson-Black, 2010). And while they were nominally a band strongly supported by the Malvern tram depot, they also were strongly supported by the Malvern City Council who considered them as the council band (de Korte, 2022).

Rivalry:

By 1922, there was no shortage of bands trying to bump Malvern off its status as the champion band of Australia. As Zealley & Ord Hume (1926) noted in the chapter on Malvern Tramways in their book ‘Famous Bands of the British Empire : Brief Historical Records of the recognized leading Military Bands and Brass Bands in the Empire’,

There have been 7 A grade contests in Victoria since Malvern has been an A grade Band (1915-1921) : Malvern was eligible to enter five of these and received 1^st place on each occasion.”
(p. 60)

There were some Victorian A grade bands that were considered the main rivals of Malvern in competition namely Collingwood Citizens’ – they drew with Malvern at the 1915 South Street Eisteddfod – Hawthorn City, City of Ballarat, and St. Augustine’s Orphanage Band (Royal South Street Society, 1915, 1920, 1921, 1922). And then there were some interstate rivals including Newtown, South Sydney, Ipswich, and perhaps it’s greatest rival of the time, the Newcastle Steel Works Band (Greaves, 2005; Royal South Street Society, 1920, 1921, 1922). Although the Newcastle Steel Works Band only entered the South Street contests twice in these years, 1921 & 1922, they came second to Malvern both times (Greaves, 2005). However, unlike Malvern, the Newcastle Steel Works Band, then conducted by the great Albert Baile, did end up travelling to the U.K. in 1924, and won or placed in every contest that they entered (Greaves, 2005; Greaves & Earl, 2001).

Newcastle Steel Works Band, 1922 (Source: IBEW)

What if the MTB had made it to the U.K. and competed in their famed brass band contests? Some commentators felt they were a much better band than Newcastle…

The first attempt: “To Seek Fresh Fame in England”:

Do not believe the hype. But no one told the newspapers and other commentators of the day. After each of the three wins at South Street, the legendary status of the MTB only grew bigger. So did the garnering of support to send the band to the U.K.

The letter from Mr. J. Stuart Anderson at the head of this post could be considered the start of the commentary and hype. Sure enough, by early 1921, an announcement was made by the MTB that they would seek to go to the U.K. in 1924, news that surprised no one and was announced in newspapers up and down the country. The article below published by the Northern Star newspaper of Lismore, N.S.W. in February 1921 being one example.

In October 1922 the MTB achieved the hattrick at South Street and once again carried off the Boosey Shield (Royal South Street Society, 1922). The MTB and its conductor Mr. Harry Shugg drew widespread praise for their win and the adjudicator, Mr. Christopher Smith, from Adelaide and a former conductor of the Besses o’ th’ Barn Band had this to say about the MTB. Two Victorian newspapers, The Herald and The Prahran Telegraph, published his comments on the band and the musical genius of Mr. Shugg.

Malvern Tramways Band is such a cultured musical combination that it would capture English audiences by its playing. It would do so by sheer merit.

[…]

The successful conductor is a puzzle. To me he is only a boy, and I wonder where he gets such beautiful effects. He is a genius in the middle of a band, seeming to be ever striving after the unattainable, and getting nearer to it all the time. Let Melbourne send the boy and his band to London, and Londoners will take them to its collective bosom, and perhaps never allow them to leave.
(Smith in “Malvern Tramways Band.,” 1922)

The articles from the newspapers, while helpful, could only promote so much news about the band from their own correspondents. From the MTB’s perspective, driven as they were to get to the U.K. by 1924, they needed someone who was a networker and promoter, as well as being a musician, to help them manage the tour arrangements. That person was Mr. Gibson Young, and he got stuck straight into the job as tour manager.

Mr. Gibson Young, musical influencer:

The MTB won the 1922 South Street A Grade section in October of that year, by December, an announcement was made that Mr. Gibson Young would be the “business manager and organiser of the world tour” (“A BAND ABROAD,” 1922). In Mr. Young, the MTB could not have made a better choice of tour manager.

Mr. Young was not unknown to the musical circles of Melbourne. He mainly known as an accomplished singer and music critic, and claimed to have been the first person to introduce community singing events to Melbourne in 1919 – events that soon attracted huge numbers of people (“GIBSON YOUNG,” 1936). His ability to promote and network, and his eloquent writing, was evident as Mr. Young sought to talk up the proposed tour of the MTB to the U.K. His description of a MTB rehearsal which opens an article published by The Herald newspaper on the 4^th of December 1922, shows readers the inner workings of this band.

High up near the roof, and overlooking a sea of tramcars, is an employee lunch room at the Malvern Tramway sheds. Here a human dynamo induces into one circuit, or magnetic field of action, 30 players who make up the personnel of the Malvern Tramways Band – the champion brass band of Australia.
(Young, 1922)

Having introduced the band, Mr. Young goes on to write about the influence of Mr. Harry Shugg and how he shapes the sounds in rehearsal. However, in the last paragraph of the article, attention turns to the upcoming tour and the feelings of the band members. It is obvious that Mr. Young has possibly attended his first real rehearsal of the MTB and is astute in his observations. He may not understand the band yet, but he does understand musical finesse and can see what the MTB is striving to achieve.

And then these coatless musicians become a round table of smokers, discussing the all-absorbing topic – the band’s world tour to begin in March 1924. For 12 years the members of this band have given unsparingly, and without reward, the energy of enthusiasm which is said to be able to move mountains, and at least it seems as though this self-sacrifice is to be rewarded. No need to remind these men that they must compete with the world’s best, and that an Australian band may not necessarily be successful at Manchester or the Crystal Palace. For the next 15 months the men will have little else in their minds, and Harry Shugg will leave nothing to chance. The moral of this band is good now, Mr. Shugg expects it to be almost perfect in March, 1924.
(Young, 1922)

Up until September 1923, Mr. Young worked ceaselessly to promote the band and the tour by regularly penning articles and letters in newspapers, networking with politicians and community members, visiting various other states, and trying to secure more funding. Interestingly, he also uses his prowess in promoting community singing as a funding source for the band by having the band provide the accompanying music for community singing events (“MALVERN BAND CONCERTS,” 1923). This initiative started in January 1923 and collections were taken at each concert in Malvern and St. Kilda to benefit the touring fund.

There is no doubting the combination of community singing with the band was hugely successful. Mr. Young writes in a letter to The Herald newspaper on the 17^th of January that 8,000 people had attended the most recent event at the Malvern Cricket Ground (Young, 1923h). Booklets of the songs were also produced and sold to attendees as another form of funding for the tour (Malvern Tramways Band, 1923). One page of this booklet is devoted to a letter written by Mr. Young inviting interested parties to a public meeting in May and subscribing to shares in a company set up to fund the tour (Young, 1923b). Mr. Young is quite honest in this letter as he suggests up to “£20,000” will be needed to fund the tour (Young, 1923b, p. 24). But he also tries to talk up the potential earnings of “£40,000” from the tour which he expects will be earned from 200 concerts across Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain, and other countries (Young, 1923b, p. 24).

Booklet (front cover):
*Community singing : St. Kilda Esplanade every Wednesday evening : words of songs & program*, 1923 (Source: National Library Australia: nla.obj-52777212)

Mr. Young worked to solicit money from other sources while promoting the tour. In early April 1923 he was adjudicating in Launceston, Tasmania, and being the opportunist organises a concert with the Launceston City Band accompanying a community singing event with the money going towards the MTB tour (“MALVERN TRAMWAY BAND,” 1923). In May of 1923 we see that Mr. Young has approached the Federal Government for funding (“AN ENGLISH TOUR.,” 1923).

In some ways, Mr. Young provides the best commentary of all as he draws everyone into the potential of this tour. Occasionally, and perhaps naively, he invites controversy in his articles and letters. One article written in February 1923 where he takes aim at the Redfern Band of Sydney is an example of this (Young, 1923f). Later that year in May, Mr. Young pens another letter where he outlines a conversation he had with Mr. W. Partington, then conductor of the South Sydney Band of Redfern about the touring plans of the MTB (Young, 1923g). At the time, Mr. Partington is trying to raise his own all-Australian band, the Australian Imperial Band (AIB), to go to the U.K. in 1924 (de Korte, 2019a).

Three more letters were written to The Age, The Argus, and The Prahran Telegraph newspapers in April 1923 by Mr. Young as he seeks to dispel a rumour that the bandsmen are taking their wives using the band funding (Young, 1923c, 1923d, 1923e). One of Mr. Young’s more interesting letters was written in June 1923, just before the public meeting on June 14^th where he addressed the composition of the touring party. Basically, he points out that some of the other attempts at touring parties were bands made up of bandmasters, unlike the MTB which has one band conductor and a band made up of very fine musicians (Young, 1923a). He is firm, but polite in this letter, especially in the first paragraph.

Sir. – Your correspondent, Mr Herbert Eden, is apparently acquainted with the full history of the attempts which have been made to send an all-Australian band abroad. He also realises how essential it is that any band that leaves Australia should have official status as a winner of championships, and that it should not merely be a combination of bandmasters filled with the wanderlust.
(Young, 1923a)

This is where Mr. Young leaves this story as he was busy organising the public meeting, but he will be back as this story is not quite done with him yet.

Some funding: then a reality check:

*The Sun News-Pictorial*, 15/06/1923, p. 13

By June 1923 the organising of the tour was well-underway with Mr. Young at the helm of the business side of things, along with the president and committee of the MTB. There was some money coming in, and important figures had been engaged to lend support. Now, it was time to form the company to handle the touring money and for the public to buy into the tour.

On the 14^th of June the MTB held a public meeting at the Malvern Town Hall where interested parties were invited to buy shares in the band company. By all accounts it was a grand affair with many councillors, dignitaries, members of the public, and three other metropolitan brass bands, Brunswick, Caulfield, and Hawthorn who teamed up with Malvern to present a recital on the front steps of the hall before proceedings commenced (“TOUR-SCHEME LAUNCHED,” 1923).

The challenge from the English band authorities had been accepted (“MALVERN BAND,” 1923a). To the keen observer, however, reality was obviously beginning to hit. The meeting was only attended by two-hundred interested parties and by the end of the night, only £2,000 had been raised (“TOUR-SCHEME LAUNCHED,” 1923). When Malvern Councillor Wettenhall “said that it was estimated that £10,000 would need to be subscribed before the band commenced the tour” (“MALVERN BAND,” 1923a), he was highlighting a certain reality of the situation.

Tour abandoned:

By the end of September 1923, reports that the Malvern Tramways Band had abandoned their tour began surfacing, as the article above shows (“MALVERN BAND,” 1923b). By early October, it had been confirmed. Disappointment was an understatement as it was realised that many factors were against raising more funds. The band said that it was not due to the administration being faulty, and one could readily believe that given the management of the MTB and nous of Mr. Gibson Young (“MALVERN BAND,” 1923b). The decision to abandon the tour was mainly due to an almost complete lack of funds at a time when they needed them most. As part of an article published in the Geelong Advertiser lamented,

The paltry response by the public generally shows how little even a great musical combination like the Malvern Band, with its brilliant record of successes, counts within the public when it comes to a practical point.
(“WORLD TOUR DROPPED,” 1923)

It was probably fortunate the band abandoned the tour when it did considering the futility of trying to raise around £7,500 in such a short time frame (“WORLD TOUR DROPPED,” 1923). Also, there were factors overseas that were against them, mainly economic conditions (“MALVERN BAND WORLD TOUR.,” 1923).

The aftermath:

From viewing the newspaper articles of the day, perhaps the Prahran Telegraph newspaper offered the most pragmatic response to the abandonment of the tour, laced with a bit of local self-interest.

