World-premiere of new music for HMS Unicorn
Launched in 1824, HMS Unicorn is celebrating its 200th anniversary year. The Unicorn Preservation Society is delighted to announce the premiere of a new musical work to commemorate and celebrate Unicorn’s role as a training ship in the First World War “When the brazen bands shall play” is a new musical work for brass quintet, brass band and narrator. The Unicorn Preservation Society commissioned composer Michael Betteridge to create a piece of music utilising the very same instruments in Unicorn’s collection, restored for the project, that were used by bandsmen in the First World War, from which some did not return.
The musical work is part of the IWM 14-18 NOW Legacy Fund, a national partnership programme of over 20 artist commissions inspired by the heritage of conflict. Led by Imperial War Museums, the IWM 14-18 NOW Legacy Fund was created following the success of 14-18 NOW, the official UK arts programme for the First World War centenary. Rachel Donnelly, Head of Partnerships, Imperial War Museums, said: “Telling stories of war and conflict in new and relevant ways is at the heart of Imperial War Museums’ purpose. Through our IWM 14-18 NOW Legacy Fund, we are delighted to work in partnership with the Unicorn Preservation Society to share this musical composition by Michael Betteridge with audiences and highlight this important history.”
At the outbreak of the war in 1914, many of HMS Unicorn’s enlisted recruits were drafted straight to sea service. However, there were many more reservists than ships, so 156 of HMS Unicorn’s officers and ratings were instead sent to the trenches at the defence of Antwerp as infantry, part of the “Royal Naval Division”. They then went on to fight at Gallipoli, in the Balkans, and on the Western Front.
Some of these men were bandsmen in Unicorn’s own silver band, who found themselves in the Hood Battalion of the Royal Naval Division and sent to Belgium, where they became involved in the Siege of Antwerp (August – September 1914).
During the retreat from Antwerp, the band’s instruments had to be abandoned and were hidden in a cellar. After the war, they were rediscovered and returned to HMS Unicorn and remain in our collection. Some of these instruments have been repaired and will be played as part of this performance.
Composer Michael Betteridge stated:
“It’s been such a privilege to work with such unique instruments alongside brilliant and dedicated performers. This new work brings to life the stories and experiences of Dundonians around the time of the First World War. It’s been a real joy to dip into the archives and the history of this fantastic city and explore this through the wonderful sound of brass.”
Partnering with musical groups across Scotland including Dundee Instrumental Band, The Wallace Collection, Kingdom Brass, The University of St Andrews Music Centre, and Dundee City Pipe Band, the Unicorn Preservation Society is excited to premiere this eight movement piece by one of the UK’s leading composers. The piece will be performed alongside project archive footage and images from Imperial War Museum’s and HMS Unicorn’s own archives. Internationally renowned brass ensemble The Wallace Collection will perform on the over 100-year-old instruments that were saved from a basement in Antwerp, with the finale performed by Dundee Instrumental Brass. The instruments are all from the very early 20th century and manufactured by Besson in London. They have a different sound and a different feel that could be seen as old fashioned but are unique and special to these instruments, requiring a different technique to play than modern instruments.
Lainy McLean from the Dundee Instrumental Brass expressed the importance of the Band’s involvement in the project stating:“Dundee Instrumental Band have a long association with HMS Unicorn dating back over 100 years. We are honored to continue this association by having the opportunity to be involved in this amazing project by playing this exciting piece of music commissioned for us by Michael Betteridge.” While Katrina Marzella of Kingdom Brass said “Everyone at Kingdom Brass is delighted to be involved in such a unique and musically ambitious project. To deliver a premiere performance is one of the most exciting things you can do as a musician; we are all thrilled to perform in the final movement of Michael Betteridge’s fantastic piece.”
Some 20 men who trained on Unicorn were killed during the First World War. Their names are listed on our War Memorial. Three of these men were bandsmen and have dedicated movements in the work. They are Andrew Buck, Victor Ferrar and Andrew C Smith, whose stories are integrated into the work. John Wallace of the Wallace Collection explained the presence he felt of the bandsmen in the piece stating “Michael’s piece is so evocative of this earth-shattering moment in all our histories. Playing it on the actual instruments from HMS Unicorn’s ship’s band is like holding history in our hands and playing the actual history itself.”
Alongside this performance, composer Michael Betteridge has been working with local school children in Dundee and Fife in collaboration with students from The University of St Andrews, supporting them to compose short solo works for solo brass instrument inspired by the sounds of HMS Unicorn.
Ellen Thomson who we have partnered with from the StAMP Project said “St Andrews Music Participation (StAMP) at the University of St Andrews is delighted to be a partner on this project and host the second performance of “When the brazen bands shall play”. Supporting the cultural heritage of brass playing is a core theme of our programme and we’ve enjoyed working with Michael Betteridge to explore the sounds of brass and raise awareness of this important part of our history with local schools.”
The World Premiere of “When the brazen bands shall play” will take place in Dundee at Discovery Point on Saturday 8th June 2024, followed by a pipe band procession to HMS Unicorn. A second performance will take place on Sunday 9th June at the Laidlaw Music Centre, University of St Andrews. Free tickets for the Dundee performance at Discovery Point and reception aboard HMS Unicorn can be purchased here https://www.hmsunicorn.org.uk/on-board/events/when-the-brazen-bands-shall-play-for-brass-quintet-and-brass-band
