Thursday 17 January 2008

Karl Kaps

Last night was my first night back rehearsing with the band. It was good to be back and because of the new season of concerts we played some new tunes, at least new to me. Andrew Lloyd Webber made an appearance with a suite of songs from his shows. This was supported by a big name in film score with a tune from the film Saving Private Ryan, Hymn to the Fallen, by John Williams. The old timers were not forgotten and we played a medley of songs from the show Oklahoma. Something that was great fun to play and I am looking forward to getting my teeth into was the Eton Boating Song, a waltz from the old Edwardian days.

This was written by a gent named Karl Kaps who despite his German sounding name was in fact English and real name was John Roberts. Apparently he took a German name because of the popularity of German bands in Edwardian time. However, he came unstuck during the Great War and had to change it. Strangely he changed it to an Italian sounding name. Why did he not like his English one?

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