That the Malvern Tramway Band would have gained world laurels those most competent to judge have little or no doubt about it. The world’s loss is our district’s gain, and not a few, who made it a habit to attend the Malvern Band recitals, will be pleased to know that they will be still able to listen this summer to the exquisite playing of the Malvern Tramways Band
(“MALVERN BAND WORLD TOUR.,” 1923)

Oddly, perhaps the MTB still felt there was some kind of chance to go to the U.K. to compete, even though the tour had been officially abandoned, perhaps in administration but not in mind. In early April 1924, letters were published in all the major Victorian newspapers written by Mr. Frank Garson, then President of the MTB. It seems the MTB were a bit put out at the thought that the Australian Imperial Band might make it to the U.K. instead of the MTB.

Sir, – I am instructed by the committee of the Malvern Tramways Band to ask, through this column of your valuable paper, for the public support to send this band to compete at Belview Manchester, for the brass band championship of the British Exhibition in 1924. This band endeavoured to raise funds for a company, but was unable to get the necessary capital. I notice that the Lord Mayor of Melbourne (Cr. W. Brunton) has convened a meeting of citizens, to be held in the Melbourne Town Hall on Thursday, April3, to consider the sending of an Australasian Imperial Band to the Empire Exhibition.
(Garson, 1924)

After outlining the credentials of the MTB (which most people were probably aware of), Mr. Garson did not ask for that much!

We have a complete set of uniforms and instruments, and can leave in a month’s time. All that will be necessary if for 150 residents of Victorian to contribute £50 each. Any surplus will be returned to the contributors. In the event of the band not going all money will be returned. Trusting this appeal will meet with success. – Yours, etc.
(Garson, 1924)

There is no indication that this appeal for late money was in any way successful.

Postcard: Australian Imperial Band, 1924. (Source: Jeremy de Korte Collection)

For the rest of the Australian band movement, the desire to go to the U.K. and compete still resonated in a couple of bands, and the hole left by Malvern’s absence was to be filled by another Australian band. The two bands in the running were the Australian Imperial Band conducted by Mr. W. Partington and the Newcastle Steel Works Band conducted by Mr. Albert Baile.

Briefly, the Australian Imperial Band was an ensemble made up of many fine brass musicians from around Australia and they proceeded to go on a grand tour around Australia to raise funds, and which no doubt cost them money. However, when they reached Perth and were just about to sail to the U.K, the funds had run out – they needed more funds, but the money was not forthcoming (Mitchell, 1924). This is one band that had not heeded the lesson from the MTB’s failed attempt at travelling to the U.K.

Then there were the exploits of the Newcastle Steel Works Band, which has previously been mentioned in this post. They had been quietly preparing for their own tour and when the chance to go came up, they took it (Greaves, 2005).

As for Mr. Gibson Young, his appointment with the MTB ended with the abandonment of the tour, so was free to do as he wanted, but did not let his experiences with a brass band go to waste. Ever the musician, he had kept up numerous activities while associated with the MTB. And as we found in a previous post, one of these appointments was directing the brass band and community singing at Pentridge Prison, which he left at the end of September to travel to the U.K. (de Korte, 2023; “GAOL MUSIC,” 1923). He was spotted in Perth in November before sailing for the U.K., where his photo and article published by the Sunday Times newspaper mentioned his new appointment.

In January 1924 it was announced that Mr. Gibson Young had contracted an Imperial Band from Australia to play at the Wembley Exhibition for eight weeks (“VICTORIAN BAND,” 1924). It was not hard to work out which band had been contracted (and it was not Victorian), but we know what happened to the AIB and its plans for this tour. He also put on his other hat as a music critic early in his next stay in the U.K. and wrote a very useful critique of the 1924 contest at Crystal Palace where the Newcastle Steel Works Band came third. In this article published by The News newspaper in Adelaide in November 1924, he observed some distinct differences between South Street and the U.K. contests.

Unlike South street, the adjudicators allot no marks and make no remarks. Presumably they judge by a combined process of impression and elimination, in my opinion, a difficult, dangerous, and unsatisfactory method. Too much strain is placed on the judge’s psychology, and too much depends on the playing position of the winning band in the draw.
(Young, 1924)

And interestingly, he had this to say about final adjudication.

Out of the 17 competing bands, not more than ten appealed to me as essentially A grade. There are at least four Australian bands, not counting the Australian Imperial, which I have not heard, which could have defeated all the starters save one, the winner – St. Hilda’s Colliery Band. In my opinion and judging by the type of performance favoured by the judges, brilliant tone and a technically flawless performance, the Malvern Tramways Band would have won the contest given equal rehearsal opportunities with St. Hilda’s. The first three bands were St. Hilda’s, Black Dyke, and Newcastle (New South Wales) Steel Works in that order.

[…]

Some members of the Newcastle Band created mild amusement and some criticism by calmly and nonchalantly stripping off their tunics on the stage and playing in their shirtsleeves. This was not a gesture of defiance, but a natural desire to be comfortable.”
(Young, 1924)

Postcard: St. Hilda Colliery Band, 1924. (Source: Jeremy de Korte Collection)

After a long absence from Australia, Mr. Young came back from England in April 1936 but by November he had sadly passed away at the relatively young middle-age of 48 (“GIBSON YOUNG,” 1936; “Mr. ERNEST GIBSON YOUNG.,” 1936).

This ends the story of the first tour plan with all the hype, and reality that led up to the tour being abandoned. But the Malvern Tramways Band did not rest, there were other things to do, and dreams do not always fade.

A side note: the 1925 consolation tour of New Zealand:

If there was one lesson that the MTB learned from their failed attempt to get to the U.K., it was to have a proactive and varied fundraising strategy if they were to go on international trips. With this in mind, in August 1924, the MTB made the decision to go to New Zealand in February 1925 to compete at the New Zealand National Band Championships, a trip that would probably be cheaper than a jaunt to England (“MALVERN TRAMWAYS BAND,” 1924). At this time, the band sections of the South Street Eisteddfod were not run from 1924-1932 and this left a gap in the competition calendar. While they could enter, and did enter, many other competitions around Australia during this time, the New Zealand trip offered them a different opportunity Once again, aspects of this tour have been documented in a previous post so the details of the fundraising effort have been noted here (de Korte, 2019b).

One cannot fault the MTB for their innovative and impressive fundraising efforts to get the band to New Zealand, and in November 1924, this fundraising effort was on full show. There were two major events in November that the MTB organised. The first event was a Massed Bands recital at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (M.C.G.) which was held in front of a crowd of 15,000 people (“MASSED BANDS PLAYED,” 1924). All members of the crowd were admitted by silver coin, and the MTB invited another eleven suburban bands to help them – as with any band event at the M.C.G., bands marched from Princes Bridge to the ground (“MASSED BANDS PLAYED,” 1924).

From the various suburbs 11 bands rallied, assembling at Prince’s Bridge and marching to the ground.

They were the Preston Citizens’ Band, Williamstown City Band, Caulfield District, Malvern City Band, Carlton Citizens’ Band, Footscray City Brass Band, Malvern Drum and Bugle Band, 32nd Battalion Band, Yarraville and Williamstown Naval Drum and Bugle Band, Collingwood Junior Brass Band, and the Burnley Band.”
(“MASSED BANDS PLAYED,” 1924)

This was quite the line-up of bands, including some that would not normally get to participate in this kind of event. For some, like the Burnley Brass Band, it was a very special experience and the fact that the great MTB invited them made it even more special (“Burnley Brass Band.,” 1924).

Two weeks later the MTB held a carnival at the Malvern Cricket Ground and it was not a small affair It comprised of a sports carnival involving thirty athletic clubs, a Highland Dancing competition, and a dance at the Malvern Town hall (“MALVERN BAND CARNIVAL.,” 1924). And just to top things off, for the musical entertainment there were five brass bands and three highland bands (“MALVERN BAND CARNIVAL.,” 1924).

Gaining all the funding that they needed, the MTB started their six week tour of New Zealand on the 4^th of February by sailing for Invercargill on the South Island (“MALVERN TRAMWAYS BAND,” 1925a). And as they were nominally a tramways band, the NZ authorities gave them free travel on all NZ trams and reduced fares on the trains as the travelled up from Invercargill to Auckland, playing recitals in every locality that they visited (“MALVERN TRAMWAYS BAND,” 1925a; “MALVERN TRAMWAYS BAND,” 1925b).

Perhaps the end results of the competition were a foregone conclusion as the MTB dominated proceedings in Auckland. The New Zealand bands were no match for the MTB and the championship points reflected this – ten points separated the MTB from the next band in the A Grade test section (“MALVERN WIN A GRADE TEST,” 1925; Newcomb, 1980).

Malvern Tramways Band, Auckland. *Auckland Weekly News*, 2/03/1925, p. 46. (Source:
Ngā Pātaka Kōrero o Tâmaki Makaurau / Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections: AWNS-19250305-46-1)

Obviously, the win in New Zealand was impressive and only served to boost the reputation of the MTB. However, later in 1925, hype started building again and speculation grew that the MTB might again try to get to the U.K. to compete.

1926: The year they tried again:

There are several very fine bands in Australia, and I have heard some of the best of them, including the Malvern Tramways Band,” says Mr J Ord Hume, the well-known band adjudicator, in an interview published in the English Band News on his return to England from his visit to Ballarat.

“Melbourne has the finest all-round bands. There are also some very find bands in New South Wales and Western Australia,…Again, in my opinion, there are several much better bands than the Newcastle Steel Works Band (which won important contest in England), and the only thing required by all Australian bands in better and more finished tuition.”
(Ord Hume in “AUSTRALIAN BANDS,” 1925

James Ord Hume was not the only eminent band personage to have added his thoughts about the MTB, there were lots of others. What set these comments, and others apart, was the thoughts that the MTB was an infinitely better band than Newcastle Steel Works (“MALVERN TRAMWAYS BAND.,” 1926a). A flurry of articles was published in newspapers throughout April and May 1926 that reported on another planned trip by Malvern to compete in the U.K. in 1927. Much was made of the fact that the MTB was made up of working men and that the band needed more support from the public, as Mr. R. T. Patterson, President of the Management Committee explained in an interview.

We play all day on Sunday, practicing in the morning, performing at the Wattletree road park in the afternoon, and at the Central Gardens in Malvern, in the evening. The Tramways Board gives us a small subsidy for the afternoon performance, and the Malvern Council this year gave us £100 for playing at Central Gardens. But, although we often have 2000 people at these performances, collections yield very little.
(Patterson in “APPEAL FOR BAND,” 1926)

However, a headline in an article published in April 1926 by The Sun News-Pictorial newspaper might as well have been the most realistic about this latest effort, as can be viewed in the article below.

*The Sun News-Pictorial*, 07/04/1926, p. 5

At a special performance by the MTB and assisted by the Geelong Municipal Band at Central Park, Malvern, the Mayor of Malvern officially launched the campaign to send the MTB abroad (“MALVERN TRAMWAYS BAND.,” 1926b). One of the dignitaries was a Mr. J. Venn of London who was representing the brass bands of the U.K.

Mr. Venn, speaking on behalf of the bands of Great Britain, said the British bandsmen would welcome the Malvern Tramways Band with open arms. They preferred a regular band much before a composite band drawn from all parts of a State.
(“MALVERN TRAMWAYS BAND.,” 1926b)

But as could be predicted, this second attempt by the MTB to get to the U.K. also came to nought, and the reasons why would probably be financial. Although, unlike the first tour when the abandonment was widely reported on, there was almost nothing in the papers in this instance. The last we hear of this tour is an article from April 1927 published in the Geelong Advertiser newspaper where, according to sources, the bandsmen of New Zealand give their best wishes to Malvern on their tour.” (“The Malvern Band,” 1927).

A tour which did not happen.

Conclusion:

The Malvern Tramways Band tried their best to answer the hype and expectations thrust upon them by an eager community who wanted the MTB to take their playing to the U.K., and win. There was no doubting that the MTB deserved all the accolades during these years as they were that good. There was probably no doubt that they would do very well in the U.K., as the commentators and adjudicators suggested. However, the pervasive reality around finances and funding was always going to surround their two attempts. As for an overseas trip, New Zealand would have to do.

