BAND GOSSIP.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6120, 5 March 1898, Page 7

BAND GOSSIP.

[By Tomtoh.l FITZGERALD BROS/ BAND. (Conductor— Herb Von der Mbhden.) Alas ! too many circus bands are simply vile combinations for <the production of illtreated melodies, much noiso — with drum and cymbals as iiccompaniuient — but. little or nc- music. It wa3 the famed "Wouibwell's Show," Tvhich some thirty or forty years ago travelled through England, that first elevated circus music, when old Ralph Livesy, Lewis Carr, Montgomery and their musical confreres played the best . music of the day, and charmed countless thousands in the Old Land. Messrs Fitzgerald Brothers, have done the fame for the colonies, us io evidenced by their excellent little .band, under the baton of Herr Von der Mehclen, whose, reputation' as_arrapger, composer, conductor and soloist is known all the world over. Mr. D. H. Hannah, who is Herr Von der Mehden's assistant as cornetist, in 1889 •won the cornet scio gold medal at the Gippsland band contest. He was bandmaster of the military band at Cue, Murchison Goldfields, West Australia. Mr George Graham, as a solo tenor, although quite a young player, has already mada a name for himself. Mr Alfred Simpson is an old professional horn player, and it is almost needless to state that he is well up iu his work. The solo baritone player, Mr Edward Griffin from Sydney, is an artist of considerable ability, and the rendering of his solos and cadenzas every evening the circus is open to the public is sufficient to satisfy the most exacting critic as to his abilities. Mr Anthony Keavey, who is a bombardon player of the right sorb for giving body to a band working in this particular business, commenced his musical career at an eavly age. For the, past two years he has been with the present' firm, which fac6 is a proof of rf hi3 ellipieKcy. as an, instrumentalist. Lapt, "but by no moans least, come the drummers, /Btfps=r3 Jones and.Morris. The Messrs Pitzgi-rald Bros, are to becongratu- : lafed on li:iviiig pno'bf the "best circus'bands heard in New Zealand. !, ' Amongst the numerous compositions of Horr Vpnder Mehdeh is an operetta, The Eermii— given with sig'nal success in "various American opera houses— as well as waltzes, marches, polkas, &c. The " Elephant Slow March" and a polka, " Ihe Eureka," are real gems. As a clover cornetist and an enthusiast in all musical matters, Herr Von der Mehdeu is hard to match, and cannotbe beaten.