Bandmaster
Encyclopedia
A bandmaster is the leader and conductor
of a band
, usually a military band
, brass band
or a marching band
.
, a Bandmaster is always a Warrant Officer
Class 1 (or Warrant Officer in the Royal Air Force
). A commissioned officer who leads a band is known as the Director of Music. Directors of Music are all former Bandmasters who have been commissioned.
British Army
line infantry
and cavalry
regiment
al bands were led by Bandmasters until the reorganisation of bands and the creation of the Corps of Army Music
in 1994. The larger corps
bands, as well as those of the Foot Guards
and Household Cavalry
, were known as Staff Bands, and were led by a commissioned Director of Music with a Bandmaster as his deputy. In 1994 the number of bands was reduced and all bands became Staff Bands, effectively putting an end to the appointment of 'Bandsman' used in regimental line bands (the appointment in staff bands being known as 'Musician'). Bandmaster is an appointment held by a Warrant Officer Class 1, who has the designation WO1(BM) and wears a unique appointment badge of a crowned
lyre
in a wreath
underneath the WO1's badge (the Royal Arms of the United Kingdom). The senior playing musician of the band is normally the Band Sergeant Major
(or Band Corporal Major in the Household Cavalry), a Warrant Officer Class 2, although WO1 bandmasters (who are also appointed as training instructors) are expected to play within sections as and when required.
Royal Marines Bands
have been led by commissioned Directors of Music for many years. Bandmaster is an appointment which may be held by a Warrant Officer Class 1 (WO1 BDMR), who is equivalent to an Army Bandmaster, or a Warrant Officer Class 2 (WO2 BDMR). The Corps Bandmaster is the senior Bandmaster of the Royal Marines and the chief non-commissioned adviser to the Principal Director of Music, Royal Marines.
Royal Air Force bands have also traditionally been led by commissioned Directors of Music. The Bandmaster is a Warrant Officer and fills the same position as the Army equivalent (RAF WOs do not hold appointments as do those in the other services). The senior playing musician, the Band Sergeant, is a Flight Sergeant
.
. A Salvation Army bandmaster is responsible for the ministry of a Salvation Army band and tends to the musical and spiritual development of the bandsmen and women. The Bandmaster is assisted by a Deputy Bandmaster, a Band Secretary, Band Sergeant and Band Treasurer. These roles are also non-commissioned officer ranks. The band may also have a Band Colour Sergeant and a Band Librarian. All of these roles will normally be undertaken by volunteer Salvationists who give their time and services free of charge. Charles Fry was the very first Salvation Army bandmaster.
for example the Bandmaster is responsible for musical direction for all onboard theatre shows with guest artists and for production shows, writing and arranging for the orchestras as well as band discipline.
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
of a band
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
, usually a military band
Military band
A military band originally was a group of personnel that performs musical duties for military functions, usually for the armed forces. A typical military band consists mostly of wind and percussion instruments. The conductor of a band commonly bears the title of Bandmaster or Director of Music...
, brass band
Brass band (British style)
A British-style brass band is a musical ensemble comprising a standardised range of brass and percussion instruments. The modern form of the brass band in the United Kingdom dates back to the 19th century, with a vibrant tradition of competition based around local industry and communities...
or a marching band
Marching band
Marching band is a physical activity in which a group of instrumental musicians generally perform outdoors and incorporate some type of marching with their musical performance. Instrumentation typically includes brass, woodwinds, and percussion instruments...
.
British Armed Forces
In the British Armed ForcesBritish Armed Forces
The British Armed Forces are the armed forces of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.Also known as Her Majesty's Armed Forces and sometimes legally the Armed Forces of the Crown, the British Armed Forces encompasses three professional uniformed services, the Royal Navy, the...
, a Bandmaster is always a Warrant Officer
Warrant Officer
A warrant officer is an officer in a military organization who is designated an officer by a warrant, as distinguished from a commissioned officer who is designated an officer by a commission, or from non-commissioned officer who is designated an officer by virtue of seniority.The rank was first...
Class 1 (or Warrant Officer in the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
). A commissioned officer who leads a band is known as the Director of Music. Directors of Music are all former Bandmasters who have been commissioned.
