Clontarf Band Makes Metropolitan Debut Dom Moreno Composes Special March FATHER MARTINDALE'S TRIBUTE RECALLED WHEN one speaks of Clontarf's "new" band, the expression is
not quite accurate.
Clontarf
has had a band for many years. Twelve or thirteen years ago it was under the direction of Mr. E. J. McCormack, and had reached a high musical standardso high indeed that Clontarf Band com-
peted in the Band Contest in 1929 and acquitted itself very creditably, gaining a prize It was the only boys' band competing against adults. Owing to various circumstances the band declined from that date. It did not go out of existence, owing largely to the sterling services of one of the senior boys, Joe Jackson, but he was handicapped by lack of experience and constant changes in the personnel of the band. That the band survived at all is a great credit to Joe Jackson. But its standards were not high enough to enable the boys to appear in public. It was with the return of Mr, E. J. McCormack as bandmaster that hope revived. Only eight instrumentalists remained -
when Mr. McCormack took over at the beginning of this year. In nine months the numbers have swelled to almost forty, and junior under -studies are being arranged to fill the place of boys who go out from Clontarf Band to jobs. The gruelling work of teaching the small lads to play their instruments is still performed by Joe Jackson, while the precision of time and the musical finish is achieved by Mr. McCormack. Rev. Brother O'Connor has recently renewed his association with the band --an association which is well known and remembered by friends of Clontarf Rev. Brother Allen rein the past. lieves Brother Keanev on the adminside, and is lending invaluate is trative support to the committee organising the appeal on behalf of the band. In connection with the past achievements of the band (which, together with the "new" bailers progress, is the best promise for the future), it is interesting to recall the verdict of a distinguished personality who visited
NfartinClontarf in 1928. Rev. Fat dale, S.J., having attended tote Sydney Eucharistic Congress, had come to Perth at the invitation of Archbishop Clune. On his return to England, he wrote a book of impressions in Australia-"The Risen Sun." His opinion of Clontarf is given below: "Well, I was told, we are going to see But Clontarf. I confess I sighed. after a longish drive through sparse Christby the astonishing bush glorified mas-tree-it has great tufts or clusters of a crocus -yellow flower, crocus, corn Fined with every splendour of nasturtium -gold and orange: they say it is a parasite and they threaten to cut the lot of it down-we came to so admirable an institution that I woke up -
wide.
"St. Joseph's Fcliool, Clontar:, the Canning River, whither the Christian Brothers came in 1901, after caring for the Catholic orphan boys of West Australia elsewhere for four Years beEnough to say that, from fore that. incomplete records, it is clear that over 200 of St. Joseph's boys served in the and among these was the man whom the "Times" called the "superv.C.," Laurence McCarthy, also Croix As for the house, it is a de Guerre.
huge place of local stone (Cottesloe), based on sensible slightly flattened arches and a verandah -storey above them. Much if not most of the ground between the house and the river has been reclaimed, I think, by the successive generations of boys. One of the first things I was taken to see, after the house itself, was the band. You expect boys to make a noise; you expect Australian boys to make a vehement noise; and in a Brothers' School, you expect precision in time and tune. But I confess I hadn't expected so much sensitiveness along with brilliance as I heard at Clontarf. You could see that a lot must be put down to the Bandmaster but I should be surprised if two or three of those boys hadn't a real spark of genius in them; and they were all responding to the music-after all, it was GSbeet and Sullivan; and anyone who can't respond to that had better take to gardening. These boys do also take to gardening and also learn to manage horses and cows and also carpentry and make borits. I liked to watch them at thz.'-barefooted youngsters in shorts an jerseys and splendidly sturdy." Those who have already contributed to the Band Appeal, or who are contemplating doing so, will learn with interest that the boys made their musical debut-the first in the metropolitan area-at the Sports Carnival of the ;
1
Christian Brothers' College, Fremantle. This performance was very creditable
and excited favourable comment. Another item of great interest is that the Honorary Bandmaster (Mr. E. J McCormack) has had word from Rev. Dom S. Moreno, O.S.B., that he has completed the score of the special "Clontarf March," which he promised to compose for the band for the opening of the new Chapel on December 21. Father Moreno is now engaged on the orchestration of the parts and front all reports it is a stirring piece of music to which the responsiveness of the boys should do full justice. It might be noted, in passing, that no kind friend of Clontarf has vet come forward to donate the Euphonium, the lack of which rather upsets the balance of the band. The donation list is, however, improving, and various people have promised to donate a uniform. Help to provide the boys of Clontarf Band with smart uniforms and a euphonium. Send a donation to -day to Rev. Brother Keaney. Clontarf Boys' Home, Victoria Park; or to the Chairman of the Band Committee, Mr. Prank Bryant, George Hotel, Perth: or to -The Record" Office, Box A35, G.P 0., -
The boys of the new Clontarf Band, in charge of Rev. Brother O'Connor, prepare to leave ,Clontarf to play at the Christian Brothers' Sports at Fremantle. This was the Band's debut in the metropolitan area. .
Our The shop for Better Value. Any goods Prices lowest in Perth. sent to country not satisfactory we pay freight.
NICHOLSON'S PIANOS FOR THE MODERN HOME Select your piano Irom the most comprehensive range in Me Southern
Hemisphere
Perth. (Donation List on Page 11.)