ROYAL ARTILLERY BAND.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1913, 22 November 1913, Page 5

ROYAL ARTILLERY BAND.

ITS INSTRUMENTATION. , . (By TelecraDb— Press Association.) Dlinedln, November 21. Mr. C. Ei Strottoii, Bandmaster of the Royal Artillery Bnml, stated yesterday that the band had been preceded by a glorious reputation, which they hoped, with some trepidation that they would live lip to. On being informed of tho' arrangements for concerts en route to Auckland, he and Captain I'rccston, officer commanding, i declared themselves willing, to fall in with all plans. Stoppages, on tho way would afford a welcomo opportunity to seo something of tho country. Mr. Stretton said that tho band had brought a large library of music of all classes, and had been practising throughout , tho voyage. They had had difficulty in England in obtaining information as to I tho class of music which the public would probably like, but had selected a number of programmes, 011 tho principle that it would bo best not to include much tliat required musical erudition in audiences, and, better still, to include no rubbish at nil. Tho instrumentation of tho Royal Artillory Band is as follows: —Flute, piccolo, two oboes, nine first clarinets (six solo, tlireo ripicno), four second clarinets, two third clarinets, one E Flat alto saxophone, two bassoons, 0110 French horn, four first, and three second cornets, 0110 baritone, one euphonium, two tenor trombones, one bass trombone, two bombardons, two string basses, two drums, tyinpani, etc. Tho landing of the band was watohed with much interest by a large crowd, but was- unmarked by any incident except that the baggage had to be handled by the ship's crew, 011 account of the strike 1 . An informal welcome to Port Chalmers was given by. the Mayor (Mr. Mawson) and the Town Clerk (Mr. Fraser), Mr. W. R, Holmes, secretary of tho Auckland Exhibition, met thu officers 011 behalf of his executive. The band was entertained to-night by tho band of tho Fourth Regiment at a smoke concert, at which tho principal officers of tho Dunorlin Defence Forces were present. It. will give concerts hero to-morrow and Sunday, and leaves for the nurth ou Monday, morning.