The rhetorical what if question as to how well the MTB would do in the U.K. will probably be debated for as long as the history lasts. The MTB are legends in the Australian band movement, but in this year, a full century after they should have gone to the U.K., the debate still comes up. Band historians can continue this discussion when time allows.

Hype versus reality. An age-old tussle that never goes away.

References:

Anderson, J. S. (1920, 06 November). AUSTRALIA’S CHAMPION BAND : Malvern Tramways Band. Prahran Telegraph (Vic. : 1889 – 1930), 5. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article165153504

APPEAL FOR BAND : Champions Want to Tour Britain. (1926, 06 April). Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 – 1954), 4. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article243591118

Auckland Weekly News. (1925). Australian band’s sweeping success : Malvern Tramways (Melbourne), Winners of all the A Grade Shields and the McLeod Cup. In Auckland Weekly News (AWNS-19250305-46-01 ed., pp. 46). Auckland, N.Z. https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/photos/id/244635/rec/1: Ngā Pātaka Kōrero o Tâmaki Makaurau / Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections.

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A BAND ABROAD : Malvern Players Tour : Manager Appointed. (1922, 01 December). Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 – 1954), 1. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article246675723

BAND OF WORKERS : Music Strong, Finance Weak. (1926, 07 April). Sun News-Pictorial (Melbourne, Vic. : 1922 – 1954; 1956), 5. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article274798889

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de Korte, J. D. (2018b, 02 March). William Ryder: The first conductor of the Prahran & Malvern Tramways Employees Band. Band Blasts from the Past: Anecdotes, Stories and Personalities. https://bandblastsfromthepast.blog/2018/03/02/william-ryder-the-first-conductor-of-the-prahran-malvern-tramways-employees-band/

de Korte, J. D. (2019a, 24 March). Names and status: the rare National and State bands. Band Blasts from the Past: Anecdotes, Stories and Personalities. https://bandblastsfromthepast.blog/2019/03/24/names-and-status-the-rare-national-and-state-bands/

de Korte, J. D. (2019b, 03 August). Trans-Tasman connections: the lure of competition and performance. Part Two – Australian Bands in New Zealand. Band Blasts from the Past: Anecdotes, Stories and Personalities. https://bandblastsfromthepast.blog/2019/08/03/trans-tasman-connections-the-lure-of-competition-and-performance-part-two-australian-bands-in-new-zealand/

de Korte, J. D. (2021, 16 February). Influences from Britain: James Ord Hume and “The Besses Effect”. Band Blasts from the Past: Anecdotes, Stories and Personalities. https://bandblastsfromthepast.blog/2021/02/16/influences-from-britain-james-ord-hume-and-the-besses-effect/

de Korte, J. D. (2022, 31 July). A band, council, correspondence, and financial records: a case study of the Malvern City Band. Band Blasts from the Past: Anecdotes, Stories and Personalities. https://bandblastsfromthepast.blog/2022/07/31/a-band-a-council-correspondence-and-financial-records-a-case-study-of-the-malvern-city-band/

de Korte, J. D. (2023, 23 April). A pastime with a purpose: band music in our institutions and the fourth prison band in the world. Band Blasts from the Past: Anecdotes, Stories and Personalities. https://bandblastsfromthepast.blog/2023/04/23/a-pastime-with-a-purpose-band-music-in-our-institutions-and-the-fourth-prison-band-in-the-world/

AN ENGLISH TOUR : MALVERN TRAMWAY BAND. (1923, 17 May). World (Hobart, Tas. : 1918 – 1924), 5. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article190297002

GAOL MUSIC. (1923, 22 September). Mirror (Perth, WA : 1921 – 1956), 2. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article77760324

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GIBSON YOUNG : Pioneer of Community Singing : Returns After Absence of 13 Years. (1936, 28 April). Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld. : 1872 – 1947), 6. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article183389164

Greaves, J. (1996). The Great Bands of Australia [booklet] [2 sound discs (CD) : digital ; 4 3/4 in. + 1 booklet]. Sydney, N.S.W., Sound Heritage Association Ltd. https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/catalog/2372005

Greaves, J. (2005). A musical mission of Empire : the story of the Australian Newcastle Steelworks Band. Peters 4 Printing. https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/catalog/3640204

Greaves, J., & Earl, C. (2001). Albert Baile : August 10 1882 – March 14 1961. In Legends in brass : Australian brass band achievers of the 20th century (pp. 11-12). Muso’s Media. https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/catalog/1522216

Lawson-Black, P. (2010). Bold as brass : the story of Stonnington City Brass then and now. Pat Lawson Black, Stonnington City Brass. https://find.slv.vic.gov.au/permalink/61SLV_INST/1sev8ar/alma9921636883607636

The Malvern Band. (1927, 04 April). Geelong Advertiser (Vic. : 1859 – 1929), 4. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article232380492

MALVERN BAND : ENGLISH CHALLENGE ACCEPTED. (1923, 16 June). Geelong Advertiser (Vic. : 1859 – 1929), 5. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article166013099

MALVERN BAND : Proposed World Tour : May be Abandoned. (1923, 28 September). Sun News-Pictorial (Melbourne, Vic. : 1922 – 1954; 1956), 8. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article274210227

MALVERN BAND CARNIVAL. (1924, 15 November). Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 – 1957), 22. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2069105

MALVERN BAND CONCERTS : Community Singing on Sunday Nights. (1923, 06 January). Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 – 1954), 5. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article246670527

MALVERN BAND WORLD TOUR. (1923, 05 October). Prahran Telegraph (Vic. : 1889 – 1930), 6. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article165100079

MALVERN TRAMWAY BAND : Acclaimed at Ballarat : The Champion Band. (1922, 03 November). Prahran Telegraph (Vic. : 1889 – 1930), 7. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article165129241

MALVERN TRAMWAY BAND : PROPOSED WORLD TOUR : ASSISTANCE FROM LAUNCESTON. (1923, 05 April). Daily Telegraph (Launceston, Tas. : 1883 – 1928), 2. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article153414987

Malvern Tramways Band. (1924). [Postcard]. Malvern Tramways Band, Malvern, Victoria.

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Malvern Tramways Band. (1923). Community singing : St. Kilda Esplanade every Wednesday evening : words of songs & program. Malvern Tramways Band. http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-52777212

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MALVERN TRAMWAYS BAND : Projected Tour Abroad. (1926b, 24 November). Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 – 1954), 12. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article202212517

MALVERN WIN A GRADE TEST : PORT NICHOLSON SECURE FIFTH PLACE. (1925, 27 February). Evening Post. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19250227.2.83.1

MASSED BANDS PLAYED : 15,000 Listened : FUNDS FOR MALVERN. (1924, 03 November). Sun News-Pictorial (Melbourne, Vic. : 1922 – 1954; 1956), 11. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article274432031

Minton Witts Studios. (1924). Australian Imperial Band in Sydney (Conducted by: Mr W. M. Partington) [Postcard]. Minton Witts Studios, Sydney, N.S.W.

Mitchell, E. L. (1924, 09 August). “WE WANT SOME MONEY-GIVE US SOME, DO!”. Mirror (Perth, WA : 1921 – 1956), 1. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article76437154

Mr. ERNEST GIBSON YOUNG. (1936, 02 November). Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 – 1954), 12. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article205944529

Muntz Studio. (1922, 28 September). TO SEEK FRESH FAME IN ENGLAND : Malvern Tramways Band and its Young Conductor. Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 – 1954), 15. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article243779263

Newcastle Steel Works Band. (1922). [Photograph]. [phot20975]. The Internet Bandsman Everything Within, Vintage Brass Band Pictures – Australia. http://www.ibew.org.uk/vbbp-oz.html

Newcomb, S. P. (1980). Challenging brass : 100 years of brass band contests in New Zealand, 1880-1980. Powerbrass Music for the Brass Band Association of New Zealand. https://natlib-primo.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/f/1s57t7d/NLNZ_ALMA21242590750002836

Quickstep. (1920a, 23 October). Bandsmen’s Gossip : Celebrated Conductor. Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 – 1954), 4. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article242245731

Quickstep. (1920b, 24 July). Bandsmen’s Gossip : Leader of Two Famous Bands. Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 – 1954), 11. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article242308343

Royal South Street Society. (1915). 1915-10-23 Brass Band Contests : Held at City Oval [Eisteddfod Results]. Royal South Street Society Results Database. https://results.royalsouthstreet.com.au/results/1915-10-23-brass-band-contests

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TOUR-SCHEME LAUNCHED : £2000 Already Raised for Band. (1923, 15 June). Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 – 1954), 9. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article244032124

TWELVE YEARS OF HARMONY. (1923, 15 June). Sun News-Pictorial (Melbourne, Vic. : 1922 – 1954; 1956), 13. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article274146118

VICTORIAN BAND : TO PLAY AT WEMBLEY. (1924, 07 January). Daily Mail (Brisbane, Qld. : 1903; 1916 – 1926), 10. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article217628364

Warren, W. H. (1924). The Famous St. Hilda Colliery Band : World Champions : 1912 – 1920 – 1921 – 1924 [Postcard]. [Formal]. W. H. Warren, South Shields, U.K.

WORLD TOUR DROPPED : Malvern Band Disappointed : LACK OF FUNDS. (1923, 28 September). Geelong Advertiser (Vic. : 1859 – 1929), 3. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article166022301

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A band, a council, correspondence, and financial records: a case study of the Malvern City Band

July 31, 2022December 22, 2023 Jeremy de Korte2 Comments

The Malvern & Caulfield East Juvenile Band, 1922. (Source: IBEW)

Introduction:

If there is one aspect that defines the band movement of yesteryear, it is the relationships they formed through the course of their existence.  Some of these relationships were beneficial, others were not. Maintaining these relationships was sometimes difficult as issues needed to be ironed out.  On occasions, some issues became insurmountable, and there was never any proper resolution.

When we look at a typical brass band from the era of the early to middle 1900s there were several stakeholders who were involved with the band – certainly the musicians and bandmaster, but also the ladies’ auxiliary, the local council, and supporters.  It is probably the relationship with local councils that was most important to a band as the council allocated some funding, sometimes helped with a band hall, and gave permission for bands to use parks and bandstands.  However, councils and some bands had their own way of doing things.

This post is essentially a case study and is different to other posts on this blog that have focused on the linked stories of many bands.  The band in question is the Malvern City Band, a band that was only in operation from 1922-1939, but it is a band that offers an inordinate amount of information on how it worked, or did not work.  It was a band that was started with the best of intentions but was forever living under shadows of other bands and its way of operating was questionable.  The Malvern City Band drew an amount of controversy which played out through letters in the local papers.  Thus, it presents an almost perfect case study on relationships with various stakeholders, including the powerful Malvern City Council.

We will see in this post several sides to the Malvern City Band. Firstly, there will be a brief history of the band including its initial desire to be recognized as an independent entity, difficult as that was when the other band in the municipality was the Malvern Tramways Band. From the outset the MCB had a difficult relationship with the Malvern City Council, and this will be explored from both sides of the disputes – and there were a few. The role of the local newspaper was interesting at the time and an examination of this role is very useful – their actions were very much like the social media of today. To conclude, a question will be asked as to who benefited during these years, the council, or the band?

The Malvern City Band:

Let us just say from the outset that it cannot have been easy for the Malvern City Band when it started in 1922 given that the resounding success of the Australian band movement at the time, and the band held up high by Malvern City Council, was the Malvern Tramways Band – a band that still survives to this day as the Stonnington City Brass.

They were not the first band in Malvern to hold this name. In 1899 another band started called the Malvern Tradesmen’s Military Band, soon to become the Malvern Town Military Band in 1901 (“Malvern,” 1901). This band stopped and started over the years. In 1907 it restarted as the Malvern Town Band and in 1911, it changed its name to Malvern City Band in line with the newly proclaimed City of Malvern (“Malvern Town Band.,” 1907; “MODERN MALVERN.,” 1911). The Malvern Town Band lasted another two years and was last seen in public on a parade in 1913 (Baritone, 1913).

