In 1901 the Company held a competition for a new March to be played during the Coronation of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra the following year. A prize of 50 guineas was awarded to the eventual winner, Mr Percy Godfrey (1859-1945) Click Here for full details.
However, the Company also retains a number of the unsuccessful entries to this Competition, all of which had been submitted without the composer being identified. A title or 'motto' identified the actual composition and a sealed envelope was provided by the applicant which contained the Composer's name and address.
The envelope and note shown above is from William J. Fourniss referring to his competition submission entitled, De Capo. Photographs of the manuscript score are presented below. Click on the image to expand and scroll through.
In 2021, Fourniss' great-grandson had a recording made by Emma Parker of the Albion Quartet; click here to listen.
One of the rules of entry was that a piano arrangement of the March should also be provided. The one presented by Fourniss is shown below. Again, click on the image to expand and scroll through.
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