Alexander Frame Lithgow (1870 – 1929) was a Scottish-born, New Zealand and Australian based composer and bandleader, known as the "Sousa of the Antipodes".

 

In 1876, the Lithgows emigrated to Invercargill, New Zealand.  After initially having cornet lessons from his father, Alex joined the Invercargill Garrison Band at the age of 11, and progressed to principal cornet by the time he was 16.

 

At the age of 17 his first composition, Wairoa, was published, and so began a productive life of composition, including approximately 200 marches, as well as numerous pieces for band, orchestra, piano and voice.

 

He died in 1929 a few months short of his 60th birthday and at his funeral, massed bands played one of his most famous marches, The Invercargill.