VICTORY HYMN

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 80, 5 January 1945, Page 2

VICTORY HYMN

PILOT’S COMPOSITION New York, Dec. 27. When Wing Commander John ' Wooldridge, D. 5.0., of the R.A.F., visited New York early this year, he met Arthur Rodzinski, conductor of the New York Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra, to whom he confided that he had composed the score lof “A Solemn Hymn for Victory.” Rodzinski asked to see the score and said that*if he liked it he would give a performance for every five German planes Wooldridge shot down on his return to combat. Wing Commander Wooldridge has returned to New York, having fulfilled his share of the compact, and on Thursday last Rodzinski carried out his part by presenting the world premiere of the composition at the Carnegie Hall. Wooldridge, besides having shot doWn a number of German planes, has over a hundred bombing missions to his credit. He wrote to Rodzinski recently to say that he had already got his first quota of “five juicy Huns,” entitling him to one performance, upon which the conductor cabled: “As I want you to be present at the premiere I am freeing you from any further five-to-one obligations.” Wooldridge, who is a descendant of Sir Walter Raleigh, has been in the R.A.F. since 1939. He wrote the hymn in bed in hospital. He was given special leave by the R.A.F. to go back to New York.