AUSTRALIAN SILVER BAND

Evening Star, Issue 19143, 9 January 1926, Page 12

AUSTRALIAN SILVER BAND

A WOHDEBFUI CBGAfiISATIOH Music is in the air; it is becoming more and more a part of our national life; it has received an impetus from the musical side of the great Exhibition now being held in our midst. With greater knowledge comes the power to criticise and form comparisons, and thus is the education of the individual, and in turn the nation, complete. An educated man or woman will not be put off with the inferior and spurious; whatever is served up for public consumption most pass tho test of public opinion. And it is right that it should he so. In the interest of art it is right that tho man or woman who tries to “ pat one over” on the public should be put in his place, just as it is the right thing to assist the true artist. Never was tho time more opportune to sift the wheat from the tares. To bring the analogy nearer home, it may be mentioned that when Mr Albert H. Baile took his Australian Band to England in 1924 he had to fight tho stiffest opposition ever felt; he could only got a three weeks’ engagement at the Wembley Exhibition, but by shear pluck and proving they were artists the hand had the season extended to nearly three months—a record engagement for any band during tho whole season of the Exhibition. By recognising the ability of the Australians to draw and interest the huge crowds at each performance the authorities decided to give them pride of place at the Royal luncheon, when the King and Queen of England and the King and Queen of Rumania were the guests of the occasion. Colonel Bersey instructed Major Flemming to convey to Mr Baile and his men that this action was not simply because they were an overseas band, but because of their recognised ability. As a result, Royal patronage was extended to Mr Bade and his band. After that they further demonstrated their ability by winning tho greatest trophy in the world—the £2,000 gold shield at Belle Vue and the championship attached thereto. They further won tho British Empire championship, and, while playing five hours a day at Wembley, secured third place at the Crystal Palace! This is a record that no man or band in the world has ever equalled, and is one that Mr Bade and his men have every reason to feel proud of. After such a strenuous time the hand returned to Australia and were disbanded. Mr Bade set about forming a new and more representative bandone that would embrace the leading soloists of Australia, and ho has succeeded beyond his _ most sanguine dreams. The Australian Silver Band is tho result, and never has any one band had such a wonderful team of soloists. Intending patrons are advised to book their seats at The Bristol when tho plan opens on Wednesday next. The season opens in H.M. Theatre on Monday, January 13.