The Savage Report

The Central Music Library

or

A WO RM's eye view of the Cole & Steele Industry

A true story by Steve Savage aged 1.26669 ^E18 Nanoseconds (approx)

When the Editor breezed into HQBSRM the other day all happy and smiling and asked if I would do a report for the next Blue Band Magazine on the Central Music Library (CML) and the staff who work therein, I was totally underwhelmed. To be honest, I found it difficult to conceal my bubbling indifference. This initial reaction was due to the fact that it would be another article about BdCSgt Ken Peers - he is, after all, the Chief Librarian. I mean, I'd already written one specifically about him as the recording bloke, and a great deal of the RMT 2000 article was also about his contribution to the event. The truth was that I was all 'Kenned' out, and also, his coffee, if indeed he ever offers to make you one, is extremely average. Then I recalled Ken's last statement in the article about him and his recording stuff. When I asked him about the CML, he suggested that I go and speak to Verity. Whilst tongue in cheek at the time, he was right. Ken's work in the field of recording has evolved so much that he cannot spend as much time in the CML as he would like, so it is fair to say that the general day-to-day running of the CML is down to Mick Cole and Verity Steele. It was time to pay them a visit.

When I went in, Verity was busy typing and talking to a 'customer' on her 'Captain Scarlet' telephonic headset at the same time, and Mick was slaving away over a hot photocopier, sorting out the dots for the Edinburgh Tattoo. They were busy and so I left noteless, but Verity said that she would nip into my office and have a chat when she had a minute.

True to her word, Verity pitched up at my office ready to 'dish the dirt' on the CML. Seeing me poised at the computer ready to kick off, she informed me that she was an accomplished typist and thus offered to type. I wasn't going to refuse. It was interesting watching Verity effectively interview herself. She talked herself through the topics and headings, and giggled her way through the funnier moments. I left her to it, and when I returned, the dirt was all but dished!

Verity's musical career started at an early age when she expressed an interest in playing the piano. Consequently, lessons were organised and Verity was taught to play by a very strict Austrian lady, who apparently had the peculiar habit of chewing raw garlic during the lesson! - I know that bad breath is better than no breath at all, but in this lady's case I'm not so sure! Having survived the 'Halitosis Queen', Verity went on to Secondary School were she expressed a wish to take up the oboe. Her music teacher had other ideas and offered her the opportunity to play the violin. Maybe this was a good move, as in just over three years Verity had passed Grade 8 with distinction and she also achieved an Associated Board Silver Medal.

Verity's progress was such that her parents and teachers felt that a career in music beckoned. So much so in fact that she did her A Levels a year early in order to enter the Royal Academy as a full time student aged 17 studying both violin and piano. The Academy was a great experience and Verity continued to shine achieving a Recital Diploma - an MMus in performance at today's prices. Having 'passed out' of the Academy, Verity undertook an appointment as the resident musician at a Theological College, accompanying the choir and playing at all the Services, a rather chilled out affair after the pressures of a top music College. But Verity was to move on after a year to live in Soho! Yes, I know, 'sublime' and 'ridiculous' spring to mind! Anyway, she did a bit of free-lancing, teaching and playing piano for a choir of local old dears, and was just able to scrape a living - no pun intended…well, maybe!

Once again Verity's feet got itchy and she moved to Northern Ireland to work developing her taste for Guinness. She then decided that a job in one of the German orchestras would be nice. In August 1987, whilst searching for a job in a German magazine - funny, there were no job applications in the German magazines that I had ever seen - Verity spotted a job that took her fancy. She applied, got the job and ended up teaching piano and playing violin in the Kibbutz Chamber Orchestra in Israel. All this and she got to do 7 hours of ironing a day too… ah, bliss! Whilst this was a very rewarding job, it was very tiring, poorly paid and not without its risks. Verity explained that in November 1987, trouble broke out, and just to prove a point that the security could be breached, there was an attack on the Kibbutz sheep. This was not the 'Mint sauce' gag, this was real 'muck and bullets' stuff. Verity calmly points out that after the attack she 'thought twice about going out to the loo at night.' I don't know about that but I wouldn't have thought twice about clearing off completely!