In other band news from this time, the Malvern Tramways Band, originally known as the Prahran & Malvern Tramways Trust Band, started in November 1911 (Lawson-Black, 2010).

Coming into 1922, with the Malvern Tramways Band now well-established and having a highly regarded reputation in band competitions, the Malvern & Caulfield East Juvenile Band was started by Malvern East (Manning Road) resident, Benjamin Long. This band was started with the best intentions. It was a band that was all for training youth in brass bands, and as evident by the picture at the head of this post, it succeeded in raising a full band (Malvern & Caulfield East Juvenile Brass Band, 1922). A call went out in the Prahran Telegraph newspaper in August 1922 for more boys to join up as the band already had “twenty players” (“MALVERN JUVENILE BAND.,” 1922). The band was initially conducted by Mr. W. F. King, a bandsman who had been associated with the Rupanyup Brass Band for a short stint in 1914-15, and had taken twelve months leave from the South Richmond Brass Band in 1921 to take on the bandmaster position with this new Malvern band (“Rupanyup Brass Band,” 1914; “South Richmond Brass Band.,” 1921).

The band changed their name to the East Malvern Junior Band in 1923 and early newspaper reports indicate they were playing at some engagements, and received praise for their efforts (“EAST MALVERN JUNIOR BAND.,” 1923). However, in early 1924, they changed their name again to the Malvern City Band as it was felt they were making “rapid progress” and there was “high appreciation of their ability” (“MALVERN JUNIOR BRASS BAND.,” 1924). This latest name change could be viewed as naive as “Malvern City”, which the band argued was reflective of the geographic area, made it look like they were somehow associated with Malvern City Council. There was one problem though, during the lifetime of this band, it was never recognised as the official band of Malvern (“COUNCIL OBJECTS TO BAND’S NAME,” 1933). That honour went to the Malvern Tramways Band. More on this will be examined further in the post.

Nevertheless, the Malvern City Band continued to try to make a name for themselves, and according to an archival advertising flyer held by the Stonnington History Centre, they entered in the 1924 C Grade section at the Royal South Street Eisteddfod (Malvern City Brass Band, 1924). They even held a two-day bazaar to fundraise for their trip, of which the money was to be used for new uniforms (“MALVERN BAND.,” 1924; “MALVERN CITY BRASS BAND.,” 1924). The MCB were certainly listed as one of six entrants to this section as late as October 23^rd, 1924, but according to the official results on October 25^th, the day of competition, they never played – only five bands were listed in the results for C Grade, and Malvern City Band was not one of them (“BAND CONTESTS,” 1924; Royal South Street Society, 1924). The Victorian Bands’ Association records in the newspapers show that the Malvern City Band affiliated with the then VBA from 1924 – 1927 (de Korte, 2020).

The advertising flyer lists various charities and events the Malvern City Band played for, and it was true, the band did go out on many occasions to entertain, and continued to do so during their lifetime (Malvern City Brass Band, 1924). Trips to Mont Park hospital and Queenscliff would have been big adventures (“EAST MALVERN JUNIOR BAND.,” 1923; “THE MALVERN CITY BAND.,” 1927). For the most part, the MCB kept up a regular program of engagements at hospitals, parks and even some commemorations as they played at the 1926 Anzac Day in front of Parliament House (“THE PROGRAMME.,” 1926). In 1929, they were pictured leading a parade of Scouts (“Scout Display at Exhibition,” 1929). So, it would seem the MCB appeared as a normal, suburban brass band that got out and about, and played well when they did.

One aspect of their existence that they made much of was connections to the high offices of the land, namely two Governors of Victoria. At the time, the Victorian Government House was located at Stonnington Mansion, a grand house on Glenferrie Road just north of the intersection with Malvern Road (Heritage Council Victoria, 2022). In the early 1920s, the Victorian Governor was the Third Earl of Stradbroke who departed Victoria in April 1926 – the band played at a “welcome home” event in 1923 (Gardiner, 2006; “THE NEWS OF THE WEEK,” 1923). The next Governor of Victoria was Arthur Herbert Tenyson Somers who took up residence at Stonnington Mansion soon after, and in July of that year, he agreed to become a patron of the Malvern City Band (Gregory, 2006; “ITEMS OF INTEREST.,” 1926). Benjamin Long was ever fond of reminding people of these connections, as will be seen in the next sections regarding letters sent to the newspapers.

It is hard to find out about the official fate of this band, but if the newspaper reports are anything to go by, after 1939 there is no mention of them (“FRANKSTON AGRICULTURAL ASSN.,” 1939). Perhaps they simply folded, and the band members went separate ways. Of interest, however, is a subtle change of name in their counterparts, the Malvern Tramways Band. In newspaper reports from around this time, they are referred to as the Malvern Municipal and Tramways Band which could be interpreted as the band having less members who were tramway workers, and more that were members of the public. It is quite possible, although no-one may know for sure, that some members of the former MCB went and joined other bands including the Malvern Tramways Band.

The views of Malvern City Council:

Almost as soon as the band was started, it made applications to the Malvern City Council for financial assistance in the form of a subsidy, and to use collectors in parks when they were playing. Now this was a perfectly reasonable request, however, the council did not see it that way and while they refused to give any subsidy to the band, collectors were allowed. (“BAND COLLECTIONS.,” 1922). Councillors Mathews and Sylvester outlined in their feelings on the matter.

Cr. Mathews said that the Committee went thoroughly into the question. It was felt that the council could not subsidise the band, as that course would create an undesirable precedent. He would like to move that permission be granted to the band to take up collections and every alternate Sunday.

Cr. Sylvester said that every councillor’s sympathy went out to the band, which was composed of boys anxious to do something for the city. At the same time the councillors were the custodians of the public money, and to grant the band a subsidy would be creating a dangerous precedent. Other bands might be formed in Malvern and come along to the council and urge the same thing.
(“BAND COLLECTIONS.,” 1922)

This is not to say there were some other opinions.

Cr. Wilmot said the motion had his hearty support. A gentleman had spent £300 in financing the band.

Cr. Wilson expressed his surprise at the action of the council in allowing collections to be taken upon Sundays in the Malvern parks and gardens for the funds of a band.

The motion was carried
(“BAND COLLECTIONS.,” 1922)

By 1924 the council’s position had changed somewhat and after a meeting in February 1924, a decision was made to refuse the Malvern City Band’s application to play every alternate Sunday in the Malvern gardens and take up a collection. Again, there were some discussions published in the Prahran Telegraph newspaper.

Cr. Sylvester, in opposing the application, said that the public was already well-catered for in the matter of bands on Sunday afternoons. The Malvern Gardens were comparatively small, and if the request were granted it would mean that considerable damage might be done to the plants and shrubs by children.

Cr. Love suggested that the band thought more of taking up a collection than providing music.

It was decided that the request be not granted
(“BAND CONCERTS, MALVERN.,” 1924)

One might get the impression that the Malvern City Band did not have its finances completely under control, and maybe this was a result of having been refused permission to play in parks and gardens, and not have its collectors out and about. In 1925 an interesting snippet published in the Prahran Telegraph newspaper suggests that the MCB was still desperate to become the council’s band. The council adopted a report from the Parks and Gardens committee which made this recommendation (amongst others).

That the Council take no action in connection with the request of the Malvern City Brass Band, that the Council should take over the Band and its liabilities.
(“Malvern Parks and Gardens.,” 1925)

The issue of collectors comes up frequently in the band news of this time, not only for Malvern City Band, but for every band. Basically, bands sent out people around their local suburbs and towns with identifiable labels and uniforms to solicit money to help with the running of the band. Under normal circumstances, this practice did not cause any problems and there seemed to be some unwritten rules like not intruding on other bands ‘territory’. Unfortunately, some disagreements did arise, like an example from Richmond in 1917 where their collector switched from the Richmond City Contest Band to the Richmond Boys’ Band – the RCCB sent out a circular to residents informing them of this change (Admans et al., 1917).

(Source: Victorian Bands’ League Archives)

The Malvern City Band did not seem to understand how their collectors were to be used, identified, or which localities they should have stayed in or out of. Faced with various restrictions and refusals from Malvern City Council about collections at their performances in parks, the MCB sent their collectors into other suburbs, which was looked upon very unfavourably by neighbouring bands, individuals, and councils. There were a couple of instances in 1927 where collectors from the MCB were caught out in South Caulfield and Preston. The Secretary of the South Caulfield Brass Band, Mr. G. H. Wells, wrote a letter to Caulfield Council who admitted they were “powerless to act” against outside band collectors (“OUTSIDE BAND COLLECTORS IN CAULFIELD.,” 1927).

Cr. Patton: Our street is regularly canvassed on behalf of the Malvern City Band. Have we not the power to stop that?

Cr. Hall: Mr. Wells seems to think we have.

Cr. Page: The same thing cropped up during the time I was Mayor. The then Mayor of Malvern (Cr. Sylvester) said the Malvern band subsidy would be stopped if the band continued to send collectors into Caulfield. It had been a source of annoyance to him.
(“OUTSIDE BAND COLLECTORS IN CAULFIELD.,” 1927)

The Preston Citizens’ Band was no less angry with the MCB Collectors and in an article published in The Herald newspaper they clearly outlined their feelings on the matter as can be seen in the article here (“MALVERN BAND CHARGED WITH POACHING,” 1927).

The Malvern Council was put in a difficult position by October of 1927 and its patience with the MCB was wearing thin. A week before the Preston Band outlined their feelings, Malvern City Council placed further restrictions on the MCB by adopting a recommendation from their Parks and Gardens committee.

4. That permission previously given to the Malvern City Brass Band to play in High street gardens and Ardrie Park be withdrawn.
(“MALVERN PARKS AND GARDENS.,” 1927)

Despite this, complaints from other bands, individuals, and councils continued, with Malvern City Council writing to Kew Council in January 1928 disclaiming any connection with the Malvern City Band (“COLLECTIONS FOR BAND.,” 1928; M., 1928).

Over the next decade, due to the continuing poor business practices of the Malvern City Band and actions of its collectors, the Malvern City Council was forced to repeatedly state that the MCB had nothing to do with the Council – statements and letters published in the newspapers from Malvern Council were quite common.

The Mayor of Malvern (Cr. C. J. Waters) states that the Malvern City Brass Band, on behalf of which collectors have visited many city and country homes, is not recognised or subsidised by the council. The band is not connected with the Malvern Municipal and Tramways Band.
(“LOITERED NEAR CARS,” 1931)

Mayor Waters also backed up these articles with letters to the newspapers (Waters, 1931).

Clearly the Malvern City Council were unhappy with the MCB, but what else could they do? The band simply did not respond in good faith. The MCB’s need for funds overrode any other respects it had for other bands and councils. The MCB had gone rogue.

If the year 1937 was anything to go by, Malvern City Council had had enough of the MCB, and they took the extraordinary step of writing a letter to every municipality in the State of Victoria. The letters were sent out in April 1937 and part of the letters had a simple but direct message for the other municipalities.

…that the Malvern City Brass Band is in no way connected with the council, and is not recognised or subsidised by the council in any way.
(“Dandenong Shire Council,” 1937)

These letters were received and noted by councils across Victoria over April and May 1937 – as there were too many articles of council records from late April and May 1937 to cite here, these have been included in the reference list below.

As mentioned in the previous section, after 1939, nothing was to be heard about the Malvern City Band.

The Malvern City Council’s position was understandable, and they had a right to insist on proper business and ethical practice. Their view that the Malvern Tramways Band was Malvern’s Band was undeniable, and there was no other room for contenders against that view, and obviously no funding. One might think however, that the Council could have handled things differently. Other municipalities had multiple bands in their area which they managed to subsidize and handle issues like collectors, but the Malvern Council did not see it that way. And the fact should be noted that the Malvern Tramways Band did not really need outside collectors as they were funded and supported by the Tramways.

