ARTICLES

Sound of the True Blues

The phenomenon of the Twelfth parade in recent years must surely be the blood and thunder flute bands and whether you like it or dislike their music or deportment there is no denying that they have become the ever- increasing breed in Ulster today.  Noisy, arrogant and untuneful are terms used by critics to describe these bands. The criticism often comes from members of the more orthodox of Ulster bands and from some Orangemen who feel that the raucous antics and unbridled enthusiasm of the young bandsmen lower the tone of the Orange parade.  But for many other Orangemen and loyalists there is nothing quite like the drumming, fluting and toe-in style marching of the groups of "Young Defenders" or "True Blues," clad in multi-coloured jackets  and bonnets. Ulster has had flute bands for close on 150 years --- they date back to the 19th century from the old fife and drum combination, but it has only been in the past decade that the "Billy Boy" outfits, with their distinctive razz-ma-tazz five pace rolls on the side drums, have come into their own. Until the mid-sixties the only ramification of swagger and loud drum beating was confined to first flute bands from the Shankill Road, Sandy Row, and of course, Scotland, where they have been a feature of Orange parades since the beginning of the 20th century. Lurgan, too, was one of the few centers in Northern Ireland that could boast of a real blood and thunder flute band with its famous "Blough Band" from Queen Street. Like the present blood and thunder bands, the Queen Street band sounded of with a long and loud rattle of side drums and flutes, playing party pieces from the Orange standard, were introduced by three heavy thumps on the bass drum.     Today, it is estimated that there are about 400 five-key bands in Northern Ireland --- all similar in style and bearing names like "Young Defenders," "Sons of Ulster," "True Blues," added to the name of their particular locality. Nearly every large street in the loyalist working class districts of Belfast has one. Large towns like Portadown, Lisburn, Ballymena and Lurgan have about half-a-dozen each and villages from Cullybackey to Loughgall have resounded to the "Stirring Strains" of the local True Blue outfits. It takes about five tunes and a minimum of £1,000 to put a first flute band on the road. The five tunes (including God Save The Queen) can be polished of in as many months and the money is raised by street collections, dances and raffles, usually through a backing committee. The uniform varies from band to band and some outfits turn out in smart looking blazers and gray flannels, which cost a good deal more than a set of jerseys. Standard bearers --- Loyalist flags are usually carried at the head of the band --- and four marshalls have also to be rigged out and the total band membership can reach as many as sixty.  Traditional Orange tunes like "The Sash," "Dolly's Brae," and "Derry's Walls" are frequently played, but some of the lesser-known pieces like "The Battle of Garvagh," "The Hills of Tandragee," and "A Shepherd's Boy" have been added to the list, as well as the latest from the pop charts.  The non-Orange ditties given an airing by the flute bands cover a wide field and they include --"All The Nice Girls," "The Shores Of Tripoli," "The Ducks of Magheralin," "Nice One Cyril," "The Blackboard Of My Heart," and "The Tartan."  Many of the bands also have a collection of hymn tunes, required for church parades, and its on these engagements that the drum major takes on a much more dignified role at the head of the band.  The marshalls are required to discipline, and keep the bands marching order. Discipline, contrary to what many critics of these bands believe, is usually tight and according to most band-masters "anyone found guilty of unseemly behaviour is thrown out of the ranks."  The drum majors are usually adept at twirling the batons and dancing to and fro to the enjoyment of spectators and the playing of the blood and thunder bands is usually non-stop with the marching of the tuned to the pace and beat of the drums.  The big drummer, the key man in the timing, can be the "joker in the pack" and is often the victim of his own enthusiasm, with several burst heads to replace after a parade.  With the cost of engaging the more orthodox bands soaring many Orange lodges, especially in Belfast,are turning to the blood and thunder types to pull them out on parades. In todays parade to Edenderry most of the bands fall into this category.  And in some country areas these bands are replacing Lambeg drums, which were normally taken by lodges on the Twelfth walk.  The average age of young flutists, drummers and mace carriers runs from 16 to 20, but some bands have men in their ranks as old as 60 and boys as young as five.  Age is no barrier to a tune on the flute, although the pace set by some of the bandsmen is enough to scare off most people over 30.

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