Military Band Pleases With Popular Numbers

Chronicle (Levin), 5 April 1948, Page 4

Military Band Pleases With Popular Numbers

Those citizens Who did not aVail themselves of the OppOftunity ' of nearing the first tull military c-and to visit Levin for a number of years must- regfet it, as the numbers presented by the Lower Hutt Qivic Military Band pn % the jPark Domain yesterday was a* treat sel■dom heard by the Levin public, and • Was deserving of a larger attendfince. The function which was arranged by the Levin Boys' Military Band wfts deseribed by the Mayor, Mr. H.- u BHurdekin as an important Oeca-^M, sion for LeVin, and' in Welcoming the Visiting band he said it Was a line gesture on their part in cOming to lend encouragement to the Levin organisation. Mr. Burdekhi also conveyed the thanks of the Levin Boys3 Military Band to the Horowhenua Pipe and Levin Municipai Bands, who had turned out to asSist with the afternoon's prograMme. Mf., M. H. Boyce in introducing Mr. Schwabe, the aeting conductor of the Lower Hutt Band, apologised for the absence of Mr. Kpeble ThirkettlS, tlife conductor, who was not able to be present. In the course of his femarks in rdply to the welcome -extended to them, Mr, Schwabe said it Was ' on occaSions when bands ' got tOgether that they were able to.listen tb eacli other, and learn from each othef as well, thus nlaklhg for iniprovement in their playing. The programme was opened by the Levin Boys' Militarv Band , iinder the baton of Mr. J. Hayfield. Their pi'esentation was the march "Invercargill" and the rendition was very well received, the combination having made good progress since they last appeared in public, notWithstan'ding the fact that they were in recess during the infantile . paralysis restrictions. Visiting Band's Presentation [ The first number by the visiting band was the march "Washington Greys" and the stirring strains of this nUmber, which has always been popular with bands and the public, prepared music lOvers for the next number, "The Serenade" from the >Student Prince by Romberg. Popularly received also was Keeble Thirkettle's arrangement of the "Skaters' Waltz," this number being musterly rendered. Tlie highlight of the afternoon, and What all were Waiting for Was the Wedding March as played at the Wedding of Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh. This aptly demonstrated just what the , band could do, and the bl'ending iri of the various instruments Was a I credit to Mr. Keeble Thirkettle who ihad the organ music sent out by airmaii, wrote the full bafid pafts from it, and played it in public the Sitnday following the. wedding. Yet another popular number was "The Bells of St. Mary's," which Was fol- ... lowod by the hymn, "Rockingham," while "The Lady of Spain" was another' selection. which added pleasui'e to the numbers already enjoyed, The concluding item by the band was the march "Semper Fidelis" by Sousa, and the guestconductor for this number was Mr. H, Langtry. A quickstep display by the Highland Pipe Band under DrumMajor • J. R. Macfarlane was a diversity on the programme, which was conclu'ded with two numbers by the Levin Municipai Band, under Mr. G. R. Lester, conductor, the march "Hale and Hgfirty" aUW the hymn "Sunset" which were well received. The bands were later the guests of the Levin Boys' Military Bahd at ? afternoon tea^