A local newspaper: fuelling the controversy:

On the 21^st of January 1927 a letter penned by the Honorary Organiser of the Malvern City Band, Mr. Benjamin Long, was published in the Prahran Telegraph newspaper which took aim at a financial statement released by the Malvern City Council a week beforehand (Long, 1927h). What he, and the Prahran Telegraph newspaper did not realise at the time, was that this letter would be the first of twenty-four letters sent to this newspaper, plus some to other newspapers, all focused on the dispute between the Council and the band. It is worthwhile to note that much of the disagreement over the previous years the band had been in operation was conducted privately. In 1927 from January to May it was all aired to the public with various opinions thrown into the mix. Out of the twenty-four letters sent to the Prahran Telegraph, Benjamin Long was responsible for writing six of them because he was the kind of person that had to defend his position and that of the MCB (Long, 1927c, 1927d, 1927e, 1927f, 1927g, 1927h).

At the time, the Prahran Telegraph newspaper was published weekly with papers being sent out every Thursday. Which is why the whole thread of these letters span this time frame. We could equate this with the social media of today, except, instead of discussions being responded to in minutes, hours or days, these letters had replies that appeared a week later. Some weeks had more letters than others. The Prahran Telegraph did not really help matters as due to the influx of letters surrounding the band, they started branding them under their own headline so that everyone knew what was being talked about. The headline, “Malvern City Band Controversy” was first used at the start of a letter penned by ‘Malvern Ratepayer’ on the 18^th of February (Malvern Ratepayer, 1927).

It has been quite clear through some of this post that the Malvern City Council had problems with the operations of the band, and vice versa. In part of the first letter written by Mr. Long on the 21^st of January, he states,

Now, Sir, there are only two bands in this garden city of the South namely, the Malvern Tramways and our own (the Malvern City), and I wish it to be distinctly understood that we did not receive one penny of the £100 donated by the Council according to its balance sheet; and, further, I would like to state that it is over three years since we received anything from them, when they donated the sum of £25.
(Long, 1927h)

He did, however, make a good point towards the end of the letter comparing levels of support from different Councils.

Why, I see that in last week’s paper, where the Caulfield Council have voted three bands who play in their district (two of which have not even a uniform) sums that amount to nearly £300. Surely if Malvern is to uphold its name as the Garden City the Malvern Council should take a leaf out of the Caulfield Council’s book and give the Malvern City Band at least a small grain of encouragement.
(Long, 1927h)

This letter sparked several replies and one official response which were published a week later in the 28^th of January issue of the newspaper, all under pseudonyms. Letters from ‘Disgusted’, ‘Mother of Five’ and ‘Old Timer’ were in support of the band while a letter from ‘South Caulfield’ questioned the motives of collectors who were out and about in Caufield supposedly collecting for the MCB (Disgusted, 1927; Mother of Five, 1927; Old Timer, 1927; South Caulfield, 1927). Buried in amongst these letters was an article which could be assumed was submitted by someone attached to Malvern Council and which refuted many of the claims put forward by Mr. Long.

The source of the trouble seems to be in a nutshell. The band, it is understood, finds its main financial support per medium of house to house collections. It is likewise stated that some time ago, when the band applied to the council for a subsidy, the council expressed a desire to be supplied with a balance-sheet. The band promised that this would be forthcoming, but so far no balance-sheet has come to hand. Therefore, the council remains fixed in its determination not to consider the question of granting a subsidy to the band until a balance-sheet comes to light. […] Surely Mr. Long will not deny that the council is entitled to a balance-sheet. This is generally recognised as standard practice in matters of this kind.
(“The Official View.,” 1927)

Benjamin Long could not let this go without a response and he wrote a very long letter to the Prahran Telegraph newspaper which was published on the 4^th of February (Long, 1927c). In the same issue, another letter written by ‘Caulfield Resident’, claiming to be a member of the MCB, was published in reply to the letter written by ‘South Caulfield’ a week before (Caulfield Resident, 1927). When responding to the article which stated an ‘official view’, Mr. Long included a letter written to the MCB in 1925 by Mr. B. Crosbie Goold, the then Town Clerk.

Dear Sir,-I have to acknowledge yours of the 23^rd inst., forwarding statement of receipts and expenditure for twelve months ended 14^th December, 1924, but note that same has not been audited. I am returning it here with for the auditor’s formal certificate, and would be also glad if you would let me have a list of the office-bearers of the Band, so that same may be submitted to the Committee.
(Crosbie Goold (1925) in Long, 1927c)

As these things often do, the series of letters spiralled out into a series of sub-issues encompassing the operations of the band, financial records, collectors, and some slurs and jealousy dished out to the Malvern Tramways Band. Not to mention a fair bit of who said what, when, and where. For example, six letters published over March and April were simply replies and rebuttals between two letter writers, Mr. Long and ‘Another Malvern Ratepayer’ (Another Malvern Ratepayer, 1927a, 1927b, 1927c; Long, 1927d, 1927e, 1927f). And there were still letters being sent in by supporters of the MCB, with one published on the 1^st of April being unusual – this person sent it in under his real name (Johnston, 1927).

Additionally, Mr. Long sent three identical letters to The Argus, The Age, and The Herald newspapers in early April in an attempt to inform the public about the nature and conduct of their collectors, with a snide reference to the Malvern Tramways Band (Long, 1927a, 1927b, 1927i). The letter that was published in The Argus newspaper can be viewed below.

The Malvern Council could not remain silent for ever on these issues and sought to set the record straight. Since Mr. Long disputed the official view (published on the 28^th of January), it was not until April that Councillor James D. Evans wrote the first of two letters which reinforced and reiterated the view of the Council.

Sir.- Apparently there are still some persons who do not know why the Council refuses to donate to the Malvern City Band. The official reason was given in your issue of 24-1-27, i.e that the grant had been held back owing to the non-production of an audited balance sheet.

[…]

Mr. Long states that he gave Cr. Francis the books; what really happened was this. A parcel containing only a number of docket butts was left at his house, and this was afterwards laid on the Council table and opened in the presence of myself and other councillors. Imagine a bank asking a firm for an audited balance sheet, and receiving a bundle of receipt buts instead.

[…]

I am not so much concerned with the controversy between the Malvern City junior band and the premier band of Australia, but I feel constrained to let the public know facts why the subsidy is withheld.”
(Evans, 1927a)

Of course, Mr. Long could not let this letter lie and wrote again to the Prahran Telegraph newspaper on the 29^th of April to refute Mr. Evans (Long, 1927g). Interestingly, Mr. Long’s position was backed up by another letter writer from Wangaratta on the 29^th of April who was under the pseudonym of ‘Ex-Vice President’ – and he claimed to have held that position in the MCB (Ex. Vice-President, 1927). Mr. Evans wrote his second letter on the 6^th of May to restate the Council’s and his views on the matter (Evans, 1927b).

The last letter of this sorry saga was published on the 13^th of May by the MCB Secretary Mr. Joseph Leech, and this was an answer to the last letter from Mr. Evans from the 6^th of May (Evans, 1927b; Leech, 1927). In this letter, Mr. Leech also included a rebuttal to another letter writer from the week before from ‘Above Board’ who had contributed another opinion (Above Board, 1927). The last part of Mr. Leech’s letter stated that,

In regard to our balance sheet, which is always open for inspection by our supporters, we are preparing another one shortly, which we shall ask you, Mr. Editor, to be good enough to publish in your paper.
(Leech, 1927)

However, at the end of this letter, as was sometimes the case, the Editor of the Prahran Telegraph newspaper added in a small paragraph.

(We shall be pleased to publish an audited balance-sheet. The whole correspondence has centred round the question of the production of an audited balance-sheet. With the above letter the correspondence now closes.)
(Prahran Telegraph Editor in Leech, 1927)

So, in effect, the Prahran Telegraph newspaper seemingly ended this “controversy” as they originally called it in the belief that the MCB would supply them with the information that everyone wanted – which never ended up happening. We see the same thing sometimes in social media when threads are locked.

There was one voice that was conspicuously absent during this exchange of letters, that of the Malvern Tramways Band. One would have thought that they would write to defend their own positions, given that the Malvern City Band was trying to smear their name with a few falsehoods. The MTB did eventually raise their voice, but not through the local newspaper, and not directly addressing the previous topics of the letters. In July 1927, Mr. Harry Shugg, then conductor of the MTB wrote a small letter to the Geelong Advertiser newspaper with a basic message for the people of Geelong.

Sir.-I understand that a uniformed collector has been collecting in Geelong during this week on behalf of the Malvern City Band. I desire to notify the public personally that this collector has no connection with the Malvern Tramways Band of which I am conductor.
(Shugg, 1927)

This was another measure in which the Malvern Tramways Band sought to distance themselves from the activities of the Malvern City Band. Just over a year later, another letter appeared in the Prahran Telegraph newspaper written by Mr. Charles Snelling, then Honorary Secretary of the Malvern Tramways Band. He was far more pointed in his language when addressing the fact that there were two bands in Malvern.

Sir.-For the benefit of your readers, and the Councillors of Prahran, I would thank you to allow me to state that there are two bands in the City of Malvern. People confuse another band with the Malvern Municipal and Tramways Band. We have no collectors at all, but other collectors are credited to our band. We frequently are blamed for these people calling on residents of the suburbs and even the country districts.
(Snelling, 1928)

We saw where this was coming from previously in this post given the number of complaints sent to Malvern City Council and the extraordinary steps the Council took in 1937 with their own letter writing to all parts of Victoria. Mr. Snelling went on in his letter to make some interesting statements, including one that indicates just how favourable the MTB was to the Council.

The Malvern City Council have always treated my band splendidly, and we have no complaints whatever to make. Hoping that the Prahran residents will not confuse these collectors with my band, and thanking you.
(Snelling, 1928)

Malvern City Council would have no doubt been pleased to read this letter from Mr. Snelling. The MTB brought prestige upon the name of Malvern through their many successes, and the Council sought to capitalise on that.

Maybe the Malvern City Band did not understand the relationships bands had with each other and the etiquette that was needed. They certainly did not understand the quid pro quo with Council. It was a band that did things their way and really, they should have known better. Yes, other bands in Australia had disagreements with their home councils over funding, halls, performances, and other such issues but for the most part these were resolved amicably and with little loss of respect for each other. Twenty-four letters to the local newspaper over the space of five months is unprecedented and without comparison.

Conclusion:

It would be fair to say that neither the Malvern City Band, Malvern City Council, or even the Prahran Telegraph newspaper exhibited very good practice through these years. In short, it was a big mess. And then there is the question of who to believe, which information is the most correct? All we must go on is a whole host newspaper articles and correspondence. When the band was performing, the articles were largely positive. However, letters to the editor suggested that something was amiss in the way the band did things, especially letters received in Malvern from other municipalities. So, while the band did its best to present a side that suggested it was supportive of charitable causes, the business practices it engaged in were very questionable when compared to other bands that were operating at the time. And of course, its jealousy of the Malvern Tramways Band was unwarranted. The MTB was a very different ensemble and much more established. Perhaps there was room for two bands in Malvern, but the MCB made life much more difficult for itself.

Malvern City Council was put in a difficult position by the MCB. However, when compared to the operations of other councils who supported multiple bands in their council areas, one would have thought the Council could have offered much more support than they did beyond permission to play in parks and gardens, and for a band to take collections. MCB had every right to ask the Council for support, the Council had every right not to give the band money unless the band opened its books. The year 1927 was a perfect example of when both parties failed in their best practice. And in the year 1937 when the Malvern council wrote to every other council in Victoria, this was a prudent measure but very heavy handed – although we could argue that the MCB brought that response upon themselves.

It should be seen that the Prahran Telegraph newspaper sought to capitalise on the situation in 1927 and deliberately inflamed tensions. When receiving letters all on the same topic, branding them under their own headline with the word “Controversy” immediately invited some confrontation, which the newspaper duly received in those letters. The local media then controlled some of the narrative, and the letter writers and the public were caught up in this. The Malvern Tramways Band was wise to stay out of this despite being on the receiving end of slurs and false information.

