Music in the Air

Principal Director of Music Royal Air Force 

Wing Commander Richard Murray joined the Royal Air Force in 1997 as a flautist and received his commission in February 2010.  

As the Director of Music for the Band of the RAF Regiment, Band of the RAF College and the Central Band of the RAF, Richard has been integral in delivering musical support to numerous state, national and international events. Highlights include several recordings for the BBC and musical support to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond & Platinum Jubilees, the funeral of HM The Queen, the London Olympics, Basel Tattoo (Switzerland), Belfast International Tattoo, WW1 Commemorations (India), Classic FM Live, World Wind Band Festival (Lucerne) and the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.  

During many RAF Centenary events in 2018, he led musical support for the Royal Service of Thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey and conducted the Ukrainian Military Massed Bands during Defenders Day celebrations in Kyiv.  

During the pandemic, Richard coordinated RAF Music Services’ support to Op RESCRIPT, was acting Officer Commanding for six months and spent a further seven months with Standing Joint Command (UK), planning and delivering Resilience Operations & Military Assistance to Civilian Authorities within the UK. 

In 2023, he was honoured to lead the Combined Bands of the RAF in the Coronation Procession for Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla. Stepping into the role of Principal Director of Music (RAF) in October 2023, he has led musical support at both the FA Cup Final Wembley and two live D-Day 80th commemorations at the Bayeux War Cemetery and the British Normandy Memorial in Normandy. 

Currently he is studying for a Master’s degree in Air, Space and Cyber Power having been awarded a Dowding Fellowship by the Chief of the Air Staff. Outside of work Richard enjoys quality family time with his wife Megs and is kept on his toes with three young daughters. 

Royal Air Force Music Services was established in 1918 by Sir Henry Walford Davies and comprises three Regular Bands, a Salon Orchestra and a Reserve Band. Based at RAF Northolt and RAF Cranwell, RAF Music provides optimum musical support for the Royal Air Force in order to enhance public perception, support State Ceremonial and achieve influence to further Defence and National interests.  

Formed in 1920 at RAF Cranwell, the Band of the Royal Air Force College has since forged a reputation of musical and military excellence. Still residing at RAF Cranwell, the Band enjoys performing concerts throughout the year in many of the country's most prestigious theatres and concert halls, all of which raise funds for Service charities.  

As part of the celebrations for the Royal Air Force Centenary, the Band took part in the parade at Buckingham Palace and provided music for the Royal Service of Thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey. Memorable moments in recent years include recording a CD of the works of Saint-Saens for Naxos under the baton of world-renowned German conductor, Jun Markl, and performing a live concert at Symphony Hall, Birmingham, broadcast on Sky Arts, a first for any military band. 

The Band has performed at many prestigious State Ceremonial occasions, including Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee Celebrations and route-lining at Windsor Castle as part of Her Majesty's funeral. The Band played an integral role in the Coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla and the Fanfare Trumpeters of the Band of the RAF College recently performed in the Honours of Scotland Service for Their Majesties. 

RAF musicians perform around the world to represent the proud heritage of the RAF whilst demonstrating musical excellence. Together with supporting local communities and Service charities, musicians connect with and mentor thousands of children through annual school concert projects and youth outreach workshops. Alongside musical duties, RAF musicians regularly support RAF operations around the world and were deployed across the UK as part of the Government's response to the COVID-19 crisis.

Anthony Inglis is one of the busiest and most eclectic of international classical music conductors. Grammy-nominated; Anthony has led more than 250 performances at the Royal Albert Hall, conducted royal concerts, is the Music Director of the London Concert Orchestra and for the Welsh mezzo-soprano Katherine Jenkins. From 1987 until 2020 he was Music Supervisor/Consultant to Phantom of the Opera in London. He is equally at home in the worlds of opera and ballet.

Away from the music world Anthony has a rich, and continuing, RAF connection. His father was Squadron Leader Jeremy Howard-Williams DFC, WWII Mosquito and Beaufighter pilot. His paternal grandfather, Air Commodore E L Howard-Williams MC, flew in the Army, Royal Flying Corps, Royal Naval Air Service and the RAF. At the beginning of WWII he was deputy to Air Chief Marshal Dowding, friends with Viscount Trenchard, and later became air correspondent at the Daily Telegraph. He was later Executive Chairman and Vice President of the Royal Air Forces Association (1944-47) and founded the Association’s members’ magazine, Air Mail.

One of his uncle’s was one of The Few. Flying in the Battle of Britain with 19 Squadron. Another uncle commanded 27 Squadron at RAF Scampton. His maternal grandfather, Air Vice-Marshal F F Inglis CB CBE, was Chief of RAF intelligence in WWII reporting directly to Winston Churchill. Another relative, a great uncle, was a senior RAF commander in WWII, responsible for the idea of sending the little ships to Dunkirk.

In 2016, his son, Flight Lieutenant Dominic Howard-Williams, graduated from RAF College Cranwell and in 2021 started flying Chinooks with 18 Squadron at RAF Odiham.

A long-standing supporter of the RAF Association, Anthony has experienced the voluntary work of the charity first-hand, taking part in our telephone outreach campaigns.

The National Anthem

Out of Space – Thomas Doss 

Straight into space with this stratospheric opener from Thomas Doss. Imagine what it is like to be in the air and touching space with this energetic and inspirational work. 

