ARMY FESTIVAL

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 97, 22 October 1934, Page 3

ARMY FESTIVAL

A NOTABLE CONCERT

There was much to appeal both to the ear and to the eye in the musical and choral festival demonstration held in the Town Hall on Saturday night by the balvation Array. The Army attaches great value to the power of music in connection with its work and, in addition to many very fine bandsmen, it has produced considerable talent in instrumentalists and vocalists. In Saturday night's programme there was both quantity and quality, seven bands, comprising about 180 bandsmen, and a "songster brigade" of 150 voices being among the contributing artists. An excellent attendance thoroughly enjoyed each item and, had the repeated desire for encores beeing acceded to, the concert would have been exceedingly lengthy. Prior to the commencement of the festival an impressive display was made by the performing bands as they marched at two-minute intervals to the Town Hall. The bands participating, with the names of their bandmasters in parentheses, were: Auckland Congress Hall (T. S. Pace), Christchurch (N. Goffln), Feilding (A. Harford), Napier (C. Fitzwater), Petone (11. Dutton), Wellington City (Deputy Bandmaster C. Pengelly), Wellington South (Deputy Bandmaster D. Lamond).

The concert had a most impressive opening. The opening song of the Army, led by Bandmaster T. Pace, was followed by a prayer by Major A. J. Suter. _ The united bands, under the baton o£ Adjutant H. Goffin, played "Spirit of Praise." A concerted Bible recitation (Psalm 111) followed, after which the chief secretary, Colonel Albert Orsborn, who presided, gave an address. Bandmaster .0. Fitzwatcr and Bandsman Radcliffe played a cornet duet, ''Cleansing Stream," and Envoy W. Bridge sans with feeling "My Hope is Everlasting." The Petone Band was then heard in "A Warning Message," a selection which is primarily spiritual, and relies upon depth of feeling rather^ than what may be called showy music. An exceptionally fine item was that given by the Auckland octet party (L. Neeve, W. Jones, J. Dovey, E. Dunn, C; Simpson, F. Gladding, H. Dopson, and C. Coulstock), a perfectly-trained vocal combination. A rousing selection, "Over Jordan," was played by the .Wellington South Band. It opened with .trumpet effects by cornets and trombones and closed with brilliant and stirring chords. It was evident that much careful preparatory work had been carried out when the songster brigade, led by Adjutant S. Inwood, sang "Hark, the Clarion Call," a form of vocal inarch. Several wd'-known Army melodies were heard in a selection ("In the Army of the Lord) by the Wellington City Young People's ' Band, conducted by G. Bailey. Exhibiting the great facility in execution required by the somewhat difficult piece he was playing, Bandsman H. Geard earned warm applause for a cornet solo, "Happy Day." The Feilding Band played "Conquerors," a. selection commencing with a fanfare and passing on to three diiferent song motifs. A violin solo, "Paraphrase on PadercwsK," was given by Bandsman E. Danholdt, who showed real command of his instrument. The Napier Band played a selection from Haydn's symphonies, the piece having a. beautiful andante and an animated finale. A vocal selection by tlw Auckland octet party, "Glory to God in the Highest," was followed by a trombone solo, "A Never-failing Friend," by Bandsman W. Gosper, and a pianoforte solo by Bandsman L. Sutton. Band music with breadth and majesty was supplied by the Auckland Congress Hall Band in its rendering of "Adoration," which includes special parts for leading instruments. After the songster brigade had sung "If You Only Knew," the Auckland Band was heai'd again iii the march "Conflict." Bandsman K. Macaulay, a well-known performer, sang a vocal solo, '"The Lord is My Light." The Christchurch Band played a selection, "Discipleship," a deeply spiritual piece, and later played a march, "Warrior Grit." Another fine violin solo was played by Bandmaster C. Fitzwater. Extracts from the music of Tschaikowsky were played by the Wellington City Band. The selection provided opportunities for solo instruments, and finished with notable effects in hnrmouy and colour. A closing Bong, "All Hail tils Power," ended a splendid night's entertainment.