Thomas Bidgood
From Marchdb.net
1858 - 1925
Thomas Bidgood was born in 1858 in Woolwich, a small town southeast of London. As a boy, he regularly attended concerts of the Royal Artillery Band and participated in the choir of St. John's Church. He studied violin and clarinet and played E-flat bass and alto horn in the 9th Kent Artillery Volunteers under the direction of R.B. Robshaw. Later he attended the London Conservatory of Music, studying violin and harmony. He won prizes at the Stratford Music Festival for two consecutive years, and gold, silver, and bronze medals at the London Academy of Music.
Bidgood worked vigorously and his schedule was formidable. In his early years he not only directed the band at the Beckton Gas Works but also led his own orchestra of professional musicians in performances at balls and concerts throughout London. His many private pupils included the daughter of the Duchess of Sunderland, who studied violin with him. Despite this busy schedule, he found time to compose and arrange numerous works for band and orchestra.
Bidgood is best known as the composer of Sons of the Brave written in 1898 shortly after the outbreak of the Boer War. It was quickly adopted by bands throughout the British Empire and remains a favorite today. He could not play the piano but was aided in the writing of the march by his son Albert, who was then 15 years old. Albert played the march over and over again, repeating the melody so that his father could complete the composition. Albert also aided his father from 1907-1912 by assuming direction of his orchestra.
In addition to marches he also composed orchestral works.
Marches composed by Thomas Bidgood:
- Sons of the Brave 1898
- Vimy Ridge 1921
- The British Legion 1912
- Allies Parade
- Knights Errant 1901
- The Lads in Navy Blue
- Merry Soldiers 1909
- Silent Heroes 1909
- A Call to Arms 1912
- My Old Kentucky Home 1917
- On to Victory 1917
- The Farmer's Boy
- For King and Country 1920
- The Heroes of England
- Heroes of the Flag 1926
- Rubinstein March
- Where Glory Leads
