Sunday Bandstand 25 August 2019

Sunday Bandstand 25 August 2019

Joseph John Richards was born August 27, 1878 in Cwmavon, Wales. His family immigrated to the United States four years later, settling in Peterson, Kansas. He began learning various brass instruments at the age of ten, progressing rapidly, playing in various amateur bands. At the age of nineteen he was appointed the leader of the Norton-Jones Circus Band, beginning a long career as bandmaster with numerous ensembles.

Richards’ first composition appeared in print in 1899; during this period, he began writing marches and other works, and certainly many of his early works were first performed by the bands that he led. His career as a circus bandleader culminated with his directorship of the Ringling Bros. Circus Band from 1911 through 1918.

During the circus off-seasons, Richards attended Kansas State Teachers College and the American Conservatory of Music. Beginning in the early 1920s, he taught school music and directed bands in various Illinois towns through 1944. In 1945, upon the death of Herbert L. Clarke, he was appointed director of the famed Long Beach, California Municipal Band, a post he held until 1950. Subsequently, Richards returned to Illinois in the spring and summer to lead the Mt. Morris Band while wintering in Long Beach. He died on March 16, 1956 in Long Beach.

Richards was highly regarded by his peers. He was elected to the American Bandmasters Association in 1939 and served as its president in 1948. He composed well over one hundred works that were published. The one we are featuring in this week's show is his 1928 march The Waltonian – one which still enjoys great popularity today..

Playlist 25 August 2019 

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
Washington Post - J.P.Sousa Brighouse and Rastrick Band MD: Gavin Lindsay - 2007  'Our Town' - CD - Obrasso Recording CD921 - 2007
The Torchbearer - Peter Graham  Foden's Band MD: Garry Cutt - 2009  'Foden's Live' - CD - 2009
Rejoice and be Glad - Joseph Turrin  New York Staff Band (USA) BM: Ron Waiksnoris - 2012  'Pressing Onwards - CD -  SP&S Recording - SP&S CD300 - 2012
Springtime Can Really Hang You Up The Most - Wolf & Landersmann arr. Martin Winter Cornet Soloist Philip Cobb with the Central Band of the Royal Airforce MD:  Wing Commander Duncan Stubbs - 2016  'Fantasy' - CD - SP & S CD366 - 2016
Calypso - Derek Bourgeois Rigid Containers Group Band MD: John Berryman - 1996  'Around the World in Eighty Minutes' - CD - Harlequin Recording HAR1128 - 1996
Serenade For Toni - Philip Sparke JJB Sports Leyland DAF Band MD: Richard Evans - 1998  'Harmony Music - The Music of Philip Sparke  Vol. 2' - CD - Polyphonic QPRL 089D - 1998
Repton (Dear Lord and Father of Mankind)  - Hubert Parry Box Hill City Band (Australia) MD: Dr. Matthew van Emmerik - 2014  'Box City Band 125 years' - CD - Potenza Music  - 2014 
James Bond Collection arr: Goff Richards David Urquhart Travel Yorkshire Imperial Band MD: Alan Exley - 1996  'Far and Away' - CD - Polyphonic QPRL077D 
Walkabout - Ray Woodfield  Buy As You View Cory Band MD: Dr. Robert Childs - 2003  'Discovery Brass' - CD - Obrasso Records 891 - 2003
Cabaret: selections from the musicals - John Kander & Fred Ebb arr: Alan Fernie  Brighouse and Rastrick Band MD: David Hirst - 2003  'Mission in Brass' - CD - Obrasso Recording CD 888 - 2003
Shylock - Thomas Lear Euphonium Soloist Morgan Griffiths with the Fairey FP (Music) Band MD: Howard Snell - 2003  'Virtuosi' - CD - Sounds of Brass SFZ115 - 2003
Death or Glory - Robert Browne Hall  Black Dyke Mills Band MD: Michael Antrobus - 2002  'World Famous Marches' - CD - Chandos Recording CHAN 6565 - 2002
Three Jolly Sailormen - Edrich Siebert  Cornet Trio with the All Star Brass Band MD: Harry Mortimer - 1952   'Paxton Recording' - January 1952
Slavonic March  Op31 - Tchaikovsky arr: Leonard Davis Massed Bands of Foden's Motor Works, Fairey Aviation Works and Morris Motors MD: Harry Mortimer - 1960s  'The World of Brass Bands Vol.3' - Vinyl - Decca Recording SPA306 - 
Musica Helvetica - Jan de Haan Brass Band Gloria Dei (The Netherlands) MD: Piet van der Heide - 2013  'Highlights of the World Brass Band Championships - 2013' - Double CD - World Wind Music ‎– 500.189 WWM - 2013
Sång Till Lotta - Jan Sandstrom  Bass Trombone Soloist Clare Farr with the Gothenburg Brass Band (Sweden) MD: Dr. Nicholas Childs - 2007  'In Perfect Peace' - CD - Doyen Recording DOY CD233 - 2007
The Northern Lights of Old Aberdeen - Mary Webb arr: Alan Duguid Regent Brass MD: Alan Duguid - 2012  'On a Mission' CD - www.regentbrass.com - 2012
Train Ride from Winter Holiday - Prokofiev CWS (Manchester) Band MD: Alex Mortimer  
The Waltonian - J.J.Richards Sellers International Band MD: Philip McCann - 2003  'Highlights of the 2003 Brass in Concert Championships' - CD - Doyen Recording  DOY CD172 - 2003
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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