''Precision'' is the authorized
march
March is the third month of the year in both the Julian and Gregorian calendars. Its length is 31 days. In the Northern Hemisphere, the meteorological beginning of spring occurs on the first day of March. The March equinox on the 20 or 2 ...
of
Royal Military College of Canada
The Royal Military College of Canada (), abbreviated in English as RMC and in French as CMR, is a Military academy#Canada, military academy and, since 1959, a List of universities in Canada#Ontario, degree-granting university of the Canadian ...
. The
RMC band performs Precision during parades and march pasts, as well as on Ex-Cadet Weekends.
History
Precision was composed in 1932 by Denise Chabot, wife of Major C. A. Chabot,
a
Royal Canadian Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery () is the artillery personnel branch of the Canadian Army.
History
Many of the units and batteries of the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery are older than the Dominion of Canada itself. The first arti ...
officer on staff as professor of French at the College at the time. She earned the degree of Associate of the
Royal Conservatory of Music
The Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM; ), branded as The Royal Conservatory, is a non-profit music education institution and performance venue headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was founded in 1886 by Edward Fisher (musician), Edwar ...
and was the president of the Kingston Music Club.
''Precision'' was inspired by "Madelon", one of the popular marching songs sung and whistled by the cadets marching on their way to the Riding School, and the favourite song of the Class of 1932. Mme Chabot improvised a variation on the song, to represent the cadence of the cadets on the march. The composition starts, “We are the gentlemen cadets of RMC We have sworn to love and serve Her Majesty…”
[Source: Royal Military College of Canada – Review Yearbook (Kingston, Ontario Canada) – Class of 1942 pg. 76]
The as-yet untitled composition was presented to RMC in the spring of 1932, it was orchestrated for military band by Captain F. W. Coleman of the
Royal Canadian Horse Artillery.
In the fall of 1933 the Associated Screen News Ltd. made a full-length feature “Precision” (1933) film, “A sample look at discipline at the Royal Military College. The emphasis is on precision gymnastics displays, ceremonial battalion marches in full uniform, and the changing of the sentry demonstrated by gentlemen cadets of the College. Seen is the exterior of the RMC buildings (the Stone Frigate)." Mme Chabot found the name fitting and in 1933 called her composition by the same title.
Lyrics
The College will, when the occasion calls for it, sing along to Precision.
Professor Tom F. Gelley, also of the College Staff, composed words in 1932 to fit the spirit expressed in the College motto, "Truth, Duty, Valour" and measure of the music. The title "Heads Up" was a hockey expression. The work was presented to the College through the then B.S.M., J. G. Carr, and was accepted by the then Commandant, Major-General W. H. P. Elkins. The lyrics by Professor Thomas Fraser Gelley, of the College Staff, were published in the R.M.C. Review in 1941.
The lyrics have been altered over time. In the late 1950s the 3rd verse, “And strive to keep our Empire’s unity” became “And strive to keep our country’s unity”; and in the 4th verse, “For Canada and for our Empire great” became: “For Canada our land both broad and great”.
Since 1980, the 3rd verse, “We are the gentlemen cadets of RMC” was changed to “We are the officer cadets of RMC”.
Ex Cadet Remembers the RMC March Past “Precision” and Wonders…
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See also
* Authorized marches of the Canadian Forces
The following is a list of the notable authorized marches for various organisations of the Canadian Armed Forces. The first march listed is the march most commonly performed for that organisation on parade; it is commonly referred to simply as tha ...
External links
Audio clip of "Precision" at the RMC websiteProfile on Mme Chabot in RMC e-veritasThe Official RMC WebsiteRMC's Alumni WebsiteReunion Weekend - Old Brigade Marches down Highway 2
to the tune of ''Precision''
References
{{Royal Military College of Canada
Canadian military marches
Royal Military College of Canada
Military history of Canada
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fr:Collège militaire royal du Canada
nl:Royal Military College of Canada
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