DOMINIQUE
From the time he
joined the Battalion, Bob Taylor had been
thinking about a Regimental March for 5RAR
and he had concluded that the most
appropriate was "Dominique." He arranged the
music then suggested to the CO that
Dominique be accepted as the Regimental
March. Lieutenant Colonel Warr was not
convinced as he had never heard the tune.
Bob Taylor, with the support of Major Max
Carroll, the Operations Officer, then
proposed that the band play Dominique and
two other marches for the 800 men of the
Battalion who would be asked to vote for the
march they thought would be the best.
Dominique received an overwhelming vote from
all ranks and so it became the march of the
"Tiger Battalion."
To listen to the MP3 Version played
by the Army Band Corps (723Kb)
Click Here
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Original film clip of Sister Jeanine
Deckers singing Dominique (13Mb)
Click Here |
Background to Dominique
Jeanine Deckers
(1933-1985) is famous all over the world as
'The Singing Nun' and for her massive hit
"Dominique", which reached number 1 all over
the world and sold more than 1.5 million
copies. She is the only Belgian ever to
achieve a number one hit in America and
temporarily topped such heavy hitters as
Stevie Wonder and The Beatles in the charts.
She joined the Dominican Fichermont Convent
in Belgium as Sister Luc-Gabrielle. She was
popular in the convent for her music and was
encouraged by the other nuns to record an
album in 1963. One song, "Dominique," soared
to the top of the charts. Overnight, the
Belgian nun was an international celebrity
with the stage name of Soeur Sourire (Sister
Smile). She performed in concerts and
appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1964. In
1965, a movie called The Singing Nun,
starring Debbie Reynolds, was made about
her, though she rejected the film as
"fictional".
Around the same time, she stopped performing
and entered a rigorous religious life in the
convent. In 1967 she left the convent and
recorded her second album, aptly titled "I
Am Not a Star". Though she was deeply
religious, she was also increasingly
critical of the conservatism of the Roman
Catholic Church and she became an advocate
of birth control.
Having faded into obscurity, she opened a
school for autistic children in Belgium with
a close friend, Annie Pescher. By the early
1980s the Belgian government began claiming
that she owed back taxes of more than
$47,000; she claimed that the money was
given to the convent and therefore exempt
from taxes. In 1983, she tried to raise
money by releasing an updated electronic
version of 'Dominique' but it failed to sell
in volume. Sadly, she and Pescher both
committed suicide in 1985. "We hope God will
welcome us. He saw us suffer," the women
wrote in their last letter. Belgium's
Catholic authorities granted their wish to
be buried in consecrated ground. Only a
handful of friends and family members were
on hand to mourn.
I wonder what
she would have thought of an Australian
infantry battalion having chosen Dominique
as their regimental march.
Lyrics
"Dominique, oh Dominique
Over the land he plods along
Never looking for reward
He just talks about the Lord, he just talks
about the Lord, he just
talks about the Lord
At a time when John Lackland
Over England was the king
Dominic was in the backland
Fighting sin like anything
Now a heretic one day
Among the thorn forced him to crawl
Dominic with just one prayer
Made him hear the good Lord's call
Without horses or fancy wagon
He crossed Europe up and down
Poverty was his companion
As he walked from town to town
To bring back the straying liars
And the lost sheep to the fold
He brought forth the Preaching Friars
Heaven's soldiers brave and bold
One day in the budding Order
There was nothing left to eat
Suddenly two angels walked in
With a load of bread and meat
Dominic once in his slumber
Saw the Virgin coat unfurled
Over Friars without number
Preaching all around the world
Grant us now oh Dominic
The grace of love and simple mirth
That we all may help to quicken
Godly love and truth on earth" |
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MEN OF HARLECH
According to
Folk Songs of England, Ireland, Scotland and
Wales "This famous march celebrates the
defiance of the Welsh forces under Dafydd ap
Jevan in defending Harlech Castle against
the English in 1468." They were, however,
forced to surrender to Yorkist forces.
Harlech Castle was prominent in Welsh
history several times. Owen Glendower
captured it and held a parliament there in
the early 15th century. Queen Margaret took
refuge there in 1460, when her husband,
Henry VI, was captured. In 1647, during the
English Civil War, Harlech Castle was the
last Welsh fortress surrendered to the
Parliamentary armies.
The stirring music first appeared as March
of the Men of Harlech in Musical and
Poetical Relicks of the Welsh Bards (Edward
Jones, London 1784). The song was first
published in Gems of Welsh Melody (ed. John
Owen, "Owain Alaw", 1860), the Welsh lyrics
by "Talhaiarn", the English by W.H. Baker.
The 'Vocal' version is sung by the Royal
Regiment of Wales' Band singing "Men of
Harlech" on the 120th anniversary of the
battle of Rorke's Drift (1999). This was
recorded in the church at Rorke's Drift.
Royal Regiment of Wales Band,
choir of the Royal Welsh
Fusiliers (2.7Mb)
Click Here |
Video Band Version(3.21min)
Click Here |
Audio Brass Band Version (2.8Mb)
Click Here |
Lyrics
Tongues of fire
on Idris flaring,
news of foe-men near declaring,
to heroic deeds of daring,
call you Harlech men
Groans of wounded peasants dying,
wails of wives and children flying,
for the distant succour crying,
call you Harlech men.
Shall the voice of wailing,
now be unavailing,
you to rouse who never yet,
in battles hour were failing.
This our answer crowds down pouring,
swift as winter torrents roaring,
not in vain the voice imploring,
calls on Harlech men.
Loud the martial pipes are sounding,
every manly heart is bounding,
as our trusted chief surrounding,
march we Harlech men.
Short the sleep the foe is taking,
ere the morrows morn is breaking,
they shall have a rude awakening,
roused by Harlech men.
Mothers cease your weeping,
calm may be your sleeping,
you and yours in safety now
the Harlech men are keeping,
Ere the sun is high in heaven
they you fear, by panic riven,
shall like frightened sheep be driven,
far by Harlech men.
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