COLLEGE PIPE BAND

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 February 1939, Page 5

COLLEGE PIPE BAND

OUTSTANDING CONCERT OPERA HOUSE LAST NIGHT. ATTENDANCE AT CONTEST ASSURED. As a result of last evening’s concert, organised by the Wairarapa College, the Saint Andrew Society in conjunction. the visit of the College Pipe Band to the Christchurch contest should be assured. The Opera House was well filled, and, with donations received, and tickets purchased by sympathisers who were unable to attend, the proceeds should be of material assistance in meeting the considerable expense of the band’s journey. Moreover, the concert was conducted with a minimum of expense —there was not one performer who did not give his services gratis. The concert itself was of a high standard, and particular interest was displayed in the performances of the College Pipe Band. The band is acquiring not only skill, but also confidence, and its appearances are consequently increasingly impressive. For its first item, the band rendered the selection that it proposes to play as its Test Selection at the contest, and this was a worthy performance. Pipe-Corporal Pither’s solo, the 74th’s Farewell to Edinburgh was equally well received and the piper had to respond to a vociferous encore.

There was no item that was not heartily applauded, and every performer was obliged to concede to the popular demand for re-appearance. In particular, the duets by Messrs J. W. Bird and A. J. Drew, two masters of the College, were received with delight, especially by the College pupils. This was particularly the case with the humorous policeman’s duet, from the old comic opera Genevieve de Brabant; the incongruity of the severe dominie descending to me comic has an irresistible appeal to the juvenile mind. The eightsome reel, by four members of the band and their school-girl partners, was performed with skill and spirit, and delighted the onlookers. The inevitable encore was a Reel o' Tulloch —two sets of four , dancers each—which was equally well received. The enthusiasm aroused by these items produced repeated “Heuchs” of encouragement from the audience. The team’s performances reflect great credit on Mr Marshal Walker and his helpers, who trained the team during the short interval since the commencement of the College term. The rhythmic drill, and other items, by Miss Edwards’s girl pupils, added a further element of variety to the programme. The performers delighted the audience with their grace and precision. The complete programme presented was as follows: —Selection by the Pipe Band; vocal solos (My Ain Folk and Eriskay Love Lilt), Miss Gillian Gooder; Morris Dance by College junior girls; vocal duets (Huntsman’s chorus from Der Fricschurtz and an encore number), Mrs E. J. Burke and Miss D. O’Donnell; pipe solo, Pipe-Corporal Lawson Pither; recitations (A Gentleman of Erance, and an encore number), Mrs Robt. Miller; vocal solos (The Fishermen of England, and Laughing Irish Eyes), Mr Ronald Gilbert; rhythmic drill by College senior girls; vocal solos (Angus Macdonald, and Hame o’ Mine), Miss Doreen Jamieson; Eightsome Reel, followed (by way of encore) by a Strathspey and Reel o’ Tulloch, the College Eight; vocal duets (Watchman; What of the Night), and The Gendarmes’ Duet), Messrs J. W. Bird and A. J. Drew; lightning sketches by Mr F. Price (with humorous commentary—a very popular item); vocal solos (The Border Ballad, and There’s a Wee Bit Land), Mr Wm. C. Mann; song and dance (Moonstruck), by College junior girls; vocal duets (Wert Thou in the Cauld Blast, and Turn Ye Tae Me), Mrs E. J. Burke and Miss O’Donnell; selection by the Pipe Band. The conclusion of the programme was followed by the National Anthem, for which all performers and assistants assembled on the stage. The accompaniments for various items were played by Mrs H. M. Morton, Miss O. Sutherland, and Master Willie Thomson.

At a suitable opportunity, Mr G. G. Hancox, the principal of the College, conveyed the thanks of the school and of the band to all who had helped in the raising of the Contest Fund. He mentioned, in particular, the Saint Andrew Society, for originating and helping to organise the effort; the Trust Lands Trust, the Mayor, Mr Jordan, and others, for their donations, and the numerous sympathisers who had bought tickets though unable to attend, and the supporters generally; Messrs Walker and Cruickshank, and Chief’s Piper Pickett for their work in training the reel team; the staff of the National Bank, who had that evening very kindly undertaken the thankless task of occupying the ticket office; Mr H. E. Pither, who had taken charge of the box plan; and all others, too numerous to mention individually, who had helped to make the concert a success. Gratitude was also expressed to the “Times-Age” for valuable assistance in providing publicity. The band, Mr Hancox said, could be rhlied on to give a good account of itself at the Dominion Contest, and all could be assured that every member of the band would well maintain the traditions that the Wairarapa College was instilling in its pupils. The band would unquestionably establish in Christchurch the high reputation of the College and of the Wairarapa. The proceeds of the concert would go far towards satisfying the great expense of sending the band to Christchurch, but further donations would still be acceptable, and would be gratefully received. The large gathering dispersed at about 10.30 o’clock, well satisfied with a splendid evening’s entertainment. Mention should be made of the highly artistic and attractive programmes that were distributed at the concert. These were the work of College pupils, and no better demonstration could have been conceived of the valuable work being accomplished in the College art department.