WELSH GUARDS BAND

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 132, 1 December 1938, Page 17

WELSH GUARDS BAND

DOMINION LUCEY

.VERSATILE MEMBERS

A POPULAR CONDUCTOR

The New Zealand Centennial Exhibition will have probably the most popular overseas band yet to visit the Dominion. It is not only that the general manager (Mr. C. P. Hainsworth) spared no efforts while in England to secure a band of high standard in the Old Country, but because the conductor, Lieut. T. S. Chandler, L.R.A.M., A.C.E.M., p.s.m., who is the Musical Director of the Welsh Guards Band, mingles popular music with classical in his programmes, and the band's motto is versatility. Lieut. Chandler first studied music under his father in the 18th Koyal Irish. He was also five years a chorister at King Edward School. He is one of the few bandmasters who have obtained the hdnours diploma from Kneller Hall. For many years he was with the King's Royal Regiment, and at that time was a regular broadcaster from Midland stations. After that he was conductor of the Royal' Tank Corps Band, the youngest but by no means the least important of Army Staff bands. Its uniform is a picturesque dark blue and gold, and it has as its colours, brown, red, and green, illustrating a grim motto, "From mud through blood, to green pastures." In January, 1938, Lieut. Chandler was promoted to the Welsh Guards Band. Writing of the performance of the Welsh Guards Band at Eastbourne, the /October "Musical Progress and Mail," referring to the "admirable conductorship" of Lieut Chandler, says:—"The fine tone and ensemble of this admirable band have been heard to advantage, both in concerted pieces and, in several instances, as solo instrumentalists. . The classics have been by no means neglected, for fine performances have been given of such favourites as the "Swan Lake Ballet" of Tschaikbwski, the Sibelius Valse Triste, standard overtures by Suppe, . with light and charming selections from "The Mikado," Friml's "Firefly," Novellp's "Glamorous Nights," Coward's "Operette," Coleridge Taylor's "Petite Suite de Concert," and many others. It was a week of attractive programmes." In a letter to Lieut. Chandler, Mr. Norman McDermott, Director of Entertainments at the Glasgow Exhibition, writes: "I take the opportunity of saying that, from our point of view, and musically, yours is one of the best entertainments we have had." The story of the Welsh Guards Band dates from 1915, when it was formed by order of the King, and in a few months it had taken its place in the Guards Division in France, upholding worthily the best traditions of the famous Brigade of Guards. The band was formed by Major Andrew Harris, M.V.0., L.R.A.M., who had just been appointed Director of Music by the King. Its first public performance was on March 1, 1916 (St. David's Day) at the London' Opera House, since when it has taken its place with the leading British Military Bands, performing in Paris, Rome, Milan, Florence, and all principal English towns with success. Outstanding events in the band's history, are concerts given in the Trqcadero and Tuileries Gardens, "- Paris, with the massed bands of the Brigade of Guards, in May, 1917, and the visit, of the Allied Bands to Italy in February, 1918. In May, 1918, at the request of the American Embassy, the band played at the Memorial Service in Paris, and in July, 1919, it was again detailed for duty in Paris, on the occasion of the great French Victory March, and had the honour of playing the colours of the British Army through the Arc de Triomphe. The reputation of the band is now firmly established as being1 at least equal lo that of other famous Guards' Bands. It worthily upholds the reputation of musical Wales. The band will consist of 45 music-

ians, nearly all of whom play more - than one instrument, and also has a vocal quartet and vocal. soloists.