Monty Pearce
Monty Pearce (1933 to 2010) in 1965, composer and member of Redruth Town Band
(Photo: Henry Parkinson courtesy Paddy Bradley, Redruth)
Phillip Hunt talking about Monty Pearce on “Sounds of Brass”– included here by kind permission of BBC Radio Devon/BBC Radio Cornwall
Montague James Pearce (1933-2010)
A tribute by Phillip Hunt on behalf of the Pearce Family. 25/2/2010.
The Cornish Composer and Organist Montague James Pearce, known to all as Monty, died on January 29th. A native of Redruth his musical education started at the age of seven when he commenced piano lessons with Donald Broad, the Organist and Choirmaster at the Fore Street Methodist Chapel, known as the Flowerpot, in Redruth. A few years later he joined his father Ernest and brothers Jack and Leonard in The Redruth Town Band, starting on Baritone, transferring to Euphonium and finally settling on Bass Trombone.
At the age of eighteen he had his first experience of conducting when he was appointed Deputy Bandmaster, experience which stood him in good stead in his later life as a professional musician. Originally working in local industry it was only some years later that he decided to try his hand at a full time musical career. He went on to enjoy great success and became well known all over the Country for his outstanding talent as an Organist, particularly in playing for strict tempo ballroom, sequence and old time dancing. He played on many musical tours on Cruise Liners and visits to several other countries, including Spain, Portugal and Madeira spread his name even wider.
His interest in composing had started by the late 1940’s and he became particularly well known for his Hymn Tunes, the first of which, Mowbray, was published in 1950. Monty had that innate skill, so often found in Cornish Composers, of being able to write memorable hymn tunes and set them to the most appropriate words. Eight of them arranged for brass band, were published in 1991, the most popular being Treskerby, which he had named after the birthplace of his wife, Florence.
Many dance tunes followed as well as orchestral pieces, marches and countless arrangements for his own Organ Concerts. In recent years he had been working with the young Cornish composer, Gareth Churcher, in arranging some of the pieces for brass band. These included the march Molinnis Park, which was used as a Test Piece at The West of England Bandsman’s Festival in 2008.
As well as dedication to his Family, Monty fitted many other activities into his busy life, including ownership of Hayle Cinema and a music shop in Bond Street, Redruth, but his real love was performing and writing music. A modest and engaging man, Monty Pearce wore his considerable talent lightly, always ready for a friendly word with all he met and he was a familiar figure at brass band events. There was no doubt that everyone at his Funeral at Redruth Methodist Church agreed with the Reverend Amanda Stevens when she summed Monty up as, “A True Cornish Gentleman”.
These notes were included in the 2008 programme of the West of England Bandsmen’s Festival (Bugle Contest) were written by Ian Powell – Secretary of the West of England Bandsmen’s Festival
