R.N.Z.A.F. BAND

Camp News, Volume 1, Issue 43, 4 October 1940, Page 3

R.N.Z.A.F. BAND

Model Of Famous Guards Bands At Home

IMPRESSIVE COMBINATION

Judged by the performance of the Central Band of the R.N.Z.A.F. at Athletic Park on Saturday, .a fresh chapter is about, to be written into the history of band music in New Zealand, a chapter which will mark the foundation on its true- basis -of the military band, modelled on the Guards’ bands at Home. Reconstructed and reorganized from the original Air Force Band —a territorial organization—the Central' Band of the R.N.Z.A.F. now consists purely of enlisted members of the R.N.Z.A.F., and has a strength of 58—18 instrumentalists, both brass and woodwind, and 10 drummers. It includes many leading instrumentalists, some of them having won Dominion championships. ; <

Probably the most noted of be few military bands that have existed in this country is Derry’s Band, Christchurch, an organization patterned on. the Guards’ bands. In its" best days, this band had a membership of upward of 60. Noted military bands which have visited New Zealand are Sousa’s Band, the Royal Artillery Band from Woolwich, which took part in the Auckland Exhibition, probably the finest combination of its kind to visit this country, the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Band under Lieut. Ricketts, composer of the march "Colonel Bogey,” which

appeared at the Dunedin Exhibition, and the Grenadier Guards Band.

The Central Band of the R.N.Z.A.F. is the first real New Zealand approach to the true military band. For marching the instrumentation is confined to woodwind and brass, but for concert performances the string sections will be introduced. Possessing so great an array of talent, the band should prove a great attraction both in concert programmes and in military displays, and there is a likelihood that such a band may be utilized ’to tour New Zealand for patriotic purposes.

Interesting Innovations.

Under the charge of Flight Lieut. Gladstone Hill, Director of Music for the R.N.Z.A.F. the band has already attained a high standard of musical proficienecy, as was indicated by the intonation and general standard of musicianship on Saturday. A feature was the front line of six trombones—an innovation in New Zealand and one that greatly impressed bandsmen and band lovers among the crowd. The quality of-the trombone playing in the march “National Emblem” was very pleasing.

Much yet remains to be. accomplished in military movements by the band, but Saturday’s display was a most commendable one considering that the only practice in military movements the band bad had took place on Saturday' morning under Drum-Major A. V. Brown, drill instructor from the Woodbourne aerodrome, Blenheim. Drum-Major Brown is well known to the Wellington public, having been drum-major to the Wellington Caledonian Society’s Pipe Band. He was marshal at the octagonal serpentine display at Athletic Park in October of last' year.

Another interesting feature of Saturday’s performance was a fanfare inreduction by cornets, horns and trombones to the National Anthem, specially arranged 'by Flight Lieut. Gladstone Hill.

Giving evidence last week, a soldier complained to a magistrate that every time he comes home on leave, his wife goes through his pockets systematically each night. What one might call a repeating rifle.