T H E C O V E N A N T E R
ensured that it would never sound the same their conditions, it was apparent that they
again. Often they had their own names for had high status, for they were staying in a 4
pieces: e.g. The Maid of the Mountains was star hotel and not enjoying the pleasure of
called ‘The Whore from the Hills. ‘ the barracks and the cookhouse in Berlin. All
Many past bandsmen had ensured they of them were civilian professional musicians
would be remembered by drawing or writing who provided just musical services on a
on the permanent extra bags in their music TA basis for the Italian Air Force. Their l03
pads. Bill’s band had Dicky, the BM, drawn strong band, seventy in Berlin, made it
as an absurd cartoon with the words beneath always possible for them to provide a band
his feet: ‘Never in the history of music had without interfering with their jobs as
so much noise been made by so few to so lecturers, teachers and orchestral players. The
many.’ ‘bella figura’ tradition of the Italians meant
We were fortunate, too to have served within they looked splendid in their tailored light
the National Service period, allowing bands blue uniforms. Of course, Italy does not have
to use many conscript musicians while at the overseas service commitments of Britain
the same time providmg the socially useful and probably their system might not work
cross mix of society in the services. here. Other nations have fewer bands, even
We agree that the help given to us by the NS now and perhaps this means they have only
Ed Corps sergeants and other NS men was time for musical duties: the real solution
the key to passing our examinations. to the problem of musicians reluctance to
carry out military tasks. No doubt, in time,
Present Thoughts. KH will work out a compromise to minimise
Bill said he disliked the use of trumpets the military element in bands.
in military bands because their battlefield We concluded that our varied service as
sound disturbed the required harmonious army bandsman and the educational classes
sound. He further pointed out that Sousa presented to us gave us our opportunities
recommended the use of cornets in bands. that might have been denied to us had we
John said that many of the present remained in civilian life.
compositions and arrangements for bands John Curtis - Jim Furner - Bill Coughlan.
are scored for trumpets.
Although we accepted that band music, like
The Scottish Regiments
everythmg else is not static, we wished that
BACKGROUND
bands would play no louder than lovely and
Under the terms of the Defence White Paper
keep the blast of pop music at bay.
of summer 2004 Scotland’s six line infantry
The present service musicians, remain at
regiments will re-form as five battalions of
school unil eighteen, entering with Grades 7
the Royal Regiment of Scotland. Although
or 8, with diplomas or degrees are different
the historic names will be enshrined in the
from us. Such people are articulate, have had
operational battalions, to all intents and
better choices in life, want good conditions
purposes the change is as drastic as the
and, like the bandsmen of the past, do not
reforms of 1881 which brought the current
like doing military duties but they cannot
regiments into being. Few senior officers
escape the fact that their basic training
involved in the Future Structure of the
proves they are physically fit to be soldiers
Infantry believe that the names, or indeed
first. This is the past affecting the present,
the number of battalions, will survive much
for we also dislked doing military duties.
further into the 21st century. At present
One can argue that a soldier does not have
there are six line infantry regiments. In
to be musician why should a musician have
order of precedence they are:
to be a soldier? This dual role has always
The Royal Scots
deterred musicians joining the services.
The Royal Highland Fusiliers
We understand that, although there are now
The King’s Own Scottish Borderers
so few bands, recruitment is a major problem.
The Black Watch
Jim said the German army uses civilian
The Highlanders
professional musicians and such a job is one
The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
of prestige in Germany. A possible solution
In addition to these regiments Scotland also
to the recruitment problem Bill may have
possesses a foot guards regiment and an
discovered during breakfast conversation
armoured cavalry regiment. These are:
with two members of the Itaiian Air Force
The Scots Guards
Band at a Berlin hotel in 2002. Although
The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards
there was not time for him to understand

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