F35: Lightning II – Andrew Pearce 

Commissioned by RAF Music to mark the arrival of the RAF’s new 5th generation aircraft, the F35, Lightning II. Composer Andrew Pearce who has written extensively for film and TV, captures the character of the stealth multi-role aircraft which entered service with the iconic 617 Squadron in 2018. 

Songbird – Christine McVie 

Corporal Philippa Hartley takes flight with Songbird, one of four songs written solely by Christine McVie on the Fleetwood Mac Rumours album in 1977. 

‘Maria’ from West Side Story – Bernstein arr. Ringham 

Maria has become one of the most recognisable songs from Bernstein’s West Side Story. This version has been tastefully arranged for four Flugel Horns by Sergeant Warren Ringham, who is the Brass Leader of the Band of the RAF College. 

‘Introduction and March’ from the Battle of Britain – Ron Goodwin 

Composed for the 1969 film ‘Battle of Britain’ this highly recognisable march isn’t Ron Goodwin’s only contribution to the RAF catalogue. Other famous works include Those Magnificant Men and Their Flying Machines, 633 Squadron and Where Eagles Dare. 

Spitfire Prelude – William Walton 

Spitfire Prelude and Fugue is an orchestral composition by William Walton arranged in 1942 from music he had written for the film The First of the Few earlier that year. 

There were in fact four films released in 1942 with music by Walton. This helped to establish him as a major figure in British film music. The popularity of the music from The First of the Few was such that Spitfire Prelude and Fugue was arranged and recorded in the same year with the composer conducting. 

Sleep – Eric Whitacre 

Originally composed for an acapella choir, Sleep is a setting of Charles Anthony Silvestri’s words that reference flight, the moon and the sky. Reflective and emotive, such is the popularity of this work that it has since been reorchestrated by the composer for concert band, string orchestra, cello ensemble and even marimba quartet. 

‘Pridelands Suite’ from the Lion King – Hans Zimmer/Elton John arr. Lawrence 

This selection of music arranged by former member of the RAF Music, James Lawrence and is taken from the 1994 Walt Disney animated film, The Lion King. Not only a cinematic sensation, it has been a hugely popular and award-winning West End Broadway show. 

Highlights from Disney's 'Planes' – Mancina arr. Brown 

Taking flight for the second half, Mark Mancina's score for the 2013 Walt Disney film, Planes is about a young flying crop duster who dreams of becoming a racer. 

Rolling Thunder – Henry Fillmore 

Rolling Thunder, composed 1916, is one of his more well known works. It includes a fast and extremely technical trombone part, ably performed today by our trombone section, Corporals Gordon MacLachlan, James Case, and Air Specialist (Class 1) Elizabeth Pearce and James Maund. 

The Way to Heaven – Philip Sparke 

The Way to Heaven was commissioned by RAF Music in 2015 to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, which took place between July and October 1940, when the courageous fighter pilots of the Royal Air Force thwarted Hitler's ambitions to launch an invasion of the UK. As well as British pilots many squadrons were drawn from other Commonwealth and allied nations, perhaps the most illustrious being those volunteering from the Polish Air Force, who eventually made up 16 squadrons of Fighter Command. Of these, 303 Squadron, which was formed in July 1940, was based at RAF Northolt from August that year, their Sector Control Hut being situated only a few steps from the current rehearsal facilities of the RAF Central Band. This hut is now being lovingly restored to its original condition and pride of place is taken by a painting by Mark Postlethwaite, which shows the Hurricanes of 303 Squadron climbing to intercept a raid on 27th September 1940, a sortie which led to the death of two pilots and the loss of three aircraft. The painting is called Droga do Nieba (Polish for The Way to Heaven) and is the inspiration for this musical tribute. 

Lovingly Remembered – Andrew Lloyd Webber 

Specially commissioned for the 80th anniversary of D-Day, the work was premiered by RAF Music, singer and songwriter Naomi Kimpenu and the London Youth Chamber Choir at the British Normandy Memorial in Ver-sur-Mer, 6th June 2024. 

Today's performance by Air Specialist (Class 1) Elizabeth Pearce and augmented by the poem 'As Long as Light Shines' by Lemn Sissay, read by Air Specialist (Class 1) Shane Underwood was also premiered by the poet himself at the Bayeux War Cemetery Vigil on 5th June 2024. 

'Now we are Free' from Gladiator – Zimmer arr. Garetto 

Now we are Free is taken from the Academy Award nominated score by Hans Zimmer and Lisa Gerrard, from the soundtrack to the epic film, Gladiator (2000). Watch out for Gladiator 2 hitting the sliver screens in the coming weeks! 

"Finale and Jedi Steps" from The Force Awakens – Williams arr. Lavender 

Soaring back into space with many of the main themes from the Star Wars trilogy Finale and Jedi Steps is taken from the Academy Award nominated score by John Williams. This was Williams' 50th Oscar nomination and his first nomination for a Star Wars film since Return of the Jedi, 1983.  

Royal Air Force March Past – Davies/Dyson 

The official march of the Royal Air Force, composed by Sir Walford Davies in 1918 for the newly formed RAF. It combines the rhythm of the bugle call of the Royal Flying Corps with that of the Royal Naval Air Service, with the Trio being added shortly after by Sir George Dyson. 

We’d like to thank the following individuals and organisations who have made this evening possible: Duncan Barber, OBE, Collins Aerospace and BAE systems.