The Flute Band:
an ULSTER musical tradition
By Andrew C. Rowan F.L.C.M., L.L.C.M.
There is nothing so stirring as the sound of a good part flute band, playing some of the best known flute band marches to the accompaniment of an effective drum corps. Anyone who has watched a parade in Northern Ireland will undoubtedly have seen and heard a band of some sort. This being so, the band tradition, and particularly as it involves flute bands, is now regarded as having an important part in the cultural heritage of Ulster.
The history of these bands goes back to the early part of the 19th Century. The military bands of this period had, as an integral part of the music, a flute band. These bands used the "simple system" Bb flutes (five and six keyed) and the F flute. As these flutes were relatively cheap to buy and were readily available, the Ulster flute bands came slowly into existence. These bands modelled their playing style on the army bands in that they initially played military style music. Not only was the music similar to that of the army bands, but they paraded in a martial style. Of course as they were seen with the Orange parades of the time and with other community parades, these bands soon became very popular with the general public.
Some of the oldest flute bands in Ulster today can be traced back to this period: bands such as Churchill (Londonderry, 1835); Hamiliton (Londonderry, 1851); Johnston Star (Newtownabbey, 1858); Ballygowan (1876); Corcrain (Portadown, 1879) and Hunter Memorial (Newry, 1884).
As time went by, the Eb flute and Eb piccolo were introduced to the band scene. Again, this was possibly the direct result of the influence of the military concert bands, which had now started to use Eb and Db flutes.
The introduction of these flutes gave an added dimension to the sound of the Ulster flute band. With the later introduction of the Bb Bass flute, the standard Ulster part flute band had reached its zenith.
The music used by the bands was, on the whole, arrangement of orchestral and brass band music, and military marches. The music of the famous German and American composers would also soon be heard on the streets of Ulster.
Some Ulstermen were inspired to compose their own marches, and here we would remember with the highest regard great men of the past such as W.B. Blythe, John Murdie, Harry Gillespie, Alfie Perrin and William Love. These men provided music which is to the present day the backbone of the marching Ulster flute band.
With the introduction of the C and G System in the middle 1960's, the modern part flute band has come a long way since the early days of the old "simple system". An important part of the flute band scene today is the contest work which was initiated in 1907. With the modern range of flutes, the repertoire of music now available is extensive.
Of course, the other type of flute band, better known as the "melody" or "blood and thunder" band, has also been around for a long time. These bands play rousing Orange music to the accompaniment of some excellent, and probably loud, percussion. "The Troubles" have seen an upsurge of these melody flute bands all over the country, and the style and deportment of most of these bands is now very commendable.
Of late the style of playing has also started to change. Many of these bands are going back to the old part music and some are actually playing in two or three parts. Maybe some day we shall see the introduction of concert flutes and piccolos into the instrumentation: only time will tell.
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