(Military, National Anthems) Central Band Of The Royal Air Force ‎- Reach for the Sky (2010), MP3, 320 kbps

Music has been a part of the Royal Air Force since 1912, when the Service existed as the Royal Flying Corps. In 1918 the Royal Air Force was formed and by 1920 The Central Band of the Royal Air Force was established.
The Central Band has several notable achievements in its history. In 1922 it was the first military band to broadcast on BBC radio, remaining to this day the most frequently featured military band in that medium. It was also the first military band to make a long-playing record. In April 1955, HMV released a recording of what is to this day the most requested piece in their repertoire; Eric Coates' music for the film ‘The Dambusters’. The band also ended a 155-year tradition in by including women in its ranks whilst taking part in the ceremony of Changing the Guard at Buckingham Palace.
Over the years the Central Band has made many recordings. ‘Salute To Heroes’, released in 1990, sold over 60,000 copies in two years, resulting in the award of a silver disc. Two complementary recordings, ‘Heroes of the Air’ and ‘Salute to the Royal Air Force’ have proved just as popular. As one of the premier military bands in the United Kingdom, the Central Band is always in great demand, undertaking more than 370 engagements a year and travelling a distance of more than 64,000 miles, representing the Royal Air Force at every major military event and performing at all of the principal concert venues in Britain.
The band is also internationally renowned, having the distinction of being the first band outside the USA to be awarded the 'John Philip Sousa Citation for Musical Excellence'. In its bid to remain at the cutting edge of wind band music it has given highly acclaimed concerts with both the British and the World Associations of Symphonic Bands and Wind Ensembles (BASBWE & WASBWE). More recently the band has forged links with the Royal Northern College of Music, the Guildhall School of Music, the London College of Music and Thames Valley University.
Amongst past tours to Holland, Belgium, Germany, Hong Kong, USA and Hungary, in 2005 the band found themselves in Australia to take part in Sydney’s ‘Edinburgh Tattoo’. Later in the year, another Tattoo took the musicians of the Central Band to Moscow, Russia.
The Central Band was heavily involved in the 2008 celebrations for the 90th Anniversary of the Royal Air Force. Aside from the normal busy schedule the band performed an Anniversary Concert Tour throughout the UK, carried out public duties at Buckingham Palace alongside the Queen’s Colour Squadron and provided musical support to the Royal Standard and Colour presentation by Her Majesty, The Queen at Royal Air Force Fairford.
As with all members of the Royal Air Force Music Services, Central Band musicians are required to support British forces on operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Musicians continue to be deployed as ‘force protection’, guarding installations and supporting helicopter and air transportation squadrons.
Changing times have necessitated new recruitment and training policies but, despite reductions in numbers, standards remain exceptionally high. Our aim remains to reflect the excellence for which the Royal Air Force has become renowned over its distinguished history.

Commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain and the 90th anniversary of the band itself, Reach For The Skies will include RAF related classics such as Dambusters March, Spitfire Prelude, 633 Squadron, the Battle of Britain March and Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines, as well as featuring the atmospheric sound of Spitfires flying overhead.
The album is dedicated to all those who took part in the Battle of Britain and fought for their country, from the pilots to the radar operators, engineers and plotters.
"Just like all the men and women of the commonwealth nations and our allies did during the Battle of Britain, today's men and women of the Royal Air Force show the same bravery and sacrifice throughout the world to ensure the freedom of others. If through our music we can help keep the tradition and spirit of the Battle of Britain alive, then we will have done a good job." - Wing Commander Stubbs
Programme Notes
In the summer and autumn of 1940, a battle for national survival was waged in the skies over Britain. Not only would this struggle, the first to be fought primarily in the air, decide the fate of the United Kingdom, but on it also rested the freedom of Europe and the outcome of the Second World War.
Britain's air defence rested principally on the Royal Air Force - only the pilots of Fighter Command, under Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding, could meet the Luftwaffe head on. Nearly 3,000 aircrew would go on to serve with Fighter Command in the course of the Battle.
Throughout the gruelling months of the Battle of Britain, the RAF and Women's Auxiliary Air Force ground staff showed great dedication and courage as they strove to keep stations open, despite the continuing attacks. Although day and night raids had been mounted against various British towns and cities throughout the campaign, London had been left alone on Hitler's express orders.
However, on the night of 24 August, a lost bomber formation had dropped bombs on the capital by mistake. Churchill reacted and the following night, in retaliation, Bomber Command aircraft were sent to attack Berlin. By 15 September, Hitler's deadline for the invasion preparations to be finished, Fighter Command had been able to rotate many of the units in the South-East, and had recovered its balance and nerve. In fact, they were now stronger than ever before. 15 September would see a series of heavy Luftwaffe raids across southern England and London throughout the day, and each was met with renewed ferocity by Fighter Command.
The experience of such a response from defence forces which, they had been told, had been almost completely destroyed, shattered German morale. Although the fighting that day was far from the heaviest or most desperate of the Battle, it was still a turning point. The Luftwaffe now realised that it had miscalculated, and it became increasingly clear that they could not win the air superiority that they needed. The Battle still continued. British towns and cities were attacked day and night, and increasingly German fighter-bombers were sent on hit and run raids across the Channel. The bombing of London and other towns and cities by the Luftwaffe would continue until May 1941.
Both sides took heavy casualties during the Battle of Britain. The Luftwaffe lost nearly 1,900 aircraft and more than 2,500 aircrew killed. Fighter Command had lost 544 pilots, about one in six of those who fought. Bomber and Coastal Commands had also taken heavy losses. Bomber and Coastal Commands lost nearly 1,000 aircrew. The bombing would eventually lead to 40,000 civilian casualties. Nevertheless the battle for control of the air over Britain had been decisively won by the RAF.
Victory in the Battle of Britain not only saved the United Kingdom from invasion, but also in the long-term saved Europe too. For the first time, Nazi Germany had been unable to impose its will on the rest of Europe through threat or military might, and its vaunted Luftwaffe had tasted defeated in battle. Britain would remain as a bastion of freedom and hope off the coast of occupied Europe.
The work of the Central Band of the Royal Air Force reflects the fine heritage and ethos of the Service. The bravery and sacrifice of those men and women who served during the Battle of Britain and who secured our freedom today is proudly reflected in these magnificent recordings.

Director of Music: Flight Lieutenant Richard Murray BMus(Hons) LRSM LLCM RAF
Bandmasters: Warrant Officer Terry Gardner, Warrant Officer David Richards MinstLM GCGI
Band Sergeants: Flight Sergeant Grant Charleston and Flight Sergeant Paul Craggs
Drum Majors: Chief Technician Gary Cooney and Chief Technician Mark Chappell