Help
Skip to main content

US TARIFFS UPDATE | August 2025 | No impact expected on your Presto orders | Read full details

British Classics

The Central Band of the Royal Air Force, Wing Commander Duncan Stubbs

British Classics
With such brilliant performances recorded vividly, there is no risk of the sequence outstaying its welcome. Pure delight for anyone in love with English folk music

British Classics

The Central Band of the Royal Air Force, Wing Commander Duncan Stubbs

Purchase product

CD

$18.50

Usually despatched in 3 - 4 working days

Download

From$10.00

Download

Audio formats guide

96 kHz, 24 bit, FLAC/ALAC/WAV

$15.50

44.1 kHz, 16 bit, FLAC/ALAC/WAV

$12.25

320 kbps, MP3

$10.00

This release includes a digital booklet

Stream now Hi-RES 96 kHz, 24 bit
With such brilliant performances recorded vividly, there is no risk of the sequence outstaying its welcome. Pure delight for anyone in love with English folk music

About

This new recording with The Central Band of the Royal Air Force, conducted by Wing Commander Duncan Stubbs, features some of the greatest British pieces in the repertoire. The first military band to broadcast on BBC Radio, and the most frequently featured on the airwaves nowadays, it is at the forefront of military band and contemporary wind ensemble recording. Wing Commander Duncan Stubbs, the Band’s conductor, comments: ‘In the late 1980s I was a bassoonist in The Central Band, performing on a previous recording of music by Holst, Vaughan Williams, and Grainger. To be the Principal Director of Music and conductor on this new recording marks the culmination of an ambition and a significant high point in my Royal Air Force career. The music represents some of the most iconic wind band repertoire, Holst’s Suites in particular having close links to our military heritage. Including Langford’s Rhapsody also continues our record of ‘firsts’ achieved by a British military band, similar events having been the first radio broadcast and the first LP recording. I am hopeful that this disc will continue the proud tradition of musical excellence that is synonymous with The Central Band of the Royal Air Force, the band that it is my immense privilege to conduct.’

Contents and tracklist

I. March, "Seventeen come Sunday"
Track length3:25
II. Intermezzo "My Bonny Boy"
Track length3:41
III. March "Folk Songs from Somerset"
Track length3:52
I. Chaconne. Allegro moderato
Track length5:17
II. Intermezzo. Vivace
Track length2:58
III. March. Tempo di Marcia
Track length3:08
I. March. Allegro. "Morris Dance"
Track length4:45
II. Song without Words, "I'll love my love"
Track length2:18
III. Song of the Blacksmith. Moderato e maestoso
Track length1:18
IV. Fantasia on the Dargason. Allegro moderato
Track length3:23
I. Lisbon
Track length1:25
II. Horkstow Grange
Track length2:53
III. Rufford Park Poachers
Track length4:07
IV. The Brisk Young Sailor
Track length1:44
V. Lord Melbourne
Track length3:33
VI. The Lost Lady Found
Track length2:28
I. Jenny Pluck Pears
Track length3:02
II. Ten Pound Lass
Track length1:15
III. Dick's Maggot
Track length2:31
IV. Nonesuch
Track length1:46
V. Hunt the Squirrel
Track length3:40
VI. Woodicock
Track length1:39

Awards and reviews

June 2015

With such brilliant performances recorded vividly, there is no risk of the sequence outstaying its welcome. Pure delight for anyone in love with English folk music

Classical Music May 2015

Holst’s two suites are marvels of concision and inventiveness, and work well alongside Vaughan Williams and Grainger in nostalgic vein
View download progress