Royal Barbados Police Band
Encyclopedia
The Royal Barbados Police Band has been a prominent musical group in Barbados
since its foundation in 1889 and is one of the oldest police bands in the world. Police bands are common throughout the Anglophone Caribbean
, and are known for playing a wide variety of Caribbean music
, as well as marches and popular songs.
When the RBPF was first established it was with a complement of 19 serving Policemen. At that time they wore regulation police uniforms, and their selection was due to the love for music and the knowledge of the art.
The first Bandmaster was Mr. Willocks who came to the Island with the 2nd. Battalion of the West Riding Regiment, as its Bandmaster.
In 1914, Major Emmanuel Bennernagel of the British Guiana Militia Band was appointed as Bandmaster, and took it on its first overseas tour to St. Lucia in 1945.
Captain Charles E. Raison, A.R.C.M replaced Mr. Bennernagel in 1946, and since then the band has had a number of Directors of Music which included, Lt. William Griesley, L.R.A.M., Lt. Joseph Griffith, L.R.A.M. Mr. Prince Cave, A.R.C.M., Mr. Gordon Lovell, L.R.S.M. L.T.C.L. and Mr. Kenrick Moore, L.T.C.L., A.V.C.M.
In 1967 the music of the Barbados National Anthem
was re-arranged by Inspector Prince Cave. He gave the Anthem a more sustained harmony while at the same time retaining the original tune. Christopher Atherly, currently the director of the Royal Barbados Police Band is also an excellent clarinetist, having studied with Professor Sherman Friedland, Chair of the Music Department of Concordia University in Montreal, Canada, which Mr Atherly received a degreem from in the late 1980s. He was an outstanding student and performed in many recital and concerts while a student at Concordia University in Montreal, Canada.
In 1984 the Band included its first three young ladies - Yolande Bourne, Dorian Seale and Juan Walrond, broking a traditionally male dominated department.
In November 1991, Dr. Senior/Supt. Christopher Archibald Atherley, S.C.M., was promoted to the rank of S/Supt. and appointed Director of Music, of the Royal Barbados Police Force Band.
The Band today is made up of 54 Officers, men and women, along with 10 band apprentices
and tours extensively, visiting countries like England, Scotland, Virgin Islands, Suriname, St. Kitts, Grenada, Canada and Germany to name a few.
Barbados
Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles. It is in length and as much as in width, amounting to . It is situated in the western area of the North Atlantic and 100 kilometres east of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean Sea; therein, it is about east of the islands of Saint...
since its foundation in 1889 and is one of the oldest police bands in the world. Police bands are common throughout the Anglophone Caribbean
Anglophone Caribbean
The term Commonwealth Caribbean is used to refer to the independent English-speaking countries of the Caribbean region. Upon a country's full independence from the United Kingdom, Anglophone Caribbean or Commonwealth Caribbean traditionally becomes the preferred sub-regional term as a replacement...
, and are known for playing a wide variety of Caribbean music
Caribbean music
The music of the Caribbean is a diverse grouping of musical genres. They are each syntheses of African, European, Indian and native influences, largely created by descendants of African slaves...
, as well as marches and popular songs.
When the RBPF was first established it was with a complement of 19 serving Policemen. At that time they wore regulation police uniforms, and their selection was due to the love for music and the knowledge of the art.
The first Bandmaster was Mr. Willocks who came to the Island with the 2nd. Battalion of the West Riding Regiment, as its Bandmaster.
In 1914, Major Emmanuel Bennernagel of the British Guiana Militia Band was appointed as Bandmaster, and took it on its first overseas tour to St. Lucia in 1945.
Captain Charles E. Raison, A.R.C.M replaced Mr. Bennernagel in 1946, and since then the band has had a number of Directors of Music which included, Lt. William Griesley, L.R.A.M., Lt. Joseph Griffith, L.R.A.M. Mr. Prince Cave, A.R.C.M., Mr. Gordon Lovell, L.R.S.M. L.T.C.L. and Mr. Kenrick Moore, L.T.C.L., A.V.C.M.
In 1967 the music of the Barbados National Anthem
National Anthem of Barbados
In Plenty and In Time of Need is the national anthem of the country of Barbados. It was written by Irving Burgie and was composed by C. Van Roland Edwards . As one part of the West Indies Federation Barbados' anthem was supposed to be Forged from the Love of Liberty, however the current anthem was...
was re-arranged by Inspector Prince Cave. He gave the Anthem a more sustained harmony while at the same time retaining the original tune. Christopher Atherly, currently the director of the Royal Barbados Police Band is also an excellent clarinetist, having studied with Professor Sherman Friedland, Chair of the Music Department of Concordia University in Montreal, Canada, which Mr Atherly received a degreem from in the late 1980s. He was an outstanding student and performed in many recital and concerts while a student at Concordia University in Montreal, Canada.
In 1984 the Band included its first three young ladies - Yolande Bourne, Dorian Seale and Juan Walrond, broking a traditionally male dominated department.
In November 1991, Dr. Senior/Supt. Christopher Archibald Atherley, S.C.M., was promoted to the rank of S/Supt. and appointed Director of Music, of the Royal Barbados Police Force Band.
The Band today is made up of 54 Officers, men and women, along with 10 band apprentices
and tours extensively, visiting countries like England, Scotland, Virgin Islands, Suriname, St. Kitts, Grenada, Canada and Germany to name a few.