On returning to the UK, she landed a job in a library in Cambridge, working in the music department and learning the basics of librarianship. But Verity was still unsettled, and so she moved on again, firstly to Wells Cathedral School, and then to Canterbury where she saw the advertisement for the job of Assistant Chief Librarian at the RMSM. Having been offered the position, the next problem was the security vetting, probably due to the fact that Verity had worked in quite a few of the world's worst trouble spots. However, six months later than expected, Verity joined the CML Staff. Her Civil Service status allowed her the privilege to live in the Sgts' Mess in Deal, a time that she describes as a real 'eye-opener'. Verity certainly waxes lyrical about her time in the Mess, learning the ways of the Serviceman, attending the various functions, the camaraderie and, of course, partaking of the odd Guinness or two at a quid a pint. All these things obviously impressed her as she chose to relocate when the RMSM did. But what of her co-worker Mick?

Mick joined the Band Service as an oboist on 31 August 1971, along with, amongst others, George Tate and Ken Peers. He served in HMS Ganges Band until its closure and was then drafted to Portsmouth. After ten years, Mick was drafted to the Staff Band at Deal where he served until unfortunately Mick was medically discharged in 1992. Now I know this is a very meagre background on Mick, and he has probably had just as colourful a career as Verity, but to protect the identities of the other guilty parties, it is probably wise not to say too much at this juncture! My suggestion is that if you wish to know what he got up to during his career in the Band Service, then speak to George Tate or Ken Peers who, over a pint - bought by the enquirer of course - would probably spill some of the beans at least!
Just prior to Mick's medical discharge, he worked in the CML doing more or less what he does now, so when the position became civilianised, he was the ideal candidate, and duly got the job. Mick, like Verity, also showed great loyalty to the Band Service by relocating his family to Portsmouth when the RMSM moved up. Of course, his decision had absolutely nothing to do with the fact that his son had just been offered a place at Fareham College!

Right, that's the biographies dealt with, now on to the role of the CML itself.

SO(M) is often heard to say while showing visitors around that "…being the librarian is not considered to be the sexiest job in the world!" This is not being detrimental to the CML Staff in any way, shape or form, it's just that he is pointing out that most of us are ill informed and do not consider the job to be very challenging. Having spoken to both Mick and Verity, it is obvious that this concept is completely wrong. The CML is much more than just a 'musical convenience store' containing loads of boxes of music that can be signed out when needed, and the staff do far more than just signing them back in on their return.

CML is a recognised centre of excellence in the world of music libraries holding about 32,000 different titles, approximately 12,500 of which are original band and orchestral sets, original manuscripts, marches and 'buskers' books. All these titles have been re-catalogued by Verity and are now centrally collated on the 'Heritage' library software system. Obviously, with this amount of music on hand, there is a constant demand for items from our own Bands, the RN Volunteer Bands, other Service Bands - both here and abroad, and civilian organisations including the 'All Stars' Band, amateur and professional orchestras and even Conservatoires. Of course, while there is a considerable workload regarding the issuing of music, it is compounded by the need for it all to be checked and re-orchestrated prior to its return to the shelves.

Massed Bands engagements are also particularly taxing for Verity and Mick. This year alone there have been four such events, although one was unexpected - the Queen Mother's funeral, but not unprepared. The musical arrangements for Royal funerals are set in place well in advance and as such the CML dedicate hundreds of man hours ensuring that all the music is placed in reserve. But even with all this preparation, Verity needed to 'down tools' and come in, on Easter Day in order to ensure that the instrumentation of the allocated manpower was correct, and that all was in order. The consequence of the CML's input was that in a very short space of time, the Band Service were able to undertake full musical rehearsals prior to the event itself, thus maintaining the Band Service's total professionalism whilst under considerably imposing time constraints.

