SALVATION ARMY CONCERT

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 92, 20 April 1931, Page 3

SALVATION ARMY CONCERT

The festival o£ music given in the Town Hall on Saturday night by the Salvation Army bands and the Congress Songster Brigade was well up to the high standard Bet by previous events of this character. The festival was presided over by Commissioner Cunningham, and the Wellington City, Wellington South, Petone, Lower Hutt, and Miramar Bands took part in the programme. The opening item was a stirring inarch entitled "Silver Hill," played by the united bands under Bandmaster Scotney. The Wellington City Band was heard to advantage in three selections. Parts of Haydn's work were chosen for one of these, and some really charming music resulted. The second piece was "The King of Kings." "Contemplation," a composition by Bandmaster Scotney, was the third piece. This piece is based on the verses of a wellknown Army hymn. The Congress Songsters, a combination of 150 voices under the direction of Brigadier Harewood, contributed three tiems which called forth much well-merited applause. The Grand Organ accompaniment, by Mr. Clem. Howe, added much to the effectiveness of the singing. Some very fine solo singing was a feature of the programme which the audience greatly enjoyed. Bandsman Bridge sang an extract from Stainer's "Crucifixion" with piano accompaniment, and an excerpt from Mendelssohn's "Elijah," with band accompaniment. Songster Leader Armstrong also chose an excerpt from Mendelssohn's "Elijah" and Gounod's "There is a Green Hill." Miss N. Gray was the accompanist. Another solo, with grand organ accompaniment, was sung by Mrs. Pengelly, who chose excerpts from Hawley and Handel. _ A ! negro spiritual was rendered in spirited style' by a vocal quartet, consisting of j Major Caporn and Ensigns Dutton, Inwood, and Mahaffie. "When They Ring the Golden Bells" was sung as a duet by Bandsmen Macaulay and Pike, with splendid effect. The Wellington City Girls' Bible Class, under the direction of Conductor W. Craven, sang- "0 Lord, Abide With Me." A men's quartet, Songster Leader. Armstrong and Bandsmen Bridge, Pengelly, and Rossiter, was heard in two selections, "He Wept for Me," and "Remember Me, 0 Mighty One." Instrumental items included a pianoforte quartet consisting of Mrs. Peterson, Misses N. Gray, R; Gray, and A. Caporn. They played two stirring pieces, "The Marionette Overture," by Gurlett, and "The War March of the Priests," by Mendelssohn. Miss T. Edwards was heard in a pianoforte solo, "Automne," by Chaminade. A bass trombone solo was performed with credit by Bandsman Wells, who played "My Pilot." This solo was specially arranged for Mr. Wells, and the final part, in which the full trombone section of the band burst into accompaniment, was a thrilling finish. Elocutionary items were given by Miss Lucy Lea and Miss Jessie Gray, and the programme concluded with a march by tlie united bands, entitled "Constantly Abiding."