The Music of Alex Lithgow

Alexander Frame Lithgow - best known as Alex Lithgow - was a notable composer of brass band music. His march 'Invercargill', named after New Zealand's southernmost city, is part of the standard band repertoire around the world.

Lithgow was born in Scotland on 1 December 1870. His family emigrated to New Zealand in 1876. The family was highly musical and at the tender age of 11, Alex joined the Invercargill Garrison Band as a cornet player. He went on to win the cornet soloist medal three times at the United Brass Band Association of New Zealand annual competitions. Lithgow moved to Tasmania in 1894 to conduct the  St Joseph Band in Launceston. Also a prolific composer of band music, Lithgow is estimated to have written around 200 pieces, many of which were published as sheet music. 

Alex Lithgow wrote his most famous composition, 'Invercargill', for use in the 1909 Invercargill Band Contest, where it was gratefully received and used as the test piece for the Quickstep competition. His goal in offering the march was: "to let his old friends know that the old place still had a big corner in his affections" (New Zealand Times, 5 June 1909, p.5). Lithgow died in 1929 in Tasmania at the age of 59.

This Digital NZ story features a range of Lithgow's open-access scores, 1913 and 1933 recordings of 'Invercargill' by the New York Military Band and Woolston Brass Band respectively, and other resources.