PERSONAL

Northern Advocate, 14 August 1929, Page 4

PERSONAL

. The death occurred reeontly in Launceston, Tasmania, of Mr Alex P. Lithgow, well-known in New Zealand as a bandmaster and composer, and at. one time champion cornetist of the Dpminion. - The late Mr Lithgow, who was a New Zealander by birth,, commenced his musical education when very young, and at the age of nine he won the cornet solo championship of the Dominion. For a number of years he was connected with bands in Now Zealand, but in .1891, at the age of nineteen, he left for Launceston, where h o e took over the bandraastership of the St. Joseph’s Band. His ability as a bandmaster soon brought this band to the front, and it was successful; hr writhing Challenge matches. He returned to New Zealand in 1901, taking the late Mr E. C, Derry’s place a» leader of the Woolston Band. Later, oh account of his wife’s hcilth, he returned to Tasmania, afterwards leading several bands and orchestras in Australia. He was the founder of the Launceston Orchestral Society. The late Mr Lithgow was known to old-time bandsmen as ‘ ‘ Bellbird, ’’ ami he was popular with all with whom he. c|rhe in 'Contact. Present-day bandsmen are, frnmlisTr with his compositions, one of the most popular being the quickstep, “Invercargill.” His brother, the laite Mr Thomas Lithgow, was for miany years conductor of the Invercargill Garrison Band.