MASSED BANDS

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 173, 19 April 1937, Page 5

MASSED BANDS

Pageant at Newtown Park

That the public of Wellington appreciate band music was proved by tjie attendance of some 4000 at the parade of massed bands of Wellington held at New town Park yesterday afternoon. lue weather was beautifully fine, and _ the green sward of the park made an ideal getting for the bandsmen with their gmart uniforms and glittering silver instruments which flashed in the bright sun rays as the bands marched, counter-marched, wheeled and turned with military precision about the grounds. The bands on parade were the 1' irst Battalion of the Wellington Regiment (under Warrant-Officer H. Baker), the Artillery Band (Lieutenant W. Bowman) the Institute Silver Band (Bandmaster I. Iremonger), and the Regimental Pipe and Drum Band (Drum-Major A. Hobson). The bands first marched across the park individually, playing their own selections, and assembled in massed torni’ition in front o£ the steps at the southern end of the park. Here, under the baton of Warrant-Officer H. Baker, they opened with the playing of the New Zealand national anthem, “God Defend New Zealand.” This was followed by the stirring march "The Challenge” (W. Calvert) and the hymn “Sandon.” The bandsmen delighted their large audience by the finished manner in which they played the various selections, and everyone was delighted when cornet solos were then heard from players located among the trees on the top of the hill. The Artillery Band next gave a fine display of marching to the strains of “The Howitzer” (John W. AVbiteV. The band marched, counter-marched, turned and wheeled like one man, and was loudly applauded at the end of a fine performance, both from musical and drilling points of view: The pipers filled in the breaks between the items of the brass band with a series of bright selections. It was the unanimous wish of the large crowd present that Wellington’s bands should be heard oftener in such delightful outdoor concerts.