This case study of the Malvern City Band shows us many aspects about the operations and thoughts of the band, council, and local newspapers. It is fascinating, but when compared to the histories of other bands, many of which have been explored in other posts, this sorry tale need not have happened in the way it did. We cannot feel sorry for any of the parties, but we wish it could have been very different for the band and the council.

References:

Above Board. (1927, 06 May). MALVERN CITY BAND CONTROVERSY : RE BALANCE SHEET. : (To the Editor.). Prahran Telegraph (Vic. : 1889 – 1930), 5. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article165181080

Admans, G. R., Bowden, J., Davidson, J., & Hall, B. (1917). RICHMOND CITY CONTEST BAND : To the Citizens of Richmond. In Victorian Bands’ League Archive (Ed.), S04 – Letters, Documents & Books (Vol. S4.1 – Letters). Richmond, Victoria.

Alexandra Shire Council. (1937, 21 May). Alexandra and Yea Standard and Yarck, Gobur, Thornton and Acheron Express (Vic. : 1908 – 1949), 2. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article64735733

Another Malvern Ratepayer. (1927a, 01 April). MALVERN CITY BAND CONTROVERSY : (To the Editor). Prahran Telegraph (Vic. : 1889 – 1930), 6. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article165186163

Another Malvern Ratepayer. (1927b, 04 March). MALVERN CITY BAND CONTROVERSY : (To the Editor). Prahran Telegraph (Vic. : 1889 – 1930), 5. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article165178951

Another Malvern Ratepayer. (1927c, 18 March). MALVERN CITY BAND CONTROVERSY : Reply to Mr. Long : (To the Editor). Prahran Telegraph (Vic. : 1889 – 1930), 5. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article165179586

AVON SHIRE COUNCIL : MONDAY, MAY 3. (1937, 06 May). Gippsland Times (Vic. : 1861 – 1954), 4. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article63017974

BACCHUS MARSH COUNCIL. (1937, 15 May). Bacchus Marsh Express (Vic. : 1866 – 1943), 4. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article262571933

BAND COLLECTIONS : Discussion at Malvern : On Sunday Concerts. (1922, 22 December). Prahran Telegraph (Vic. : 1889 – 1930), 7. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article165128099

BAND CONCERTS, MALVERN : Sundays not Suitable : Decision in Council. (1924, 22 February). Prahran Telegraph (Vic. : 1889 – 1930), 5. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article165094826

BAND CONTESTS : Last Phase of South Street. (1924, 23 October). Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 – 1954), 26. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article244852735

Baritone. (1913). Malvern Tramway Band. The State Band News, 4(7), 14.

Bass Shire Council. (1937, 13 May). Great Southern Advocate (Korumburra, Vic. : 1889 – 1906, 1914 – 1919, 1921 – 1940), 3. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article257233935

BENALLA SHIRE COUNCIL : MONTHLY MEETING. (1937, 14 May). North Eastern Ensign (Benalla, Vic. : 1872 – 1938), 4. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article70776837

BOGUS COLLECTORS ARE ABOUT : For “Malvern City Band”. (1937, 08 May). Record (Emerald Hill, Vic. : 1881 – 1954), 1. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article164480715

Caulfield Resident. (1927, 04 February). BAND COLLECTION’S IN SOUTH CAULFIELD : (To the Editor). Prahran Telegraph (Vic. : 1889 – 1930), 5. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article165186978

COLLECTIONS FOR BAND. (1928, 26 January). Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 – 1957), 10. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3906330

COUNCIL OBJECTS TO BAND’S NAME : Malvern’s Attitude. (1933, 19 October). Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 – 1954), 22. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article243192870

Dandenong Shire Council. (1937, 29 April). Dandenong Journal (Vic. : 1927 – 1954), 3. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article200679919

de Korte, J. D. (2020, 21 May). Choosing music and grading bands: The unenviable tasks of band associations and their music advisory boards. Band Blasts from the Past : Anecdotes, Stories and Personalities. https://bandblastsfromthepast.blog/2020/05/21/choosing-music-and-grading-bands-the-unenviable-tasks-of-band-associations-and-their-music-advisory-boards/

Disgusted. (1927, 28 January). MALVERN CITY BRASS BAND : Question of Council Support. : To the Editor. Prahran Telegraph (Vic. : 1889 – 1930), 5. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article165187999

EAST MALVERN JUNIOR BAND : Successful Sunday Recital. (1923, 07 September). Prahran Telegraph (Vic. : 1889 – 1930), 7. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article165097358

Evans, J. D. (1927a, 14 April). MALVERN CITY BAND CONTROVERSY : Question of Council’s Subsidy. : Cr. Evans Explains : (To the Editor). Prahran Telegraph (Vic. : 1889 – 1930), 5. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article165179150

Evans, J. D. (1927b, 06 May). MALVERN CITY BAND CONTROVERSY : RE BALANCE SHEET. : (To the Editor.). Prahran Telegraph (Vic. : 1889 – 1930), 5. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article165181093

Ex. Vice-President. (1927, 29 April). MALVERN CITY BAND CONTROVERSY : CR. EVANS AND MALVERN CITY BAND : (To the Editor). Prahran Telegraph (Vic. : 1889 – 1930), 5. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article165179381

FRANKSTON AGRICULTURAL ASSN : GYMKHANA POSTPONED. (1939, 20 January). Frankston and Somerville Standard (Vic. : 1921 – 1939), 8. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article75009158

FUNDS FOR A PUBLIC PARK. (1924, 08 March). Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 – 1954), 40. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article223860577

Gardiner, L. R. (2006). Stradbroke, third Earl of (1862-1947. In Australian Dictionary of Biography. Retrieved 16 July 2022, from https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/stradbroke-third-earl-of-8693

Gregory, A. (2006). Somers, Arthur, Herbert, Tenyson (1887-1944). In Australian Dictionary of Biography. Retrieved 16 July 2022, from https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/somers-arthur-herbert-tennyson-8578

Healesville Shire Council : MONTHLY MEETING. (1937, 01 May). Healesville and Yarra Glen Guardian (Vic. : 1900 – 1942), 1. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article60455094

Heritage Council Victoria. (2022). Stonnington (679) Victorian Heritage Database. https://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/679

ITEMS OF INTEREST. (1926, 21 July). Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 – 1957), 15. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3796939

Johnston, B. L. (1927, 01 April). MALVERN CITY BAND CONTROVERSY : (To the Editor). Prahran Telegraph (Vic. : 1889 – 1930), 6. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article165186163

Lawson-Black, P. (2010). Bold as brass : the story of Stonnington City Brass then and now. Pat Lawson Black, Stonnington City Brass.

Leech, J. (1927, 13 May). MALVERN CITY BAND CONTROVERSY : Secretary Leech’s Views. : (To the Editor). Prahran Telegraph (Vic. : 1889 – 1930), 5. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article165179688

Livingstone Muntz, D. (1912, 19 December). CHURCH PARADE AT MALVERN.—TRAMWAYS BAND HEADING PROCESSION. OPPOSITE THE TOWN HALL. Punch (Melbourne, Vic. : 1900 – 1918; 1925), 53. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article175804920

LOITERED NEAR CARS : Three Men Imprisoned. (1931, 03 August). Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 – 1954), 13. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article242968024

Long, B. (1927a, 07 April). BAND COLLECTORS. Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 – 1954), 8. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article243921359

Long, B. (1927b, 04 April). MALVERN BAND COLLECTORS : TO THE EDITOR OF THE ARGUS. Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 – 1957), 21. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3847236

Long, B. (1927c, 04 February). MALVERN CITY BAND : Question of Council’s Subsidy : Mr. Long and Bands’ Balance Sheet. : (To the Editor). Prahran Telegraph (Vic. : 1889 – 1930), 5. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article165186979

Long, B. (1927d, 25 March). MALVERN CITY BAND CONTROVERSY : Mr. Long Continues the Battle : (To the Editor.). Prahran Telegraph (Vic. : 1889 – 1930), 5. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article165178512

Long, B. (1927e, 08 April). MALVERN CITY BAND CONTROVERSY : Mr. Long Hits Out Again : (To the Editor). Prahran Telegraph (Vic. : 1889 – 1930), 4. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article165181527

Long, B. (1927f, 11 March). MALVERN CITY BAND CONTROVERSY : Mr. Long Returns to the Charge. : (To the Editor.). Prahran Telegraph (Vic. : 1889 – 1930), 3. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article165186626

Long, B. (1927g, 29 April). MALVERN CITY BAND CONTROVERSY : The Allegations by Cr. Evans. : Emphatic Denials by Mr. Benjamin Long : (To the Editor). Prahran Telegraph (Vic. : 1889 – 1930), 5. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article165179380

Long, B. (1927h, 21 January). MALVERN CITY BRASS BAND : Question of Council Support : (To the Editor). Prahran Telegraph (Vic. : 1889 – 1930), 5. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article165187301

Long, B. (1927i, 06 April). RE MALVERN BAND COLLECTORS : TO THE EDITOR OF THE AGE. Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 – 1954), 15. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article205807873

M., H. (1928, 14 April). COLLECTORS FOR BAND : TO THE EDITOR OF THE ARGUS. Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 – 1957), 24. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3924852

Malvern : Proclaimed a Town By the Lieut.-Govenor Sir John Madden : WEDNESDAY, 24th APRIL, 1901. (1901, 02 May). Punch (Melbourne, Vic. : 1900 – 1918; 1925), 22. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article175386859

Malvern & Caulfield East Juvenile Brass Band. (1922). [Photograph]. [phot11449]. The Internet Bandsman Everything Within, Vintage Brass Band Pictures – Australia. http://www.ibew.org.uk/vbbp-oz.html

MALVERN BAND. (1924, 19 September). Prahran Telegraph (Vic. : 1889 – 1930), 3. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article165096639

MALVERN BAND CHARGED WITH POACHING : Preston Band Angry. (1927, 18 October). Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 – 1954), 13. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article243936496

MALVERN CITY BAND : NOT A MUNICIPAL BODY. (1937, 21 May). Frankston and Somerville Standard (Vic. : 1921 – 1939), 4. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article75003337

THE MALVERN CITY BAND : Sunday Trip to Queenscliff. (1927, 25 March). Prahran Telegraph (Vic. : 1889 – 1930), 5. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article165178520

Malvern City Brass Band. (1924). The Malvern City Brass Band Monster Bazaar. In Malvern Collections (Textual material; Graphic materials ed., Vol. MP571701). Malvern, Victoria: Stonnington Library + Information Service: Stonnington History Centre.

