Alexander Frame Lithgow

Invercargill

Alexander Frame Lithgow was born on December 1, 1870 in Glasgow (Scotland). When he was 6 years old, his family immigrated to Invercargill, New Zealand. A recognized child prodigy, he was accepted into the local wind band at an early age, played violin in the theater orchestra, won several championships as a cornet soloist, conducted various orchestras and established himself as a composer. Lithgow wrote about two hundred marches and numerous pieces for orchestra, piano and voice. When his joyous, patriotic marches were published in America and Europe, he was hailed as the "March King of the South Seas."

In 1909 his brother, then conductor of the 'Invercargill Band', wrote asking for a new march for an upcoming band contest. Due to the urgency of the competition, Alex responded to his brother with a new composition that his publisher had just rejected. He named the march "Invercargill" and dedicated it to the citizens of that city as a reminder of the years he spent there as a boy. "Invercargill" was an instant hit and eventually became his most popular work.