MOUNTED—FOR A DAY

Radio Record, 20 May 1938, Page 21

MOUNTED—FOR A DAY

SHORT AND "MERRY LIFE OF CANTERBURY'S an ‘CAVALRY BAND

ALTHOUGH not a band that was "heard on the air’ and so barred from representation in the "Record’s" present series, the Canterbury Cavalry Band might well have been on the. air ifthere had been radio when it was formed, and -if-it had lasted longer. . . The second "if" is perhaps more important than the first. The band came into existence a good many: years ago, and, the bandsmen themselves were all good performers on their given instruments. The idea of establishing a first-class mounted band came ‘into being as a result of close study of. pictures. of noted English bands. Why shouldn’t Canterbury possess something that no other town in New Zealand possessed-a mounted band? The idea was really all. right. * The execution of the idea, up to a point, was also all right. It was decided to make the initial parade an "inspection" one, and. Colonel Gordon was chosen to be the inspecting officer, On the day in question the band lined up, looking the real thing in uniforms, and mounted on lively-looking horses, and with instruments shining brightly. The horses had been borrowed from a livery stable, but they could not have Stood to attention better if they had been trained to the job. Hverything pointed to a very auspicious first ap-

‘pearance of the Canterbury Cavalry Band. Pleased with the early part of the performance, Colonel Gordon intimated he wished to see and hear the band in action. The officer in command threw out his chest. "Wor-r-r-war-r-r-rd Mar-r-r-ch !" he ordered. The drum-major smiled and gave his drum a_ thunderous whack. The hand started to play. Then things happened. So rapi:i!y no one was ever acterward able to give a clear secount. One can hardly say a word against the horses; possil"y they had never heard a brass band pliy before; it is a thousand to one not a single horse had ever previously had a performing musician on its back, The drum-major was the first to go. When he picked himself up his horse was a mere dot in the distance. But he himself stood in the midst of chaos. Instruments were everywhere. Men were everywhere. Horses were everywhere. Where some of the horses went some of the men, willy-nilly, went likewise. They saw parts of the city unfamiliar to them... . « It was some time before the bard came together again, and legend his it that evén when the band itself did reunite, not all the instruments and not all the horses were together again. That was the first and only public appearance of the Canterbury Cavalry Band.