MALVERN CITY BRASS BAND : A Two-Days’ Bazaar. (1924, 10 October). Prahran Telegraph (Vic. : 1889 – 1930), 2. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article165094429

MALVERN JUNIOR BRASS BAND. (1924, 01 February). Prahran Telegraph (Vic. : 1889 – 1930), 5. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article165095540

MALVERN JUVENILE BAND : Players’ Opportunity. (1922, 18 August). Prahran Telegraph (Vic. : 1889 – 1930), 3. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article165125247

MALVERN PARKS AND GARDENS. (1927, 07 October). Prahran Telegraph (Vic. : 1889 – 1930), 5. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article165185006

Malvern Parks and Gardens : COMMITTEE’S REPORT. (1925, 13 February). Prahran Telegraph (Vic. : 1889 – 1930), 5. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article165132417

Malvern Ratepayer. (1927, 18 February). MALVERN CITY BAND CONTROVERSY? : The Subsidy Question. : (To the Editor). Prahran Telegraph (Vic. : 1889 – 1930), 4. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article165180131

Malvern Town Band : Inaugural Meeting. (1907, 09 February). Malvern Standard (Vic. : 1906 – 1931), 3. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article66379770

MELTON SHIRE COUNCIL. (1937, 01 May). Melton Express (Vic. : 1915 – 1943), 4. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article254746402

MODERN MALVERN : Proclamation as a City : Two Days’ Rejoicing. (1911, 27 May). Prahran Telegraph (Vic. : 1889 – 1930), 5. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article165104223

Mother of Five. (1927, 28 January). MALVERN CITY BRASS BAND : Question of Council Support. : To the Editor. Prahran Telegraph (Vic. : 1889 – 1930), 5. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article165187998

Mulgrave Council : THURSDAY, APRIL 29. (1937, 06 May). Dandenong Journal (Vic. : 1927 – 1954), 8. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article200680019

NARRACAN SHIRE COUNCIL. (1937, 14 May). Narracan Shire Advocate and Yallourn Brown Coal Mine, Walhalla and Thorpdale Lines Echo (Moe, Vic. : 1923 – 1943), 1. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article264532371

THE NEWS OF THE WEEK : RETURN OF VICTORIA’S GOVENOR : WELCOME TO LORD AND LADY STRADBROKE. (1923, 27 October). Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 – 1954), 5. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article223834954

Not Malvern City’s Brass Band. (1937, 07 April). Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 – 1954), 14. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article244642861

The Official View. (1927, 28 January). Prahran Telegraph (Vic. : 1889 – 1930), 5. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article165188000

Old Timer. (1927, 28 January). MALVERN CITY BRASS BAND : Question of Council Support. : To the Editor. Prahran Telegraph (Vic. : 1889 – 1930), 5. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article165187957

OUTSIDE BAND COLLECTORS IN CAULFIELD : Council Powerless to Act. (1927, 19 August). Prahran Telegraph (Vic. : 1889 – 1930), 5. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article165184889

Portland Shire Council. (1937, 17 May). Portland Guardian (Vic. : 1876 – 1953), 3. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article64275813

THE PROGRAMME : TO-MORROW’S PLANS : PROCESSION AND SERVICE. (1926, 24 April). Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 – 1954), 15. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article201640199

Royal South Street Society. (1924). 1924-10-25 Brass Band Contests : Held at City Oval [Eisteddfod Results]. Royal South Street Society Results Database. https://results.royalsouthstreet.com.au/results/1924-10-25-brass-band-contests

Rupanyup Brass Band. (1914, 09 July). Rupanyup Spectator and Lubeck, Banyena, Rich Avon and Lallat Advertiser (Vic. : 1914 – 1918), 5. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article121056539

Scout Display at Exhibition. (1929, 03 October). Table Talk (Melbourne, Vic. : 1885 – 1939), 9. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article146713600

Shire Council Promptly Despatches Business : Walpeup Councillors Make Important Decisions : HELP FOR OUYEN BATHS AND RECREATION OVAL SCHEMES : . (1937, 12 May). Ouyen Mail (Vic. : 1915 – 1918, 1931 – 1941), 6. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article255689463

Shugg, H. (1927, 27 July). LETTERS TO THE EDITOR : TWO MALVERN BANDS. Geelong Advertiser (Vic. : 1859 – 1929), 8. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article232396710

Snelling, C. (1928, 24 August). MALVERN TRAMWAYS BAND : A Reminder. (To the Editor.). Prahran Telegraph (Vic. : 1889 – 1930), 7. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article165010626

South Caulfield. (1927, 28 January). BRASS BANDS’ BLARE : To the Editor. Prahran Telegraph (Vic. : 1889 – 1930), 5. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article165188001

South Richmond Brass Band. (1921, 04 June). Richmond Guardian (Vic. : 1884 – 1885; 1894 – 1895; 1902 – 1928), 2. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article264270060

“THE TIMES.” : THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 1937. (1937, 22 April). Gippsland Times (Vic. : 1861 – 1954), 8. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article63017711

‘WARE OUTSIDE BAND COLLECTORS. (1937, 07 May). Sunshine Advocate (Vic. : 1924 – 1954), 2. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article75197039

Waters, C. J. (1931, 31 July). BAND COLLECTIONS. Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 – 1957), 5. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4404518

Werribee Shire Council : THURSDAY, 13th MAY, 1937. (1937, 20 May). Werribee Shire Banner (Vic. : 1911 – 1952), 1. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article74713584

International band tours of the early 1900s: bringing music to Australia

October 14, 2018September 5, 2021 Jeremy de Korte6 Comments

Introduction:

It is a massive undertaking to take any musical group on tour which stands true even today. But let’s examine these undertakings from another time. When we look back at the grand tours of brass and military bands in the early 1900s, we can only marvel at the schedules they set for themselves, the places they visited, and the effect they had on local populations. Australians it seemed had an insatiable appetite for viewing the best in the business and visiting bands were not disappointed when they toured here.

Visiting bands did not come all the way to Australia just to return home again. Often, Australia was just one stop on a world tour. From reading the Trove archive we can see that the movements of the bands in foreign countries was eagerly reported on because Australians knew they were next to see them. And when the bands did arrive in Australia, each concert was widely advertised.

This was a great age of band movements in Australia and around the World. It must have been quite a sight too when each band was alighting from ships and trains which were eagerly awaited on by an adoring crowd. Parades of massed bands, dinners, receptions, concerts, photographs, articles and other events all greeted visiting bands when they stepped upon our shores. Thankfully our libraries hold some ephemera and newspaper articles from those tours, so we can imagine just what it would have been like.

This post will highlight some of the visiting band tours and will see that some bands had vast reputations which preceded them. However, the famous bands were not the only groups to visit. This post will not cover all tours or bands. Undoubtedly there might have been other bands that visited that are buried in time (more stories to uncover). However, for the bands that did visit, their tours last in memories, and even in some of the local bands that were beneficiaries of the expertise of visiting bandsmen. There are some fascinating stories that surround these tours.

Besses o’ th’ Barn Band travels around the world, twice:

18900000-19200000_Tour_Besses_Card — Postcard: Besses o’ th’ Barn Band, 1907 (Source: National Library of Australia: David Elliot theatrical postcard collection: nla.obj-145704095)

The reputation of this unique brass band is well-deserved. Besses o’ the’ Barn Band from the Manchester area, England is one of the oldest brass bands in the world and has been an ensemble of excellence since its establishment in 1818 (Besses o’ th’ Barn Band, 2018a). So it was with a great deal of excitement the world over (and from the band itself) when Besses commenced its first world tour in 1906 (Besses o’ th’ Barn Band, 2018b). This first tour took them to “North America, Canada, Hawaii, Fiji, South Africa, New Zealand, and Australia.” (Besses o’ th’ Barn Band, 2018b). For each performance they attracted vast audiences and it is written in their history that their visit to Melbourne was most notable with no less than “twenty-two of Australia’s finest brass bands” (Besses o’ th’ Barn Band, 2018b) preceding them in a parade along Collins St. This must have been quite the spectacle and sound! Before they arrived in Melbourne they had been in Sydney and an article from The Sydney Morning Herald in 1907 gave an enthusiastic review of their performances (“BESSES O’ THE BARN” BAND,” 1907). In July 1907 the Argus newspaper published an article which gives us an amount of detail about the parade and the massed bands that led it:

Immediately they alighted from the Sydney express the visiting bandsmen stepped across the platform into the railway yard and as they did twenty-two bands, under the conductorship of Mr. E. T. Code, commenced to play an inspiring march. Each man in those twenty-two bands contributed his full share to the volume of sound the like of which has rarely been heard in Melbourne. […] A procession was formed and heralded by the twenty-two local bands, the Besses o’ th’ Barn Band were drive up Collins Street in two drags. The street was crowded with citizens whose curiosity had prompted them to see the famous bandsmen at first opportunity.
[…]
The bands which took part in the ceremony of welcome were as follows: St Kilda City, Prahran City, Code’s Melbourne Band, South Richmond Citizens, Collingwood Citizens’, Richmond City, Malvern City, Williamstown Premier, Footscray City, Stender’s, Doncaster, South Melbourne City, Brighton City, Brunswick City, Warneeke’s, Bootmakers, Camberwell, Box Hill, Fitzroy Military, Clifton Hill, Fitzroy Citizen’s, Kyneton City, St Vincent de Paul Orphanage, St. Arnaud, Castlemaine, Maryborough, and Ballarat bands were also represented.
(“BESSES O’ TH’ BARN BAND.,” 1907)

Regarding the huge crowds, an 1907 article in the Quiz newspaper from Adelaide which reported on the progress of the Besses tour thus far, noted that 70,000 people lined the parade route in Melbourne, which is a staggering amount of people for this kind of event (“Besses o’ th’ Barn Band,” 1907). Such was the popularity and reputation of this ensemble.

Besses o’ th’ Barn Band welcoming parade turning from Collins Street to Swanston Street, Melbourne, July 1907. The massed bands are led by Edward Code. (Source: Manchester Digital Music Archive: 13953)

However, Besses did not finish touring after this first monumental effort. Not one year after they had arrived back in England, the band embarked on another world tour (“BESSES O’ TH’ BARN BAND,” 1909). As noted in their band history (2018b), “Both trips lasted an incredible eighteen months.” (Besses o’ th’ Barn Band) which was a very long time for bandsmen to be away from home. Needless to say, Besses had not lost any popularity on their next world tour and again drew large crowds wherever they went.

Interestingly it was on their second tour where there were some changes in the Besses personnel due to one bandsman staying on in one city, and another bandsman joining them on their tour. In a previous post, we can read the story of Besses Lead Cornetist William Ryder who absconded from the tour in Melbourne and joined the Wests Theatre Company before becoming the first conductor of the Prahran & Malvern Tramways Employees Band in 1911 (de Korte, 2018; Stonnington City Brass, 2018). This being done, it appears that Besses invited one of our most famous bandsmen, Percy Code to join them on the rest of the tour (Bradish, 1929; Gibbney, 1981). The conductor of Besses during this world tour was Mr. Christopher Smith and after the tour ended he was secured by the Adelaide Tramways Band for his services in 1911 (Seymour, 1994).

Postcard: Besses o’ th’ Barn Band, 1906 (Source: Jeremy de Korte personal collection)

There is no doubt that Besses left their mark on Australian banding and were adored by audiences. Certainly, in the succeeding years, many fine Australian bands dominated the landscape and as we saw some ex-Besses musicians now called Australia home. Besses was one of the first bands to include Australia in their tour, but they were not the last. Next to tour was the famous Sousa Band from the USA!

Sousa heads South:

18900000-19200000_Tour_Sousa-Card — Postcard: Australia welcoming the Sousa Band (Source: National Library of Australia: David Elliot theatrical postcard collection: nla.obj-145695597)

The band of John Phillip Sousa was no less famous than the Besses band, although much bigger with sixty musicians and some additional soloists in their touring party. They toured Australia and New Zealand from May 12^thto August 23^rd,1911 and like the Besses band generated huge excitement wherever they went (Lovrien, 2012). In fact, the excitement had started brewing before they had even arrived with newspapers reporting expected arrival dates and schedules (“SOUSA’S BAND.,” 1911). As with the Besses tour that had just finished, the Sousa band was feted with ceremony, functions, awards, parades and large audiences – upon arriving in Sydney there was a grand parade featuring twenty NSW brass bands (“SOUSA AND HIS BAND,” 1911).

Inevitably, given the timing of the Sousa tour to the previous Besses tour, questions were asked as to which the finer band was. In an article from May 1911, the World’s News newspaper sought to answer this question from a reader (“Sousa’s Band,” 1911). The article reported on the differences between both bands and diplomatically opens the article by declaring that: “Comparisons are odious in connection with bands, as well as with politics” (“Sousa’s Band,” 1911). However, it came down to the fact that one was a brass band as opposed to a military-style band and one band was much bigger than the other. Musically, they were both very fine ensembles.

The Sousa band was a very different ensemble and they enthralled Australian audiences. However, there is no real indication that the Sousa band had an influence on Australian bandsmen, and if they did, it was not reported. One could assume the reason was that Australian bands, which were mostly brass at the time, were very much tied to the band tradition of England, not the USA.

