SCOTS CONCERT

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 132, 1 December 1938, Page 6

SCOTS CONCERT

VARIED PROGRAMME

ADDRESS BY MINISTER

The national music of Scotland was drawn upon for the Scots concert (presented in the Town Hall last night by the St. Andrew Musical Society under the auspices of the Wellington Association of Scots Societies. There was a large attendance, including the Minister of Health and Education (the Hon. P. Eraser) and Mrs. Fraser and Dr. Dougall McFarlane, ex-moderator of the Church of Scotland, who came to New Zealand to attend the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church. During the first half of the concert Mr. Fraser , addressed the audience. He congratulated all responsible for the concert which, he said, was being held with the commendable object of assisting the Presbyterian Orphanage and other philanthropic purposes. Mr. Fraser spoke of the part the society played in keeping alive Scottish sentiment. The children of the first generation of Scots who came to New Zealand and their children's children had not forsaken the motherland, said Mr. Eraser. They still kept-her spirit in song and story and remembered the great fight she had put up for civil and religious liberty. That sentiment ■■ had grown speedily in New Zealand where the Scottish people were helping to buildiup a great country that would give happiness, security, and prosperity to everyone. Every Scot felt that that was worth fighting for and worth living for. The:^eritiment that had grown up in.Scottish soil now flourished and grew in New Zealand.

I Pipe music at its best was contributed to the long programme by the Wellington Caledonian, Police, Scots College, and Hutt Valley Pipe Bands and the drums of the Wellington Regiment.' The combined bands opened the concert with the following items: — "Earl of Mansfield" (march); -"Marquis of Huntley" (strathspey), and, "Tail Toddle" (reel). The bands also ended the programme with the march, "Cocko' the North" and the waltz, "Blue Hills." Miss G. McKay contributed three bagpipe solos.

Highland dancing also figured prominently in the fate: dffered. All dancing items, the efforts of some of the juveniles were very

popular with the audience. The dancing was of an exceptionally high standard. The items given'included a sword dance. Highland fling, Highland reel, and Reel o' Tulloch.

Specials mention should be made of the humorous singing of Mri P.' Isbister. He „ sang Hhe well-known Harry Lauder song "The Reason Why I Wear a Kilt" and was called back for ah encore.

Other vocal solos- were contributed as follows:—"The Battle of Stirling," by Mr. K. Macaulay; "Loch-na-gar," by Mrs. E. Wiltshire;*, "Kishmul's Gulley," by Mr. L. J. Hopkins; "Caller Herrin," Mrs. W. Morrish; and the Gaelic song Graoh Geal mo Chriok (an Eriskay love lilt), by Mrs. H. McWhinnie. Encores were demanded in each case. Fine choral singing was contributed by the Queen Margaret College choir, conducted by Miss Hirst ("Road to the Isles"); Presbyterian Orphanage choir, conducted by Me: J. Quinlan ("Turn"Ye to Me"); Scots College choif, conducted by Mr. V. F. O. Francis ("Scots Wha Hae''); and ,Scots Social Club ladies' choir, conducted by Mr. Q. Wilson. A violin solo, "Auld Scotch Sangs," was played by Mr. W. Newland, and Mr. J. B. Thomson gave, a reading from Sir James Barrie, "A Border Farmer on the' Plight of Scottish Agriculture." The official accompanist was Madame Evelyn de Mauny, and the official piper was Pipe-Major C-Stewart. At the end of the concert the audience stood up and joined in singing "Auld Lang Syne."