British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
line infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
and cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
al bands were led by Bandmasters until the reorganisation of bands and the creation of the Corps of Army Music
Corps of Army Music
The Corps of Army Music is a corps of the British Army. It was formed in 1994 as an umbrella organisation, centred on the Royal Military School of Music, to oversee the 29 new permanent Military Bands formed following Options for Change, although each band continues to wear the capbadges and Full...
in 1994. The larger corps
Corps
A corps is either a large formation, or an administrative grouping of troops within an armed force with a common function such as Artillery or Signals representing an arm of service...
bands, as well as those of the Foot Guards
Foot Guards
-British Army:The Foot Guards are the Regular Infantry regiments of the Household Division of the British Army. There have been six regiments of foot guards, five of which still exist. The Royal Guards Reserve Regiment was a reserve formation of the Household Brigade in existence from 1900-1901...
and Household Cavalry
Household Cavalry
The term Household Cavalry is used across the Commonwealth to describe the cavalry of the Household Divisions, a country’s most elite or historically senior military groupings or those military groupings that provide functions associated directly with the Head of state.Canada's Governor General's...
, were known as Staff Bands, and were led by a commissioned Director of Music with a Bandmaster as his deputy. In 1994 the number of bands was reduced and all bands became Staff Bands, effectively putting an end to the appointment of 'Bandsman' used in regimental line bands (the appointment in staff bands being known as 'Musician'). Bandmaster is an appointment held by a Warrant Officer Class 1, who has the designation WO1(BM) and wears a unique appointment badge of a crowned
Crown (headgear)
A crown is the traditional symbolic form of headgear worn by a monarch or by a deity, for whom the crown traditionally represents power, legitimacy, immortality, righteousness, victory, triumph, resurrection, honour and glory of life after death. In art, the crown may be shown being offered to...
lyre
Lyre
The lyre is a stringed musical instrument known for its use in Greek classical antiquity and later. The word comes from the Greek "λύρα" and the earliest reference to the word is the Mycenaean Greek ru-ra-ta-e, meaning "lyrists", written in Linear B syllabic script...
in a wreath
Wreath
A wreath is an assortment of flowers, leaves, fruits, twigs and/or various materials that is constructed to resemble a ring. They are used typically as Christmas decorations to symbolize the coming of Christ, also known as the Advent season in Christianity. They are also used as festive headdresses...
underneath the WO1's badge (the Royal Arms of the United Kingdom). The senior playing musician of the band is normally the Band Sergeant Major
Band Sergeant Major
Band Sergeant Major is the appointment held by the senior playing musician in a British Army or Royal Marines band, who holds the rank of Warrant Officer Class 2. The BSM also functions as the band's second senior non-commissioned officer after the Bandmaster and has various administrative duties...
(or Band Corporal Major in the Household Cavalry), a Warrant Officer Class 2, although WO1 bandmasters (who are also appointed as training instructors) are expected to play within sections as and when required.
Royal Marines Bands
Royal Marines Band Service
The Royal Marines Band Service is the musical wing of the Royal Navy. It currently consists of five Bands and its headquarters is the Royal Marines School of Music at HMS Nelson in Portsmouth dockyard.-History:...
have been led by commissioned Directors of Music for many years. Bandmaster is an appointment which may be held by a Warrant Officer Class 1 (WO1 BDMR), who is equivalent to an Army Bandmaster, or a Warrant Officer Class 2 (WO2 BDMR). The Corps Bandmaster is the senior Bandmaster of the Royal Marines and the chief non-commissioned adviser to the Principal Director of Music, Royal Marines.
Royal Air Force bands have also traditionally been led by commissioned Directors of Music. The Bandmaster is a Warrant Officer and fills the same position as the Army equivalent (RAF WOs do not hold appointments as do those in the other services). The senior playing musician, the Band Sergeant, is a Flight Sergeant
Flight Sergeant
Flight sergeant is a senior non-commissioned rank in the British Royal Air Force and several other air forces which have adopted all or part of the RAF rank structure...
.
The Salvation Army
Bandmaster is a non-commissioned (or local) officer rank in The Salvation ArmyThe Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
. A Salvation Army bandmaster is responsible for the ministry of a Salvation Army band and tends to the musical and spiritual development of the bandsmen and women. The Bandmaster is assisted by a Deputy Bandmaster, a Band Secretary, Band Sergeant and Band Treasurer. These roles are also non-commissioned officer ranks. The band may also have a Band Colour Sergeant and a Band Librarian. All of these roles will normally be undertaken by volunteer Salvationists who give their time and services free of charge. Charles Fry was the very first Salvation Army bandmaster.
Cruise Ships
The term Bandmaster is also used in the cruising industry to describe the onboard Musical Director. On Princess CruisesPrincess Cruises
Princess Cruises is a British-American owned cruise line, based in Santa Clarita, California in the United States. Previously a subsidiary of P&O Princess Cruises PLC, the company is now one of ten cruise ship brands operated by Carnival Corporation & PLC and accounts for approximately 19% share...
for example the Bandmaster is responsible for musical direction for all onboard theatre shows with guest artists and for production shows, writing and arranging for the orchestras as well as band discipline.