BATTALION BAND

Southland Times, Issue 22898, 25 May 1936, Page 4

BATTALION BAND

SUCCESSFUL CONCERT SCOTTISH PROGRAMME That the Sunday evening concerts of the Band of the Ist Battalion, Southland Regiment, enjoy an ever-increas-ing popularity was demonstrated again last evening. The Regent Theatre was packed to the doors for the special Scottish programme presented as a result of the amazing success of a similar programme the previous Sunday, and the large audience was not slow to show its approval of the bright and well-varied numbers.

The Caledonian Pipe Band assisted the Battalion Band. The vocal soloists, Messrs P. Linton Hodge and Arthur Murphy, who proved so popular the previous Sunday, were again in good voice, while the Boys’ Band added to its already high reputation. Particularly interesting items were the band number “Men of the Road” and “I’m Going to Hitch My Waggon to a Star,” composed by Mr Howard Moody for the Southland talking picture, “The Waggon and the Star.” Lieutenant R. J. Simpson’s skill with the trumpet was revealed in his fine interpretation of a particularly difficult solo, “The Mighty Pacific.”

A special request number, the Silly Symphony “Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?” was also extremely popular. The programme was as follows:— “The Barren Rocks of Aden” (massed bands—the Caledonian Pipe Band and the Battalion Band); bagpipe solo, PipeMajor G. Hoffman (accompaniste, Miss M. Hoffman); song (band accompaniment) “Abide With Me,” Mr P. Linton Hodge; band item, “Scotland Forever” (arranged by Lieutenant R. J. Simpson); cornet duet, “The Friendly Rivals,” Sergeants F. Forbes and J. R. Cowley; band items, “Men of the Road” and “I’m Going to Hitch My Waggon to a Star,” conducted by the composer, Mr Howard Moody; song, “Vienna, City of My Dreams,” Mr Arthur Murphy; items by the Boys’ Band; chorus hymn, “It Is Well With My Soul,” Messrs A. Aldridge, D. Young, W. Service, J. McLure and R. Henderson; song, “Legion of the Lost,” Mr P. Linton Hodge; band item, “Craigielee”; Caledonian Pipe Band numbers; trumpet solo, “The Mighty Pacific,” arranged and played by Lieutenant R. J. Simpson; Silly Symphony, “Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?” Messrs V. C. Durant, H. Sandri, A. Aldridge and W. Walker; Scottish novelty, “Misty Islands of the Highlands,” Sergeants F. Forbes and J. R. Cowley, and Bandsmen E. Harvey and V. C. Durant; song, “The Thistle,” Doris Miller.

Mr Gordon Lindsay was the accompanist.