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Music For A Centenary Douglas Isle of Man
Brass and Voices of the Isle of Man
Douglas Corporation Centenary
Douglas Town Commissioners were formed in 1860 and laid the groundwork for the development of
the Town as we know it today. They helped the former small fishing port grow to a size and
level of prosperity where it was felt more appropriate for the local administration to hold the
grader status of "Municipal Corporation", and so, following the passing by Tynwald, the Island's
parliament, of the Douglas Municipal Corporation Act, 1895, the Douglas Corporation came into
being in 1896 to replace the old Board of Commissioners.
At that time, as now, the Corporation had a vital role in maintaining and improving the
environment on the tow, and it immediately took up where the Commissioners had left off,
clearing unsanitary accommodation, providing water, electricity and sanitary services, building
new public sector housing and promoting the then infant tourism industry for the benefit of
residents. Some of these functions have since been taken over by the Island's central
government, others remain part of the Corporation's overall responsibility, while still more
functions have been taken on over the years. The Corporation has changed in constitution - the
elimination of the office of Alderman in 1989 was one important factor, the occasional removal
to central Government of responsibility for various functions another - but it continues to
provide effective and reliable services in the fields of refuse collection, parks and leisure
facilities, street cleaning, car parks, housing, drainage, building control, environmental
health, and many others.
On 2nd March 1996, the Corporation celebrated the centenary of its first public Council Meeting
with a special meeting. The endeavours and foresight of all those who had served in the past
as Members of the Council were recognised and a commitment made to continue to serve the Town
with the provision of high-quality cost-effective services geared to the needs of the ratepayers.
During the following twelve months, a number of special commemorative events were held, one of
the most significant being on Sunday, 15th December, 1996, when the specially composed
"Music for a Centenary (Douglas, I.O.M.)", by Derek Broadbent received its premiere
public performance to great acclaim from the invited guests and audience at a concert in the
Villa Marina. Douglas Corporation is now pleased to make this wonderful piece of music
available to a wider audience throught the medium of this compact disc.
Music for A Centenary (Douglas I.O.M.) Incorporating "This Island
Home"
The Douglas Corporation is proud and pleased to present this commemorative CD of a unique event
in its 100 year history and featuring the talents of some of the Isle of Man's best music
makers. The Centenary Committee's intentions in producing this recording are to make more
widely available the excellent music which received very popular acclaim on its first
performance. Also the creation of this recording will prove to be a valuable item of
memorabilia of a unique event - the 100th birthday of Douglas Corporation.
Also featured on this recording are the musical composing, arranging and conducting talents of
Derek M. Broadent. Derek is no stranger to the Isle of Man and to Douglas in particular, as
being the Musical Advisor to the Manx National Youth Band and Manx Concert Brass he has spent
many happy hours in the town on his teaching and training visits. In addition, Derek has been
responsible for producing the musical content of this recording, the quality of which reflects
his own professional high standards and skills.
Following a visit in 1994 to the Mayor's Parlour Derek Broadbent kindly offered to compose a
special item to commemorate the then forthcoming Centenary for the Douglas Corporation.
The end product was entitled "Music for a Centenary (Douglas I.O.M.) - Incorporating This
Island Home" and is Derek's own personal tribute to the Island's capital and a personal
thank you for many happy times spent on the Island rehearsing with the bands. Incorporated
into Music for a Centenary is the anthem "This Island Home" to words of which
specially reflect the feelings that Derek has for our treasured and beautiful Isle of Man.
The intention of the music is quite simply to reflect the various facets of Douglas from its
ceremonial to its tourist and commercial associations - and not least the clip-clop of the
Douglas Corporation horse trams as the travel Douglas Promenade in the summer months.
The Bells of Old Kirk Braddan
Miss M. L. Wood was a fine and accomplished music teacher on the Island during the latter part
of the last century and the first part of the 20th century. She died in 1925 at the grand old
age of 84 and was regarded by that time as the mother figure of Manx music. Her music
collection was donated to the Douglas Public Library and a memorial plaque is still in place to
this day in the entrance lobby. She was an active supporter in founding the Manx Music Festival
and was the organist of various local churches, including Kirk Braddan. Kirk Braddan has strong
associations with the Borough of Douglas as parts of Douglas are in the ancient parish of
Braddan. In the halcyon days of tourism thousands would make the journey from Douglas to Kirk
Braddan during the summer months for the popular Sunday morning open-air services. People
would walk, take the steam train or even the Douglas Corporation yellow buses! This delightful
item has been arranged for the band and choir by Derek Broadbent and features Mr. Allan
Wilcocks, the conductor of the Regal Singers, as the bass soloist.
Good Times
This item featuring the bands has been composed by Derek Broadbent especially for this recording
and its happy relaxed style reflects the good times had by many in Douglas in the past and
indeed the good times to be enjoyed for the next 100 years.
Ellan Vannin
In 1896, the year of the incorporation of the Borough, Messrs Boosey & Co published a song which
was to become very dear to all associated with the Island. With words by Eliza Craven Green and
music by J. Townsend, Ellan Vannin (Dear Isle of Man) became the unofficial national song of the
Isle of Man second only to the Manx National Anthem. It was a tradition for bands and choirs to
close their summer concerts in Douglas with this haunting ballad, the words of which are
complementary to the sentiments already expressed in "This Island Home". The vocal
setting by Maurice Jacobson and the arrangement for band and choir is by Ian Clague.
Music for a Centenary: Reprise
We close this section with another chance to hear Derek Broadbent's fine composition dedicated
to the Borough by the composer. The original manuscript is now framed and hangs on proud
display in the Town Clerk's Department at the Town Hall, Douglas.
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