There will be few dry eyes when Echuca Federal Band unveils the anthem specially commissioned for its 170th anniversary spectacular.

Because Ian Bathgate, the composer of Echuca, died within days of presenting it to the band for its first rehearsal.

Ian’s tribute to the band, its hometown and the musical world he loved has become, in such a poignant way, his requiem.

His son David said his father was already seriously ill with pancreatic cancer when he took on the commission.

“But it rejuvenated him, it was so moving to be part of it, to see how much it inspired him, how much he wanted to make sure it was finished,” David explained.

“Dad had been going downhill, but he made it his mission to complete the work, it had meant so much to him to be asked to do something this important to so many people,” he said.

“He had been a maths teacher but as he was also a jack of all trades, playing piano, drums, saxophone, indeed most brass instruments, he also got the gig of running the school band wherever he was teaching.”

Ian started out at Maclean, in the Northern Rivers region of NSW, and taught at Cobar, Bourke, Gunnedah (where David was born), and finally Deniliquin.

And everywhere he lived and worked, he left a legacy of music to individuals and whole communities (and his children, David playing in bands, still working with South West Music Regional Conservatorium and performing most weekends for an hour or so in Deniliquin aged care facilities).

The connection between the band in Echuca and the ageing composer in Deniliquin was forged by Tamara Carvosoe, who was playing with the band there before, a few years ago, also joining the Echuca Federal Band, eventually followed by others, including David Bathgate.

Who said from time to time, members of the Echuca band helped out with events in Deniliquin – and that’s where band president Peter Heywood met Ian, discovered he was a composer and the commission was offered and enthusiastically accepted.

“Dad had already written Deniliquin’s town song and was so chuffed about this last job,” David said.

“He seemed to be saving all his final reserves of energy so he could sit at his computer and work on the song,” he said.

“It became his total focus, but he found every day that bit harder.”

David said the band in Echuca rehearses every Wednesday night, and he has to be out of Deniliquin by 5.30pm to be there on time.

So, on Wednesday, July 8, at 5pm, Ian Bathgate hit the print button on his computer, having sat in front of it for hours that day to polish his piece.

“I grabbed the printouts, so we had enough for every band member, and as we played it during rehearsals in Echuca, I recorded it on my phone and sent it to dad – I think he was both relieved and so proud to hear it performed,” David said.

“That was the Wednesday night.

“On the Thursday dad went into palliative care, and he died on the Sunday. He was 86 years old,” he said.

“He had finished his work, he felt he could go, for all of us in the family it was something so emotional and so inspiring to be part of.”

But the rehearsals and show always go on, and on Saturday, almost fittingly, Ian’s legacy – and his requiem – will have its first public performance with the band and Echuca Bellas Choir, celebrating the generations of musicians who have been part of the 170 years and thanking the dying man who gave it life.

The concert will be in the Uniting Church at 115 Hare St on November 14 from 2.30pm, entry by donation.

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Wednesday, 10th May 2028

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