A BAND NEEDS MUSIC

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 153, 10 September 1941, Page 6

A BAND NEEDS MUSIC

(From Official "War Corresponden!

with the N.Z.E.F.)

CAIRO, August 10

Nowhere perhaps is the charm ot music more fully appreciated than in a military camp situated far from anything resembling a busy metropolis. Few bands indeed have been so fully appreciated as the band attached to the brigade which left New Zealand about a year ago, as it has just completed a ,scri.es of j concerts in enc" of those isolated nreas. While the camp where the band has been stationed for some weeks fs situated In ideal surroundings, the locality is nevertheless a fair journey from anything resembling, bright lights. Furthermore, the area has been visited by German bombers. The concerts have not been confined to New Zealand camps. Many English units have been visited, and the concerts were warmly appreciated, particularly in the more remote camps. The concerts have also been appreciated at a convalescent hospital where there are many New Zealand patients. There have been few changes in the personnel of the band since it left New Zealand nearly a year ago. It has been greatly in demand in Cairo and one of its feature performances was at the reception given to General de Gaulle and Sir Miles and Lady Lampson. It played again at a garden party given bv Lady Lampson for convalescents.

One difficulty experienced by the band lias been the, shortage of music. Brass hand music is unprocurable in Egypt. The possession of a wider selection of music would

better enable this popular comb In aticm the necessary work that has ab ready won the praise and gratitude of Allied units throughout this area.