JUBILANT YEAR

Hokitika Guardian, 19 January 1931, Page 7

JUBILANT YEAR

FESTIVITIES IN BELGIUM.

TWO EXHIBITIONS.

CENTENARY OF INDEPENDENCE

Last year was a wonderful one for Belguim, aeccording to M. Armanu -Nihotte, Consul for Belgium, who inis returned to Wellington after an eight months’ holiday spent mostly in his own country. It was a year to he remembered, for in it she completed her first century of complete independence. This was marked by two great exhibitions, one in Antwerp and the other in Liege, and by general rejoicings ana festivities throughout the country. The exhibition at Antwerp was largely international, historical, and artistic, and that at Liege was industrial. As fast non-stop trains are now available, both places are within easy reach of the majority of the population. Liege can be reached in an hour from Brussels, and so can Antwerp. One of the greatest charms about the exhibition at Antwerp was the representation of Belgium is it was exactly one hundred years ago. To make this thoroughly effective each district was called Upon to supply something characteristic o'f itself as it was in 1830, the whole forming a miniature city typical of old Belgium. This place had its own burgomaster and city officials, townsfolk and villagers, all dressed in the costume of a hundred years ago. Distinguished visitors were given civic receptions by burgomaster er, and were waited upon by the townsfolk - in the dress of the period. in the Liege section was a reproduction of the famous Berroin, the column that stands for all the liberties, and in the Bruges section was a representation of Lac d’Amour, which all visitors to that old city know so well. M. Nihotte said the Prince of Wales was given a civic reception on his visit, and expressed the liveliest interest in the Exhibition at Antwerp, and also the one at Liege.

MILITARY FESTIVAL

Another unique feature of the celebrations was the military festival grand manoeuvres, in which all the Belgian regiments, from 1789 to 1930 were represented by a company of soldiers, dressed exactly as each regiment in its day was dressed, and carrying the arms of the period. About twelve hundred men were engaged, and six of the big bands were engeged in this, the whole under the direction of Baron de Traiinoy. Every movement was directed merely by the blowing of a whistle, and the evolutions, which lasted from 8 fiilii, until 12,30 a,i11,, were of the most thrilling order. 'there were originally to have been only four performances, but much was the public clamour that nine were given and still the public taste for the .magnificent spectacle was unappeased. The music was splendid throughout tire festivities. Everywhere one went there were special performances. Belgium was visited by representative hands from most of the European countries. There was the hand of the Irish Guards, the band of the Garde Hepublicaine, and one from Timelier Hall, the military band college of England. In Brussels was also heard the famous New York Symphony Orchestra under the great Toscanini. That was in the new Palais de Beaux Arts, which has three concert halls, one to seat 3000 (where the New York Orchestra was heard), one to seat about 600, and another for chamber music to seat only 300. Other attractions were “La Argentina,” the most famous tango dancers, and Jack Hylton’s famous jazz band from London. “But of all the bands I heard,” said M. Nihotte, “there is none so great as our own Guides Band, of Brussels, really the King’s private band. This has eighty members, including the full family of wood-winds and plays the greatest mus ic superbly. It can play a Bach fugue with all the sonorous richness and solemnity of an organ ; it can divizle one with a Chopin polonaise, or lift onto the heights in a Cesar Franck mas-. This is music one does not usually get from a band, but the Guides are unique. They toured America recently for three months, and were a great success.

COLOSSAL COMPOSITION. “Another charming performance which lives in the memory,” said M. Nihotte, “was that of the ‘Rubens Cantata,' by Peter Benoit, a clossal work by a grccomposer whom the outer world has not yet fully appreciated. The work embodies in its spirit the glory or i< landers*, and employs not only a full choir—there were 700 in the choir when T heard it—but also a children’s choir, which is used with amazing effect. Th*•> performance was given under the direction of Florent Alpaerts, an inspire* choral and orchestra conductor, who is the musical director of the Zoological Society of Antwerp.” Speaking of Belgium generally, M. Nihotte said that his country had probably suffered less than any European country by the world depression. It was true that a little unemployment was making itself manifest even there, but compared with the surrounding countries l ! °kinm hod fared verv well.