The Chronicle of Anne Bonny (Jared McCunnie) - Boroondara Brass (MD: Daniel van Bergen)

World Premiere performance of 'The Chronicle of Anne Bonny' (Jared McCunnie) by Open B Grade Brass Champions Boroondara Brass at the 2023 Australian National Band Championships.

'The Chronicle of Anne Bonny', commissioned and premiered by Boroondara Brass at the 2023 Australian National Band Championships, tells the epic tale of Anne Bonny, a ruthless pirate. The musical tale opens ominously, before exploding into her renowned fierce temper. She allegedly stabbed a servant maid to death, and incapacitated a would-be male attacker. Anne, to the displeasure of her father, ran away from home with a James Bonny. When James became a pirate informer, however, she met Captain Calico Jack Rackam. A romance blossomed, and she joined him upon his ship, Revenge.

Upon Revenge, Anne's courage suited the life of a pirate, though she was often disguised in men's clothing. When she fell pregnant with Calico Jack's child, in an effort to conceal her true gender, she was dropped off in Cuba until she gave birth. However, upon returning to the ship, Captain Jack began growing jealous of an increasingly close relationship between Anne and another pirate Mark Read. Upon confronting the two of them, it was revealed that Mark was in fact a disguised female pirate as well, namely Mary Read. Mary and Anne had developed an amicable bond due to their particular situations both leading to a pirate life of disguise. Anne and Calico Jack's relationship was swiftly restored.

However, one morning after a joyful night of celebrating upon the Revenge, the British Navy stormed the ship. All the crew but Anne and Mary were too drunk to fight off the navy, yet the two women fought them bravely. However, the two alone were quickly overpowered and the ship was captured. All on board were sentenced to death by hanging for the crime of piracy. On the day of Captain Jack's execution, he was admitted to see Anne, but she gave little comfort, saying she was sorry to see him there, but if he had fought like a man, he need not have been hanged like a dog.
Both Anne and Mary were pardoned, as they plead their bellies (that is, that they were pregnant).

Mary died from a fever but Anne Bonny's history is not so clear.


You can purchase 'The Chronicle of Anne Bonny' for Brass Band at www.jaredmccunnie.com/thechronicleofannebonny

Difficulty - 1st Section+