A Boy from Hahndorf: The Long Journey Home

Bartlett’s fictional story describes the career path of a country boy who, with his euphonium, climbs to the pinnacle of the brass band world. The setting is the German town of Hahndorf in the Adelaide Hills. In full and instructive prose, the writer explores the socio-economic transition of family and communal life from the post-war period of the 1950s to the 1970s and 1980s. Television and the quickening of capitalism bring dramatic changes to Australia. It is experienced in all aspects of society, including the local brass bands. Mark Schubert’s epiphany was that he would excel as a band boy. And he did, but not without struggles and disappointments. He becomes Australia’s brass champion five times. An ill-conceived marriage almost dooms his career dreams. Dramatically, he changes course and joins the Royal Australian Navy as a musician. A rich and rewarding sojourn with the U.S. Naval Academy band in Annapolis and a PhD at Johns Hopkins University fulfills his professional dreams. Back in Australia, and close to family, he begins a new phase in his career as an innovator seeking a new direction for military music in the Australian Defence Force. God has his plans and Mark has faith in this fact. At the right time, Claire walks into his life. A whirlwind romance follows, and in nine months, they wed. Mark had to come home to find all he had ever hoped, and prayed, for. It is Bartlett’s observation that sporting activities are alive and well in urban and rural settings. He laments this is not so for the arts, especially the musical arts. Brass bands, concert bands and choirs of the 21st. Century are in need of champions who will promote, fund, nurture, and sustain these unique group community expressions of musical arts. Read more