Newfoundland Volunteer's Band March

Composer: William Stacey

(dates unknown)
Choirmaster, Conductor, Composer, Organist, Professor of Music.

William Stacey was an important figure in the 1860s St. John's music scene in Newfoundland. Not only was he the organist/choirmaster at the Congregational Church on Queen's Road, but he also conducted the Queen's Own Volunteer Rifle Brigade band. As choirmaster, his vocal group performed at "church tea meetings" as well as formal concerts. One such 1861 concert, held in the lecture room of the Church, was billed as "Vocal and Instrumental Sacred Music." A similar concert held in the Masonic Hall, was so popular that the public demanded it be performed again the following evening. The program included music from Handel's Messiah, and Mendelssohn's Elijah. These concerts encouraged other musical ensembles to provide public concerts. Stacey is listed as a "professor of music" in Hutchinson's 1864 directory of St. John's.

Composed in 1861, Stacey dedicated Newfoundland Volunteer's Band March and Quick Step to "His Excellency Sir Alexander Bannerman Governor and Commander in Chief." Previous to his posting in Newfoundland (1857-1864) Governor Bannerman had been both lieutenant-governor in PEI and governor of the Bahamas. Stacey's composition was published and sold through Chisholm's Book Store located on Water Street. It became very popular and was still performed half a century later. Around 1900, it was arranged for the Loyal Orange Band in Carbonear and in 1906, Charles Hutton of Hutton's Music reissued it.

Sources:

• Nfld Banks Hutchinson's directory Access Date: 26/01/2003
• Woodford, Paul. 1987. A Newfoundland Songbook: A Collection of Music by Historic Newfoundland Composers 1820-1942. St. John's: Creative Publishers.
• ----. 1988. We Love the Place O Lord: A History of the Written Musical Tradition of Newfoundland and Labrador to 1949. St. John's: Creative Publishers.