The Band Of HM Royal Marines Scotland
Usher Hall, Edinburgh

RECENTLY we have become aware of the need to find an appropriate Scottish national anthem.

Two contenders figured in this programme given by the Band of the Royal Marines from Rosyth and a chorus from Edinburgh’s Gilbert and Sullivan society.

'God Save the Queen' opened and 'Highland Cathedral' was performed later in the evening. The former - what with its 1745 anti-Scottish background - seems unlikely to prevail, but it does no harm to remember that it set the precedent which made other countries want to have national anthems.

Captain Tony Smallwood and his players laid on a richly varied bill of fare, alternating and in some cases combining to fine effect with David Lyle and his G&S chorus.

Well-established favourites like Ansell’s 'Plymouth Hoe' overture and Sousa’s 'Stars and Stripes Forever' march brought out the best qualities of the band and the available repertoire. Big band items - 'The Best of Broadway' and 'Sounds Like Sinatra' - were well enough played, but over-enthusiastic percussionists did tend at times to swamp the general sound.

The chorus emerged with a fair amount of credit - even although soloists in The Pirates of Penzance selection had a long way to project from the depths of the organ gallery.

What better than 'A Life on the Ocean Wave' to bring the evening’s entertainment to an appropriate conclusion.

SANDY SCOTT