The Australian Boer War Memorial
Anzac Parade Canberra

 
 
Australian Piano Music Commemorating the Boer War

When war broke out between Britain and two Dutch South African republics in 1899, colonial defence units as well as civilians throughout Australia volunteered their services to the Empire. The Australian Regiment was formed by the amalgamation of companies from New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania. Piano pieces were written to commemorate the service of Australians during the Boer War. These piece fall into the four basic categories, namely marches, drawing room music, songs and battle pieces.

The march titles include The Transvaal War March by EM Town, dedicated to the Australian Contingent and The Grand Patriotic March by JW Juncker, published by John Hunter.

The Transvaal War March The Grand Patriotic March

The dances of the pieces were the popular dances of the day and include Bushmen's Contingent Polka by George Castleden and Transvaal Schottische by Charles Wallings,

Bushmens Contingent Polka Transvaal Schottische

Pretoria Waltz by A Gaynor and Victory Waltz by Ettie Black,

Pretoria Waltz Victory Waltz

Ladysmith Waltz by Evangeline Davies and Khaki Waltz by E Augusta Rudder, dedicated to the First Australian Bushmen's Contingent.

Ladysmith Waltz Khaki Waltz

Songs include To Arms! Australians by Harry A. Nathan, words by K.S. Dillon, published by McCullagh and Co, Flinders Street, Townsville, copyright 1900, Arm Australians; Australian War Song, by I.J.Bishop, dedicated to the Bushmen's Corp and the Australian Coningents, published by Howells Young, 55 Rundle Street, Adelaide, copyright 1900,

To Arms! Australians Arm Australians

The Call to Arms! A New and Original Patriotic Song, dedicated to The New South Wales Contingent for the Transvaal, published by John Hunter and Son, Boys of Australia; New Patriotic Song, by AW Gutman, music by Genge Wilson, dedicated to the Australian Contingent, published around 1900,

The Call to Arms! Boys of Australias

The Metal of Australia; song by R Darbyshire Roberts, published by W.H. Glen in Melbourne around 1900 and The Relief of Mafeking by Ettie Burns, with words by Mrs Henry Bell.

The Metal of Australia The Relief of Mafeking

There are several other songs. These can all by found by looking up the National Library Catalogue. Several of the songs are digitised.

Pianistic battle pieces written about contemporary battles that Britain was engaged in that were in the news were very popular as part of drawing room entertainment during the Victorian era in Britain and British colonies. They were highly marketable and attractive to the consumer who felt great national pride at Britain's military might and conquest. The battle piece was descriptive in character, always following a particular format. There were bugle calls, approach marches, cavalry charges, battle engagement, cannon fire, cries of the wounded enemy upon defeat, British patriotic songs and shouts of victory. It always ended with the British National Anthem or a British patriotic piece.

The battle piece encouraged audience participation. It often came with accompaniments for other instruments like the violin and cello. Military instruments could also be employed such as kettle drums, the horn and the trumpet where these appeared in the music. People listening could join in singing along with the songs in the music. They could also create the sound effects of galloping horses, flying bullets, swords clashing and cries of the wounded. Through the battle piece composed for piano, families could relive the event of Britain's victory over and over again in the drawing rooms of their homes.

Included among the battle pieces commemorating the South African War are Grand Military Fantasia Descriptive of the Relief of Ladysmith for Pianoforte by Landon Roberts and Grand Military Divertimento Descriptive of The Transvaal War for the Pianoforte by Garnet Garfield. The sections in Landon Roberts' battle piece are as follows: British Retire from Dundee, At Ladysmith (sunrise), General Sir George White orders a sortie against besieging Boers, Cavalry Trumpet, Cavalry Advance, Naval Brigade, Song 'Sons of the Sea', British Surprised by Boers, The Attack, Creusot Guns, British 12 pounders, Stampede of Mules, British Disaster, Rejoicing of Boers (Boers' National Melody), Boer Artillery Shell Ladysmith, Long Tom, Anxiety of Besieged, Prayer, Band of General Buller's Relief Forces in Distance, Entry into Ladysmith, Grand March, British patriotic song Rule Britannia, British National Anthem God Save the Queen. Other British patriotic songs included are When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again and Red White and Blue.

Grand Military Fantasia Grand Military Divertimento

The sections of the battle piece by Garnet Garfield are as follows: War Declared, Excitement of the British Public, Departure of Colonial Troops for the Transvaal, Troops in the Distance, Troops Passing, Trumpets, At Port Melbourne, Farewell, God Be With You, All on Board, Call, Whistle of the Troop Ship, Last Bell, Departure of the Troop Ship, She's Off, Song 'A Life on the Ocean Wave', Storm Effects, Dawn on the Veldt, Bugle Call (Prayer), Boers' Camp, Prayer, Distant Guns, Guns, Guns, Guns, Prayer Interrupted, Shells, British Artillery Open Fire on Boer Position, Alarm and Consternation, Ansering Call, Advance of Troops, Gordon Highlanders and Pipers, 'Cock o' North', Colonial Troops in the Front, 'The Green Grass Grew All Round', Victorian Troop Song, The Din of War, Naval Guns, Retreat of Boers, Guns, Guns, Guns, After the Battle, Trumpets, Triumphal March, British patriotic song to end 'Rule Britannia.'

As can be seen in the times when there was no electric media such as radio, television, DVDs and computers, the battle piece and other military pieces were used as a source of news and entertainment. They had an agenda of stirring up patriotism, public favour towards the war effort and summoning recruits. They showed pride and praise towards those men who had served in the war so gallantly, suffered courageously and offered up their lives. Military pianno pieces recording the South African War carry with them memory of the daring and spirited way the Australian colonial soldiers fought, while suffering at the same time unjust treatment and an attitude of superiority on the part of the British. In fact, it was the Australians who demonstrated superiority. Being of pioneer stock, they showed greater resourcefulness, ingenuity, intelligence, physical strength, individuality and fearless courage. They found their way around the country with greater efficiency and mobility and they bound all these attributes and skill in a greater sense of humour. Military piano pieces about the South African War provide evidence of a developing Australian identity. When played in the drawing rooms of Australian families and particularly in the case of the South African battle pieces being enacted again and again, these pieces reinforced sentiments of Australian patriotism, identity, pride and courage every time they were performed.

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Dr Christina Whiteley, copyright 19 April 2014
Images courtesy the National Library of Australia


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RUSI of NSW Boer War Battlefields