AIR FORCE BAND

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 16, 20 January 1941, Page 9

AIR FORCE BAND

CONCERT AT RONGOTAI

PASSING OUT CANCELLED

LARGE ATTENDANCE

Showery weather yesterday was the cause of a last-minute decision to postpone the passing-out ceremonial parade at the R.N.Z.A.F. Station, Rongotai. This meant that a number of Air Force trainees who have successfully completed a three months' course at the station were prevented from giving a display of i the intricate marching they had been practising for some time. The station was open to the public for the occa-1 sion, and between 2000 and 3000 people attended. Although the pass-ing-out ceremonial was off, the crowd was treated to a display of marching by the band of the R.N.Z.A.F., and later to an hour's band concert in the Assembly Hall. Wing Commander T. W. White, officer commanding the station, speaking to the audience before the commencement of the band programme, said he deeply regretted the deletion of the ceremonial passing out from the day's programme. "I am particularly sorry for' those trainees who have trained so hard to make this their day," he said, "but I want the trainees to know we appreciate the. -good work they have put in. At some future date there will be another passing-but ceremony, and ( I hope as many of the public as possible will be able to be present then." I Those in attendance included the Prime Minister (Mr. Fraser) and other members of Cabinet, Air Commodore H. W. L. Saunders (Chief of the Air Staff), Wing Commander E. G. Olson (Air Member for Personnel), and Mr. j T. A. Barrow (Secretary of the Air Department). THE MUSIC. Uncertainty as to the weather neces-1 sitated performance of the musical section of the function in the Centennial Hall, but an exhibition of slow and quick marching was given by the band in the grounds before the concert began. The hall was crowded, many being unable to gain admission. Flight Lieutenant Gladstone Hill, conductor, and the Royal New Zealand Air Force Band were responsible for the musical portion of the proceedings. The audience on this occasion had the privilege of hearing a full military band as distinguished from an all-brass organisation. The programme submitted was admirably compiled for the occasion, including numbers by New Zealand composers and arrangers of Maori music. These were "Waiata Poi" ! and "Tangi" (Alfred Hill), arranged fpr a military band by Flight Lieu-1 tenant Hill, the latter being heard yes- ! terday for the first time in public; also an arrangement of native airs, war cries, and marches as a "Maori Rhapsody," by Llewellyn Jones, Auckland, a work incorporating a stirring haka theme, the whole so adapted for the band performance as to retain the Maori idiom. Other New Zealand items were an impressive setting of "The Airman's Hymn," by Blanche Thompson, Wellington.' This was first played by the band 'and?the audience was invited to sing the verses, led by singers selected from the band. The effect was very impressive. Other items in. the programme were "L'Aiglon" (Floyd St. Clair), a magnificent work; "The Vanquished Army" march (Alford), in remembrance of Kitchener's First Hundred Thousand; "Invercargill" (Lithgow) and "My Regiment" (Blankenberg) march;, and an intensely popular item mainly for side drums, "Slow March," arranged by Bandsman F. Calloway. Individual numbers which met with a great reception were trombone solo, "Firefly" (Harold Moss), performed by Bandsman M. Chisholm; cornet duet, "Ida and Dot" (Losey), by Corporal H. Geard arid Bandsman G. Hookway; and "Lords of the Air," with the rousing refrain "Britannia Rules the Air," played by the band. The director of the music and drum-major was Warrant Officer J. Hardwick.