March Barnes Wallis

March Barnes Wallis was commissioned by Royal Air Force Music Services to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the famous Dambuster’s raid and received its first performance on BBC Radio 2’s Friday Night is Music Night broadcast live from Biggin Hill Airport on 17 June 2013 by the Central Band of the RAF Director of Music Wing Commander Duncan Stubbs.

This popular march was written for the film 'The Dam Busters' about the wartime exploits of the R.A.F.'s 617 squadron and their attempts to destroy the dams in Germany's industrial heartland using the 'bouncing bomb' a secret weapon invented by Barnes-Wallis. No secret weapons are required to perform this arrangement just a reasonably able orchestra! Saxophone parts are provided as alternatives (or additions) to the horn parts. The 3rd violin doubles the viola (where necessary at the octave) and either may be omitted.Duration: 4 minutes Orchestration2 Flutes 2 Oboes 3 Clarinets in Bb 2 Bassoons 2 Horns in F (or Alto saxes in Eb or Tenorsaxes in Bb) 3 Trumpets in Bb 2 Trombones Tuba Timpani Percussion (Triangle Cymbals Side Drum Bass drum) Strings (Violin 1 Violin 2 Viola or Violin 3 Cello Bass)