Central Band of the Canadian Armed Forces

The Central Band of the Canadian Armed Forces (French: Musique Centrale des Forces Armées Canadiennes) is one of six full-time Regular Force military bands in the Canadian Armed Forces. It is also the seniormost military band in the CAF. The band provides professional musical support for the representative institutions of the Canadian Forces, supporting the Department of National Defence and the Government of Canada in events throughout the National Capital Region.

Central Band of the Canadian Armed Forces
Musique Centrale des Forces Armées Canadiennes
The CAF Central Band at Air Canada Centre for the opening ceremony of the 2017 Invictus Games.
Active1968 (1968)
Country Canada
Branch Canadian Armed Forces
 Royal Canadian Air Force
TypeMilitary band
Size41-piece band
Part ofCanadian Forces Support Unit
HeadquartersCFB Uplands, Ottawa
Nickname(s)CAF Central Band
Websitewww.forces.gc.ca/en/caf-community-bases-wings-cfsu-ottawa/services.page
Commanders
Commanding Officer and Director of MusicCaptain John Fullerton
Senior Warrant OfficerWarrant Officer Christine Labbé
Notable
commanders		Jack Kopstein (assistant director from 1979–1981)[1]

The Central Band of the CAF plays by permission of the Commandant of Canadian Forces Support Unit in Ottawa[2] and, like all Regular Force military bands, is composed solely of auditioned, military-qualified musicians. Because of its previous history as the Royal Canadian Air Force's premier band, musicians parade and attend functions in the RCAF's uniform.[3]

History

The band was originally created in 1940 as the Central Band of the RCAF (Royal Canadian Air Force). By 1964, the Central Band of the RCAF became the only Air Force band in service prior to the Unification of the Canadian Armed Forces. In February 1968, the RCAF band merged with the Royal Canadian Horse Artillery Band to become the National Band of the Canadian Armed Forces, which had servicemen from the Army, Navy, and Air Force in its ranks. Its first performance was given at a NATO festival in 1968.[4] It was given its current name in 1970.[5][6] Under its first director of music Lieutenant Commander William J Gordon[7], the band established itself as a senior band in the Canadian Forces, performing with the United States Army Field Band at Centennial Concert Hall in Winnipeg in 1970.[8] In 1974, Lynn Hong, who was the first woman to join a military band in Canada, joined the band at the request of Major Derek Stannard.[9] In March 1991, as Operation Desert Storm was being honored by the Toronto Blue Jays in a ceremony titled WELCOME HOME!, the central band threw the first ball as they were opening the team's first game of the season.[10]

List of directors
  • Lieutenant Commander William J Gordon (1968–1972)
  • Major Derek Stannard (1972–1995)[11][12][13]
  • Major Denis Bouchard (1995–?)
  • Major Gerry Heslip (2004–2008)[14]
  • Major Brian Greenwood (2008–2010)
  • Captain Steve Archibald (2010–2012)
  • Major Dave Shaw (2012–2016)
  • Captain John Fullerton (2016–Present)

Recognition and activities
A trumpeter with CF Central Band during the Remembrance Day celebrations at National War Memorial in Ottawa.

For over 70 years, the Central Band of the Canadian Armed Forces has provided professional musical support for military and Government of Canada events. The band regularly performs for Canadian Royalty, the Governor General of Canada and Prime Minister of Canada, as well as foreign Heads of State, and government. It has also performed at many public concerts throughout Canada and around the world. The band used to give annual performances during the changing of the guard ceremony on Parliament Hill each summer until 1979 when those duties were assumed by the Band of the Ceremonial Guard. It also takes part in the Swearing-in ceremony of the Governor General of Canada.[15][16] The band has also toured Europe frequently and has made appearances at several NATO music festivals. The band performed alongside the Band of Royal 22nd Regiment during the 2017 Invictus Games opening and closing ceremony.[17][18]

Composition

The following ensembles serve within the CAF Central Band:[19]

