March no. IV: March of the 42nd or old highland regiment, "In the garb of old Gaul"

Alternative title: 
Twelve marches no.IV

This work was chosen in 1841 by Professor John Thomson to feature in the first Reid Concert in 1841 as representative of the works of General Reid.  In the programme booklet for the 1841 concert he wrote: 

"This composition will be at once recognised as that to which the well-known verses “In the garb of old Gaul” have been written.  Any other March might have been selected from the set, but it was thought that the performance of this fine melody in its original form would prove interesting, more particularly as the public are now, for the first time, made aware of the name of the author to whom they are indebted for one of the most vigorous and spirit-stirring of our adopted National Songs."

The work was composed by General Reid as one of "Twelve Marches."  In the concert programme for the 1892 Reid Concert Professor Frederick Niecks writes, "Twelve Marches," arranged for a full band of wind instruments by "the celebrated Mr Winter, late composer for the Opera in London."  As Peter Winter was in London from 1803 to 1805, the Marches must have been published after this time."

This March was the first work to be performed by the newly-formed Reid Orchestra in its first concert on 5 May 1917.  In the printed programme book for the concert, Professor Donald Francis Tovey writes:

"By the terms of General Reid's Bequest, one of his Marches is to be performed at the 'Reid Concert,' to be held on or after his birthday.  The present March was, at an early period in the musical history of Edinburgh, furnished with a spirited poem, from which it takes its title; and as soon as the Reid Orchestra can join forces with a chorus, the custom of treating this March as our 'Gaudeamus' chant will be revived ... He further stipulated that the selections from his compositions should 'include a solo for flute, clarinet,' or other instrument.  This modest demand came to be misinterpreted in a past so remote that no Reid Professor within living memory has had any chance of suspecting that the clumsy and pretentious orchestral scraps hitherto known as 'the Reid Music' have done gross injustice to 'the taste of his time and the perpetuation of his memory.'  The March is performed standing, according to custom."

This March is widely heard today as it has been selected as the Regimental Slow March of the Scots Guards.

 

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Concerts by Work

Title Date Venue Professor
Annual Reid Concert 1841 Friday, February 12, 1841 Assembly Rooms Thomson, John, 1805-1841
Annual Reid Concert 1841 (rpt. perf.) Saturday, February 13, 1841 Assembly Rooms Thomson, John, 1805-1841
Annual Reid Concert 1848 Monday, February 14, 1848 The Music Hall Donaldson, John, 1788-1865
Annual Reid Concert 1849 Tuesday, February 13, 1849 The Music Hall Donaldson, John, 1788-1865
Concert in Honour of General Reid 1860 Saturday, February 11, 1860 The Music Hall
Annual Reid Concert 1911 Wednesday, February 15, 1911 University Music Class Room Niecks, Frederick Maternus, 1845-1924
Annual Reid Concert 1917 Saturday, May 5, 1917 The Music Hall Tovey, Sir Donald Francis, 1875-1940
Annual Reid Concert 1918 Saturday, February 16, 1918 McEwan Hall Tovey, Sir Donald Francis, 1875-1940
Annual Reid Concert 1919 Saturday, February 8, 1919 McEwan Hall Tovey, Sir Donald Francis, 1875-1940
Souvenir Reid Orchestral Concert 1920 Thursday, March 4, 1920 McEwan Hall Tovey, Sir Donald Francis, 1875-1940
Annual Reid Concert 1921 Saturday, February 12, 1921 Usher Hall Tovey, Sir Donald Francis, 1875-1940
Annual Reid Concert 1922 Saturday, February 18, 1922 Usher Hall Tovey, Sir Donald Francis, 1875-1940
Annual Reid Concert 1923 Saturday, February 17, 1923 Usher Hall Tovey, Sir Donald Francis, 1875-1940
Annual Reid Concert 1924 Saturday, February 16, 1924 Usher Hall Tovey, Sir Donald Francis, 1875-1940
Annual Reid Concert 1925 Thursday, February 12, 1925 Usher Hall Tovey, Sir Donald Francis, 1875-1940
Annual Reid Concert 1926 Thursday, February 11, 1926 Usher Hall Tovey, Sir Donald Francis, 1875-1940
Annual Reid Concert 1927 Thursday, February 10, 1927 Usher Hall Tovey, Sir Donald Francis, 1875-1940
Annual Reid Concert 1928 Thursday, February 16, 1928 Usher Hall Tovey, Sir Donald Francis, 1875-1940
Annual Reid Concert 1929 Thursday, February 14, 1929 Usher Hall Tovey, Sir Donald Francis, 1875-1940
Annual Reid Concert 1930 Thursday, February 6, 1930 Usher Hall Tovey, Sir Donald Francis, 1875-1940
Annual Reid Concert 1931 Thursday, February 5, 1931 Usher Hall Tovey, Sir Donald Francis, 1875-1940
Annual Reid Concert 1932 Thursday, February 11, 1932 Usher Hall Tovey, Sir Donald Francis, 1875-1940
Annual Reid Concert 1934 Thursday, February 15, 1934 Usher Hall Tovey, Sir Donald Francis, 1875-1940
Annual Reid Concert 1935 Thursday, January 31, 1935 Usher Hall Tovey, Sir Donald Francis, 1875-1940
Annual Reid Concert 1936 Thursday, January 30, 1936 Usher Hall Tovey, Sir Donald Francis, 1875-1940
Annual Reid Concert 1937 Thursday, February 11, 1937 Usher Hall Tovey, Sir Donald Francis, 1875-1940
Annual Reid Concert 1938 Thursday, February 10, 1938 Usher Hall Tovey, Sir Donald Francis, 1875-1940
Annual Reid Concert 1939 Thursday, February 9, 1939 Usher Hall Tovey, Sir Donald Francis, 1875-1940
Annual Reid Concert 1941 Saturday, February 15, 1941 Usher Hall
Annual Reid Concert 1943 Saturday, February 20, 1943 Usher Hall Newman, Sidney T. M. 1906-1971
Annual Reid Concert 1944 Sunday, February 13, 1944 Usher Hall Newman, Sidney T. M. 1906-1971
Annual Reid Concert 1953 Thursday, February 12, 1953 Reid School of Music, Park Place (see also University Music Classroom) Newman, Sidney T. M. 1906-1971
Annual Reid Concert 1955 Thursday, February 17, 1955 The Music Hall Newman, Sidney T. M. 1906-1971
Annual Reid Concert 1966 Thursday, February 17, 1966 The Music Hall Newman, Sidney T. M. 1906-1971
Annual Reid Concert 1970 Thursday, February 12, 1970 Reid School of Music, Park Place (see also University Music Classroom) Newman, Sidney T. M. 1906-1971
Annual Reid Concert 1983 Thursday, February 10, 1983 St Cecilia's Hall & MIMEd Leighton, Kenneth, 1929-1988
Annual Reid Concert 1990 Tuesday, February 13, 1990 Reid Concert Hall with Ahrend organ Osborne, Nigel 1948-
Annual Reid Concert 2001 Tuesday, January 30, 2001 Reid Concert Hall with Ahrend organ Osborne, Nigel 1948-
Annual Reid Concert 2015 Friday, February 13, 2015 Reid Concert Hall with Ahrend organ
Displaying all 39 concerts where this work was performed.