Postcard: Sousa Band at the Glacarium, Melbourne, 1911 (Source: Jeremy de Korte personal collection)

From Australia, the Sousa Band traveled to New Zealand where they again delighted audiences and received rave reviews (White, 2018). And after this swing through the Southern Hemisphere, they returned to the mainland USA via a visit to Hawaii (Lovrien, 2012).

The Sousa tour, despite the number of places that they visited and the largeness of the audiences, did not generate a huge financial windfall and it was very expensive to take the band around the world (Lovrien, 2012). However, in 1913 a court case was heard regarding the profits from the Australian leg of the Sousa tour. From the brief flurry of newspaper articles that were written at the time, it appears that a series of contracts were entered into by the promoter of the tour, Mr. Branscombe with a Mr. Quinlan, and later a Mr. Singer over £30,000 in profits (“SOUSA’S BAND IN AUSTRALIA,” 1913). It is interesting that this case was heard two years after the tour had finished, and that these profits were not intended for the Sousa band itself.

Bythell (2000), writing on the band tours and exchanges between countries during this time says that “…the logistics and high costs or international tours and exchanges made them exceptional” (p. 229). Certainly, it was noted in the New Zealand article on the Sousa visit that the tour (through Aus. & NZ) was costing “over £2,000 per week” (White, 2018). Given the logistics of moving a sixty-piece band plus soloists around Australia and New Zealand, this figure is hardly surprising.

Despite this, the Sousa tour appears to have been a success for the band and audiences as Sousa was a renowned conductor and composer. The time frame between this tour and the previous Besses tour had not dimmed the enthusiasm of the Australian public in wanting to see these kinds of entertainments. The Sousa band did not disappoint.

The visit of a Belgian Band during the First World War:

Postcard: Belgian National Band, 1915 (Source: Jeremy de Korte personal collection)

The Besses and Sousa bands were undoubtedly famous, but that did not stop other promoters searching for bands that might tour, which is exactly what happened during the early stages of the First World War. In 1915, a band from Belgium visited the country and apparently went on tour through Australia and New Zealand. (“MUSIC.,” 1915). A paragraph in a Leader newspaper article from May 1915 provides some detail on this band, but the band had no name – they were simply known as the Belgian Band:

A Belgian Band comprising some of the finest instrumentalists in Belgium, has been engaged by J. and N. Tait for a tour of Australia and New Zealand, commencing in June. […] After considerable trouble, many cables and much correspondence, the band has at last been got together, and will prove on its arrival one of the finest aggregations of talent that have yet visited Australia. The band comprises of 28 instrumentalists, recruited from the foremost bands of Brussels, Antwerp and Ostend, and augmented by half a dozen English players, and will be conducted by the brilliant M. Phillipe Meny, a remarkable musician, whose reputation is not only Belgian, but European.
(“MUSIC.,” 1915)

The reaction of the Australian press to this visit was understandable. A number of articles expressed admiration that the musicians had actually left Belgium, while also expressing sympathy and solidarity with the Belgian people under German occupation. An example of this kind of article was from the Daily News in Perth (“THE BELGIAN BAND.,” 1915). Notwithstanding the circumstances of this visit, the band drew the interest of an Australian public and received good reviews for their performances (“Visit of Belgian Band,” 1915). In an act of decency, the band promoters donated all profits to “…the Belgian Relief Fund and the Wounded Soldiers Fund” (“BELGIAN BAND VISITS AUSTRALIA.,” 1915).

First came the Royal Marines, then came the Guards:

After the war, visits from overseas bands resumed quite early on with a visit from the Royal Marine Band, H.M.S. “Renown”. This band was brought to Australia by J. and N. Tait, the same promoters who engaged the Belgian Band in 1915 (“RENOWN BAND.,” 1920). The Royal Marines actually visited twice; their first visit was in 1920 and they followed up with another visit in 1927. The concerts of 1920 received some very favorable reviews with one article printed in the Argus praising the sound and playing of this ensemble, and making a comparison of conducting styles with the great Sousa (“Concert by Renown Band.,” 1920). On the second tour, a concert in Melbourne was presented as a massed bands concert in combination with the “Returned Sailors and Soldiers Memorial Band” and the “Victorian Railways Military Band” with the Lord Mayor’s Hospital Appeal Fund the beneficiary of the proceeds from the concert (“FOR MAYOR’S FUND,” 1927).

19270508_Massed-Mil-Bands_Green-Mill_FC — Programme (front cover), featuring: Royal Marines Band H.M.S. “Renown”, Victorian Returned Sailors and Soldiers Memorial Band & Victorian Railways Military Band. (Source: Victorian Collections : Victorian Bands’ League)

In 1934 the Band of the Grenadier Guards visited Melbourne as part of the Centenary of Victoria celebrations, with a subsequent tour of Australia as well. There was some initial confusion as to which Guards band was going to visit with the Grenadier Guards, Coldstream Guards and Welsh Guards being mentioned in some press (“GUARDS’ BAND VISIT.,” 1933). It seems there was also some objection to the tour on the part of the Musicians’ Union. A letter to The Herald in September 1933 berated the Union for their stance with the writer stating that “Their visit will be education and beneficial to our unemployed musicians.” (Musician, 1933). A visit to Australia by a band of this caliber was beneficial to all who witnessed them (not just unemployed musicians). The band made a special appearance at the South Street competition of 1934 with a concert presented to an appreciative audience which included the Duke of Gloucester who was also visiting Australia (“South-street Band Contests.,” 1934).

19341101-19341103_South-Street-Centenary-Contest_p6 — 1934 South Street “Centenary” Brass Band Contest program, p. 6 (Source: Victorian Collections: Victorian Bands’ League)

These two British military bands were highly regarded, and it appears that their tours were more genuine with concerts in combination with Australian ensembles and presenting inspirational performances. There was no comparison with the previous tours of Besses and Sousa as these were again, very different groups. However, Australians were no less enthusiastic about the visits of these bands and made them feel very welcome.

Conclusion:

What we have seen here is only a small sample of the bands that visited Australia within a shorter time frame. Each group was very different, yet they elicited an amount of excitement from the Australian audiences, bandsmen and public authorities. Yes, they were expensive undertakings. But musically they were invaluable. This truly was a great age of banding.

References:

Australia extends the glad hand of welcome to Sousa and his band. (1910). [1 postcard : col. ; 9.6 x 13.9 cm.]. [nla.obj-145695597]. National Library of Australia, David Elliott theatrical postcard collection. https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-145695597/view

THE BELGIAN BAND. (1915, 24 May). Daily News (Perth, WA : 1882 – 1950), 7. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article81173645

BELGIAN BAND VISITS AUSTRALIA. (1915, 20 June). Sunday Times (Sydney, NSW : 1895 – 1930), 6. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article120796314

Besses o’ th’ Barn Band. (1907). [Photograph]. [13953]. Manchester Digital Music Archive. https://www.mdmarchive.co.uk/artefact/13953/BESSES_O’_TH’_BARN_BAND_PHOTOGRAPH_1907

Besses o’ th’ Barn Band. (1907). [Postcard]. [nla.obj-145704095]. National Library of Australia, David Elliott theatrical postcard collection. https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-145704095/view

Besses o’ th’ Barn Band. (1907, 09 August). Quiz (Adelaide, SA : 1900 – 1909), 8. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article166338966

BESSES O’ TH’ BARN BAND. (1909, 04 November). Table Talk (Melbourne, Vic. : 1885 – 1939), 13. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article145853191

Besses o’ th’ Barn Band. (2018a). A Glorious Past. Besses o’ th’ Barn Band. Retrieved 04 October 2018 from http://www.besses.co.uk/about/blasts-o-th-past/history-of-besses

Besses o’ th’ Barn Band. (2018). From Whitefield to Wellington. Besses o’ th’ Barn Band. Retrieved 04 October 2018 from http://www.besses.co.uk/about/blasts-o-th-past/history-of-besses?showall=&start=1

BESSES O’ TH’ BARN BAND : WELCOME TO MELBOURNE. (1907, 29 July). Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 – 1957), 7. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article10125983

“BESSES O’ THE BARN” BAND. (1907, 15 May). Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 – 1954), 13. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article14867586

Bradish, C. R. (1929, 05 September). Prominent Personalities : PERCY CODE | CONDUCTOR OF NATIONAL BROADCASTING ORCHESTRA. Table Talk (Melbourne, Vic. : 1885 – 1939), 13. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article146712994

Bythell, D. (2000). The Brass Band in the Antipodes : The Transplantation of British Popular Culture. In T. Herbert (Ed.), The British brass band : a musical and social history (pp. 217-244). Clarendon Press ; New York : Oxford University Press.

Concert by Renown Band. (1920, 04 June). Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 – 1957), 9. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1708206

de Korte, J. D. (2018, 02 March). William Ryder: The first conductor of the Prahran & Malvern Tramways Employees Band. Band Blasts from the Past : Anecdotes, Stories and Personalities. https://bandblastsfromthepast.blog/2018/03/02/william-ryder-the-first-conductor-of-the-prahran-malvern-tramways-employees-band/

FOR MAYOR’S FUND : Renown Band Concert. (1927, 06 May). Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 – 1954), 19. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article243915027

Gibbney, H. J. (1981). Code, Edward Percival (1888-1953). In Australian Dictionary of Biography. Retrieved 20 April 2018, from https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/code-edward-percival-5707

Glanville Hicks, E. (1927). MASSED MILITARY BANDS : (Including Band of H.M.S. “RENOWN”) : GRAND RECITAL [Programme]. City of Melbourne. https://victoriancollections.net.au/items/5caad8b321ea6703e46303f4

GUARDS’ BAND VISIT : Centenary Tour Almost Certain. (1933, 10 October). Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 – 1954), 8. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article205104515

Lovrien, D. (2012, 13 June). The Sousa Band 1910-11 World Tour. John Philip Sousa. https://sousamusic.com/sousa-band-1910-11-world-tour/

MUSIC. (1915, 15 May). Leader (Melbourne, Vic. : 1862 – 1918), 35. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article91368715

Musician. (1933, 11 September). GUARDS’ BAND VISIT. Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 – 1954), 6. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article243423748

RENOWN BAND. (1920, 05 July). Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 – 1929), 5. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article62924146

Royal South Street Society. (1934). South Street “Centenary” : Brass Band Contest : A, B, C and D Grades [Programme]. Royal South Street Society. https://victoriancollections.net.au/items/5d425e0c21ea6b1a84382033

Seymour, C. (1994). Adelaide’s Tramway Band. Trolley Wire, 35(4), 3-10. https://www.sydneytramwaymuseum.com.au/members.old/Trolley_Wire/259%20-%20Trolley%20Wire%20-%20Nov%201994.pdf

SOUSA AND HIS BAND. (1911, 14 May). Sunday Times (Sydney, NSW : 1895 – 1930), 2. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article120777076

Sousa Band – Immense Audience, Glacarium, Melbourne. (1911). [Postcard]. Sousa Band, Melbourne, Victoria.

SOUSA’S BAND. (1911, 09 February). Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 – 1957), 7. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article10877792

SOUSA’S BAND IN AUSTRALIA : Question of profits : Writ for £7926. (1913, 01 October). Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 – 1954), 8. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article196234795

Sousa’s Band : An interesting question asked by readers. (1911, 13 May). World’s News (Sydney, NSW : 1901 – 1955), 18. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article128266800

South-street Band Contests. (1934, 02 November). Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 – 1954), 16. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article205082990

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Visit of Belgian Band : An enjoyable concert. (1915, 10 August). Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld. : 1909 – 1954),7. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article121995771

Walmsley Bolton. (1915). The Great Belgian National Band. Conductor – – Mons Jules Ardenois (of Antwerp) [Postcard]. Walmsley Bolton, Nottingham, U.K.

White, T. (2018, 13 July). Memory Lane: A famous musician brings his band to town. Manawatū Standard. https://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/lifestyle/105412732/memory-lane-a-famous-musician-brings-his-band-to-town