  • Concert Band
  • Parade Band
  • Rotorhead
  • Big Band
  • Jazz ensemble
  • String Ensemble
  • Brass Quintet
  • Woodwind Quintet
  • Cormorant Chamber Trio

Nine members of the band constitute the Canadian Forces String Ensemble who regularly perform at functions of the Governor General at Rideau Hall. On occasion, it is augmented with flute and clarinet players.[5]

Albums

The CAF Central Band has released the following albums:[20]

  • Les Francais (1975)
  • Voisee (1983)
  • Canada Remembers (1996)
  • Canada 1867 (Unknown)
  • Canadian Forces Present The Central Band (Unknown)
  • Show Stoppers For Band (Unknown)

See also

References
  1. https://militarymusic.com/blogs/military-music/13516177-jack-kopstein-bio
  2. "The Central Band of the Canadian Armed Forces | Ingenium". ingeniumcanada.org. Retrieved 2020-08-04.
  3. Hammond, Catherine (2005). "The Central Band of the Canadian Forces". The Journal of the Canadian Band Association. 3: 53–56 – via ProQuest.
  4. https://books.google.com/books?id=I7IIAQAAMAAJ&q=director+of+the+Central+Band+of+the+Canadian+armed+Forces&dq=director+of+the+Central+Band+of+the+Canadian+armed+Forces&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiW5c2R0c_mAhUHVs0KHbpzA5IQ6AEIKDAA
  5. http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/m/article/bands-emc/
  6. https://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/4/7/m15-279-e.html
  7. https://books.google.com/books?id=JHnJCwAAQBAJ&pg=PT214&dq=National+Band+of+the+Canadian+Armed+Forces,&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwip2afO7MvmAhXEp1kKHXqzCxAQ6AEILTAB#v=onepage&q=National%20Band%20of%20the%20Canadian%20Armed%20Forces%2C&f=false
  8. https://books.google.com/books?id=2LMIAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA8&dq=National+Band+of+the+Canadian+Armed+Forces,&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwip2afO7MvmAhXEp1kKHXqzCxAQ6AEINTAC#v=onepage&q=National%20Band%20of%20the%20Canadian%20Armed%20Forces%2C&f=false
  9. https://curve.carleton.ca/system/files/etd/995a2466-839e-48f5-bdc9-9ce5a82c09f9/etd_pdf/2a3f4fa47622f5a74b67b1419d5e8e42/alaimo-musicalperformanceinthecanadianmilitaryapreliminary.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwiS_9uUvO_nAhUIPK0KHRy8C404KBAWMAJ6BAgIEAE&usg=AOvVaw0ggxuvLW8ec0D2BwQzD6cT
  10. https://books.google.com/books?id=4drL0pEFUDYC&pg=PA257&dq=Central+Band+of+the+Canadian+Armed+Forces&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjqp8iI78vmAhXhs1kKHT1DCAQ4ChDoATABegQIARAL#v=onepage&q=Central%20Band%20of%20the%20Canadian%20Armed%20Forces&f=false
  11. https://theheritageofmilitarymusic.com/military-musicians
  12. https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1995-11-30-9511290729-story,amp.html
  13. https://books.google.com/books?id=frrdJbRm9ZgC&q=Derek+Stannard+canadian+forces.&dq=Derek+Stannard+canadian+forces.&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjC4-rsitXmAhXXXc0KHdt_DZMQ6AEILjAB
  14. https://www.kendormusic.com/cc6/composers/composers-h/gerald-heslip.html
  15. https://ingeniumcanada.org/aviation/whats-on/central-band-canadian-armed-forces.php
  16. https://ingeniumcanada.org/aviation/whats-on/central-band-canadian-armed-forces.php
  17. https://www.defense.gov/observe/photo-gallery/igphoto/2002038172/
  18. http://www.invictusgames2017.com/closing-ceremony-highlights/
  19. http://www.forces.gc.ca/en/caf-community-bases-wings-cfsu-ottawa/services.page#caf-central-band
  20. https://www.discogs.com/artist/2698210-The-Central-Band-Of-The-Canadian-Forces?noanv=1
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