This aside, the annual MFM concerts in London and the Queen's Golden Jubilee Celebrations have also been musically catered for by CML, and as I mentioned earlier, they are busy organising the music for the Edinburgh Tattoo. As well as supplying the dots for Scotland Band, two Army Bands and an RAF Band, they have had to supply and send music to Bands from the USA, New Zealand, Australia, the Netherlands, and even Tonga. Whilst Verity's official title is Assistant Chief Librarian and Mick's title is 'Paperkeeper' - or 'Keeper of the Queen's Paper', as he prefers it to be known! - they both muck in to produce the music. This involves copying and printing music, sticking it onto march cards, laminating and trimming it up, and ensuring that all the instrumentation in all the participating Bands is covered - over 5000 items for RM Bands alone. This is so time consuming that almost everything thing else goes on hold.

A knock on effect from Massed Bands engagements is that there is inevitably some new music or new arrangements that are required. CML then have to ensure that copyright licences are applied for, usually to the publisher who either owns the copyright or administers it on behalf of the composer. But even this isn't as easy as it seems. Take RMT 2000. (Please… take RMT 2000!) The organisers had decided to sell RMT 2000 as an entire package to an international multi-media company. Consequently, this led to the CML being asked to negotiate the rights for CD recording, DVD, Video, Internet and worldwide television including satellite and cable. The organisers assumed that Verity would be 'in the know' and would therefore be able to sort it out within the week prior to the event! It wasn't to be the case - surprise, surprise! Despite that, and the financial implications - EMI wanted £800 plus VAT per thirty seconds of music used; however, it was all resolved in the end. For their efforts they deservedly gained a CGRM's Commendation.

CML is also bombarded by requests for information from various sources. Some require a one-word answer, and some require a considerable amount of research. Just recently Verity was requested to research a list of 40 Regimental Marches and the order in which they should be played. Not too difficult a request you might think, but the request came from a gentleman who was organising an Army Veterans' Regimental Dinner, involving representatives from Regiments that either no longer existed or that had been subsumed into other Regiments! Verity has also had recent enquiries from an undertaker, who wanted 'Preobrajensky' for the funeral of a former Royal Marines Officer, and from a Naval Officer who was simply desperate to finish his Telegraph crossword! The CML has always been considered to be the definitive source of information on National Anthems and so it is no surprise that they receive many requests for assistance. This too has its problems. CML received a request for assistance from the South Australian Army Band who required the Somalian Anthem. As Somalia has been in political turmoil for the last twelve years or so, it took a considerable amount of time and effort to track down the current version. Of course, the search for this information was made easier due to the Internet, which is a superb research tool, and it is fair to say that CML just wouldn't cope without modern technology. Whilst Verity could rummage through the 'Heritage' computer software to find you Pachelbel's 'Canon', Mick is far more interested in a Canon of a different sort. The all singing, all dancing Canon GP 605 Digital Copier; a photocopier so up to date that it has air conditioning, two wash/spin cycles and it can be fitted with a non-stick barbecue grill. Without doubt Mick is a master of reprographics and his skills do not stop solely with reproducing music. Mick spends a lot of his time reproducing assignments for the guys on the Bandmasters and M1s Courses, training manuals, exam syllabuses and anything else that needs to be copied, trimmed, bound, tied or gagged! Mick and Verity also need to reproduce music from files that are E-mailed to them. They use the popular 'Sibelius' software, and can often be seen, page managing a piece, or correcting composers' errors over the phone. Again their combined skills on this system have led to many of our old 'handraulically' scribed favourites, even some from the legendary 'Crotchet Factory', turning up as proper printed versions. Whilst all the above is going on there is still the matter of ordering new music, maintaining the budgets, advising Band librarians and briefing new VBIs in library issues.

It is obvious to those working in close proximity to Verity and Mick that they take immense pride in what they do and undertake all of their duties with meticulous attention to detail in order to give the Band Service, and their external customers, the best possible service. In order to keep up with the most up to date techniques and practices, Verity has been studying for a BSc in librarianism, librarianship, librarianess or whatever the correct title is. I am pleased to announce that she not only gained a First Class Degree with Honours, but she also won a University prize for achieving the highest marks in her course this year - I wonder if it was a book token! It is fair to say that the CML is the envy of the other Services and many other established musical bodies worldwide, and with staff as loyal, dedicated and hardworking as Verity and Mick, I'm not in the least bit surprised.