Sunday Bandstand 21 March 2021

Sunday Bandstand 21 March 2021

Hermann Ludwig Blankenburg (14 November 1876 – 15 May 1956 was a German composer of military marches.

He was born with the middle name Louis but changed it to Ludwig later in life perhaps as a connection to Beethoven. He was raised on a sheep farm and was expected to someday manage the farm. However, he showed a propensity for music starting with performing on the piccolo - a favourite instrument his entire life. His family agreed on his studying music as long as he promised to serve in the army for 12 years.

He taught himself to play various instruments including bassoon, tuba, and violin and he conducted his school orchestra at the age of 10. He served actively in the military for two years 1896-1898, performing tuba in the band of the 6th Field Artillery Regiment in Breslau. After that, his only service was prior to and during the early years of World War I in reserve bands. In 1913 he performed tuba in Field Artillery Regiment No. 43 in Wesel until 1915 when he got a medical discharge.

He played in and conducted community bands as well as performing in the orchestras in Dortmund, Wuppertal, and Duisburg. He also worked as a bricklayer and a policeman for a short time. His personal life was full of turmoil. In 1917 he was arrested by the military police from his former regiment for "deserting his family". He married Magdalena Weidmann in 1898. In 1920 he married Käthe Trauthoff and was then arrested for bigamy.

In 1904, a march he had written years before was submitted to a Hawkes & Son march competition. His was chosen as the winner, from over 500 submitted, with the proviso the title be changed from ‘Germany's Princes to ‘The Gladiators' Farewell. The march became popular, and Hawkes (also Boosey & Hawkes) would publish several more.

A few months before his 81st birthday, he intended to compose another march, but he died in 1956 before completing the piece. He wrote over 300 marches and over 100 of those have been recorded. In this show we are featuring his 'Flying Eagle' march which was published in 1914.

 

Playlist  21 March 2021

Recording Details 

Rhythm and Blues – Philip Sparke   Opening for weekly show Foden's Band MD: Michael Fowles - 2010  'Patrons' Choice III' - CD - Egon CD-SFZ154 - 2010
Hail to the Spirit of Liberty  - J. P. Sousa Brass Band of Columbus (USA) MD: Dr. Paul Droste - 2000  'Americans We' - CD - BBC - 2000
Kings Messenger - George Lloyd Eikanger Bjorsvik Musikklag (Norway) MD: Howard Snell - 1995  'Kings Messenger' -CD - Doyen recording DOY CD047 - 1995
Czech Polka - Johann Strauss arr. Denis Wright Black Dyke Mills Band MD: James Watson - 1996  
Ad Optimum - Peter Graham Brass Band Buizingen (Belgium) MD: Luc Vertommen - 2004  'Ad Optimum' - CD - Mirasound Amersfort Netherlands STEMRA 88470-2 - 2004
Dance of the Goblins - Antonio Bazzini arr. Simon Oliver Euphonium Soloist Gary Curtin with the Foden's Band MD: Michael Fowles - 2020  'Eire Time' - CD - SP&S Doyen Recording DOY CD401 - 2020
Shenandoah - Folk Song arr. Leonard Ballantine International Staff Band of the Salvation Army BM: Stephen Cobb - 1997  'Manuscripts' - CD - SP&S 114CD - 1997
Polly Wolly Doodling  - Traditional arr. Frank Bryce Fairey Engineering Band MD:  Kenneth Dennison - 1978  'Champion Brass' - Vinyl - BBC REC302 - 1978
The Spirit of the Celts - Ronan Hardiman arr. Frank Bernaerts Brass Band Willebroek (Belgium) MD: Frans Violet - 2002  'Sparkling Brass' - CD - Bernaerts Recording BR 2002-023 - 2002
The Blessing - William Himes  London Citadel Band (Canada) BM: John Lam 2008          'The Blessing' - CD -    SA-LCB 28 - 2008
The Flying Eagle -  Hermann Blankenburg  arr. Aubrey Winter  Dearham Brass Band MD: Mark Condron - 2006  'Dearham Brass Band - A Tribute' - CD - 2006
Labour and Love - Percy Fletcher Grimethorpe Colliery (UK Coal) Band MD: Elgar Howarth  - 2004  'The History of Brass Band Music - The Early Years 1850-1920' - CD - Doyen Recording DOY CD162 - 2004
Una Furtiva Lagrima (A Furtive Tear) from  the opera L'elisir d'amore - Gaetano Donizetti arr. Thomas Wyss Cornet Soloist Russell Gray with the Brass Band De Bazuin Oenkerk MD: Klaas van der Woude - 1992  'Whirligig' - CD - KK CD9204 - 1992
Final Countdown and Loves Changes Everything - Tempest / Lloyd Webber arr. David Cole Fodens Richardson Band and the Band of the Royal Marines MD: David Cole - 2003   'Britannia Salute' - CD - Egon b+h sforza SFZ 120 - 2003
Hymn of the Highlands (II)Dundonnell - Philip Sparke Fountain City Brass Band (US) MD: Jason Reinhart - 2004  'The Best of the US Open Brass Band Championships' - CD - 
Selections From 'Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King' arr. Philip Harper Whitburn Band MD: Andrew Duncan  - 2005  'Young ast Heart' - CD - International Music Publications 10132A - 2005
Royal Salute - Philip Sparke Black Dyke Band MD: Dr. Nicholas Childs - 2008  'Music for Battle Creek' - Anglo Records AR 022-3 - 2008
Kaiser Waltz Op 437 - Johann Strauss ll arr. Gregor Grant  Black Dyke Mills Band MD: James Watson - 1996   'Strauss Festival' - CD - Obrasso Recording - CD859 - 1996
Barnard Castle - Goff Richards  Mount Charles Band MD: Bryan Hurdley -   'Full spectrum' - CD - Mount Charles Band CD1 - 
The Red Pennant - Darrol Barry Brass Band Willebroek (Belgium) MD: Frans Violet - 2008  'Kings of Brass' - CD - Bernaets Music BR2008.038 - 2008
Rhythm and Blues – Philip Sparke   Closing for weekly show Foden's Band MD: Michael Fowles - 2010​  'Patrons' Choice III' - CD - Egon CD-SFZ154 - 2010

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