March of time – Norman Freeman on the centenary of the No 1 Army Band

One hundred years ago, on October 14th, the No 1 Army Band gave its first public performance. It was held in the Theatre Royal in Dublin, under the baton of Col Fritz Brase, the band’s first director.

In 1922, even as the Civil War was convulsing the country, the chief of staff of the newly formed National Army, Richard Mulcahy, began to consider the formation of a military band. In a rather oddly-worded statement, he called for “bands that will dispense music in the highest terms for the people”.

Mulcahy probably felt that a military band in imposing uniforms and with polished instruments would visibly enhance the public standing of the new army. It would project a public image of a well-ordered State.

He was looking for someone of significant achievement and reputation to set up an army school of music. There may have been suitable candidates of British background and tradition, but it seems Mulcahy wanted a non-British director. He found him in the person of Fritz Brase.

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This German had a long and distinguished career as a bandmaster and musical arranger in his own country. Born in 1875, he had graduated at the Leipzig conservatoire and the Berlin academy of music. He attained a leading position among bandmasters of the Imperial German Army. He provided bands for the Berlin police.

Latterly, he had been in charge of the band in one of the most prestigious regiments in the German Army during the first World War. In the gloom of defeat, he was discharged and found it hard to find a role that matched his credentials. He held some small musical posts.

When Glase arrived in Dublin on March 1923 he was accompanied by an assistant, Friedrich Sauerzweig, who had also been an eminent musical director in Germany. Glase was awarded the full rank, pay and conditions of a colonel while Sauerzweig was given a commission with the rank of captain.

From among the serving soldiers, they enlisted trainees who could play instruments or who showed musical talent. The sound of drums, trombones, trumpets, clarinets and other musical instruments was heard in the band room as Brase conducted long sessions of practice. By all accounts he was an exacting taskmaster, demanding high standards of musicianship. Within a few months he had set up the Army School of Music and formed the Army No 1 Band. Later the school also provided bands for the Southern and Western Commands as well as the Curragh training camp.

Under the directorship of Brase the No I Army Band toured the country, performing at festive events, both indoors and in public areas in towns and cities.

It also gave regular concerts for primary schools in the Dublin area. There are some old, dim film clips of it being conducted by Glaze with rapid jerky arm movements.

The band took part in the first broadcast of the national radio station, then called 2RN, in 1926. It became part of the scene on major occasions, providing music, colour and some pomp. It performed at the inauguration of the first president, Douglas Hyde.

Glase retired in 1940. He died the same year. At his military funeral at Mount Jerome Cemetery the No I Army Band played a farewell. He was succeeded by Sauerzweig who held the post of director of the School of Music from 1940 until his retirement, in 1947.

Since then, under the direction of a succession of eminent Irish officers, the band has grown in its standing and presence at state events. In its ceremonial uniform of black with red stripes and edging it continues to perform at all presidential inaugurations. It is seen and heard at Áras an Uachtaráin whenever ambassadors present their credentials. It provides the musical accompaniment on the National Day of Commemoration. As well as that, it plays tributes at state funerals.

The band came to worldwide attention when it played the British and Irish national anthems during Queen Elizabeth’s historic visit to the Garden of Remembrance in May 2011.

The centenary of the first public performance of the No I Army band will be commemorated at the annual Gala Concert of the Defence Forces to be held at the National Concert Hall, Dublin, on Sunday, October 15th.