London South Collegiate Institute - Oracle Yearbook (London, Ontario Canada)

Page 103 text:

66 L. S. C. I. ORACLE ORCHESTRA Back Row Cleft to rightl--R. Ash, L. Easdown, L. Hayes, R. Calvert, J. Garside. Middle Row Cleft to rightj-Mr. Calvert, D. Morrison, W. Rice, G. Ross, J. Doyle, D. Townshend, B. Cave, H. Phillips, B. Hartrey, Mr. Byles. 4 Front Row Cleft to rightj-R. Stevenson, F. Stuart, B. Freeborn, C. Aitken, M. Ash, O. Cousins, J. Crone. MUSIC Orchestra News Most of us, I believe, are wondering whatever happened to that good old orchestra of two years ago. Don't you remember? There was Walter Blakeley at the piano and Billie Bend- ing at first violin. I simply can't leave out that outstanding cornet player, Don Stuart. Last year, alas, the poor remains had to be completely renovated and it was only heard six times compared with twenty-six of the previous year! This year, however, it will be greatly improved. Fully twenty participants turned out at the first practice and more have joined the ranks since that time. Another important item which can not be omitted from Orchestra News is that this year, the Orchestra was officerized in the following manner: President-Walter Riceg Vice-Presi- dent-Owen Cousins, Secretary-Treas- urer-Jack' Croneg Librarians-Frieda Stuart and Howard Philips. Under their leadership, coupled with I . . that of Mr. Byles, our capable conduc- tor, the orchestra is making a desperate attempt to surpass the high standard setin nineteen twenty-nine- We are certainly going to have a good try at it anyway. THE ORCHESTRA PICNIC The 23rd of May, 1931, was the date of a very momentous occasion for some twenty-one students of the school and their guests, namely, the orchestra. It was a wonderful day, especially for a picnic, and everyone was in thehighest of spirits. We had as our guests that day, Mrs. Byles and jackie, Mrs.'Chambers and Mr. Ireland.. 'Our destination was a beautiful spot along a creek which runs into the Thames at Kilworth. With Well-filled lunch baskets and equally well-lilled cars we raced for Kilworth and soon everybody was busy with the pleasant task of gathering wood for the camp iire, over which We boiled coffee and cooked our hot dogs. It was quite necessary to wash up after gathering the wood and it was

Page 102 text:

L. s. C. '1. ORACLE 65 ki Editor, OWEN COUs1Ns, Ill C. MUSICAL APPRECIATION By DOROTHY KIDD, V B. ' Musical appreciation as a definite programme in our school has been under the direction of Mr. S. R. Byles, who also conducts the orchestra. Besides leading the singing in the auditorium last year he arranged for extra musical numbers on Friday mornings about Once every two weeks. On the first of these Friday morning programmes, Miss Frances Glazier play- ed Automne by Chaminade, in her usually delightful manner. As an introduction to her piano solo Mr. Byles gave us a brief account of the life of the composer, who is, by the way one of the few Outstanding women composers. Two weeks later a Chopin number Ballade in A flat was played by Dorothy Kidd. For our next programme Mr. Byles secured an outside artist, Mrs. George Bere, who sang Afton Water, that beautiful old Scotch song, in a most charming manner. A violinist, Miss Norma Kenny, was our next guest artist. She played part ofa Sonata by Handel and was accompanied at the piano by her mother, Mrs. Kenny. Mr. Byles also spoke briefly of this composer's life and works. Mr. Chattoe, the organist at the Metropolitan United church, in a succeeding programme explained the different motifs in Mendelssohn's Eli- jah. As an illustration of this work, Miss Betty Holmes sang O rest in the Lord, a contralto solo from this oratorio. On another occasion Mr. Lethbridge brought to us his boys' choir from St. Paul's Cathedral. Their fresh sweet voices were very pleasing in the few numbers they' sang for us. Mr. Lethi- bridge is to be commended for his work with these boys. Although our Glee Club disbanded last year, Mr. Byles undertook to train six of the girls who sang for us one Friday morning. We enjoyed their two numbers, As I went a-Roaming and The Little Garden, very much. We hope that the interest in Glee Club work will be sufficiently revived to warrant its beginning again soon. However, I'm sure that the crowning success of Mr. Byles' efforts was the concert which the R.C.R. band under the direction of Lieut. L. K. Harrison, gave us on March 19th. We had again, the great pleasure of a second visit from the R.C.R. band in November. The few remarks which Mr. Byles made as an introduction to each suc- ceeding number added greatly to the interest and understanding of they audi- ence. Weyare already looking forward to another visit from this splendid band.

Page 104 text:

11... ns. c. 1. ORACLE while we were thus employed that a very unfortunate incident occurred which, to some extent, spoiled the day for Louis Hayes, but added greatly to our enjoyment. Poor Louis was balanced on a rock, carefully washing the last specks of dirt off his lily-white hands when all of a sudden he lost his balance and the next instant waS serenely sitting in some four or five inches of water. Very soon after this, he disappeared into the woods. Mr. Ireland was on hand and very kindly took our picture, which I think you will find somewhere in this magaz- ine. You will then be able to know whether or not we had a good time. The food was soon prepared and we sat around the fire burning our tongues 67 with hot coffee and filling the odd cor- ners with hot dogs and rolls. Also, we mustn't forget the bacon, bread and butter, olives, cakes and last but cer- tainly not the least-ice cream. I must now let you into a secret which I don't think Mr. Byles himself knows and which added materially to our pleasure. Soon after supper, some six of us left for a walk, and very shortly we were half a mile down the creek enjoying the old Hswimmin' hole. We arrived back to the camp just as Mr. Byles was sending two of the fellows out to try and find us. After this we enjoyed a good ball game until dark when we returned to the city, tired and dirty, but happy. -WM. HARTRY. OUR FLAG To greet what joy or grief the year discloses I raise to heaven my glorious crosses three,' For round my pole South plants a bed of roses, ' In sign of faith and loving loyalty. j I bear upon my folds the weight of ages, Yet young am I and strong as radiant truth, Uncowed and free despite the storm that rages, Since at my feet Ijind the pledge of South.i A message rare in fragrance, sweet ascending, From lowly earth up to my wind-swept heart- Oh hear us now, thy high-placed greatness bending And give to South, the young untried, some part. The snows of winter lay upon our roses, Then came the sun, and lo, they bloomed againg 4 Q So we through earthly storms until life closes Shall live to give our best 'neath thy great reign. -B . M cC.