Captain General, The

Written in honor of the the Captain General of the Royal Marines, this brisk march is full of dynamic twists and turns to keep you on your toes.

Genre: Band | # of Players: Standard
Level: 3.5 | Duration: 2:30

Instrumentation
Piccolo*
Flute
Oboe
Bb Clarinet 1
Bb Clarinet 2
Bb Clarinet 3
Bb Bass Clarinet
Bassoon 1
Bassoon 2*
Alto Saxophone 1
Alto Saxophone 2
Tenor Saxophone
Baritone Saxophone

Bb Cornet 1
Bb Cornet 2
Bb Cornet 3*
Horn in F 1
Horn in F 2
Horn in F 3
Horn in F 4*
Trombone 1
Trombone 2*
Trombone 3
Euphonium
(Baritone T.C.)
Tuba

String Bass*

Timpani
Snare Drum
Bass Dru
Crash Cymbals

Program Notes
On the 19th of December 1949, HM King George VI, then the Captain General Royal Marines, dined with the Officers of the Corps at the Savoy in London. Lieutenant Colonel Sir Vivian Dunn composed this march especially for the performance on this historic occasion by the Royal Marines orchestra Portsmouth Division. He later transcribed the work for military band.

The euphonium part at letter D shows optional small notes, an octave above the original. At the first run-through of the march, the euphonium player of the Royal Marines Band, feeling that the higher octave "made more musical sense," and in the belief that the composer was not present, played it that way. To his delight - and relief - he was congratulated by Sir Vivian and told to "keep it in."

Ever since euphonium players in British Royal Marines Bands tend to play the passage at the higher octave.