BEGINNINGS: One of the first incarnations of the Gisborne Civic Brass Band — the City Band, in 1879. Picture supplied
Records show the Gisborne Civic Brass Band formed on April 5, 1873.
It was called the Roseland Town Band, and over the years has enjoyed a number of name changes. It was always about brass band music though.
One hundred and fifty years later, almost to the day, the band will mark its sesquicentennial with a three-day celebration, playing at the Botanical Gardens, Gisborne RSA and Salvation Army Citadel.
“On those days we have chosen to play a repertoire that reflects the past of the band — some early music through to today’s contemporary arrangements,” said band president Chris Reynolds.
The band’s secretary and only non-playing member Thea Botting said the band was one of the few oldest surviving in New Zealand.
“From a Gisborne perspective, the band’s existence predates the establishment of Cook County in 1876 and also Gisborne’s first mayor William Crawford who took office a year later.
“That’s how long we have been around,” she said.
Back then the band was known as the Roseland Town Band, after original members founded the band at Rosaland Tavern.
“The band was primarily made up of militia groups or volunteer soldiers who were garrisoned here in Gisborne,” Mr Reynolds said. “Basically anyone in the militia who could play an instrument was roped in to play whether for morale or public parade.”
He said it was hard to confirm if the band was started by a single person but it was likely that it was a group of soldiers who may have shared a common interest to do something musical.
The band’s first conductor was H M L Atcherley, who had been the conductor of the Wairoa Brass Band.
A chapter titled Bands: Past and Present, in J Mackay’s Historic Poverty Bay and the East Coast, relates that the Gisborne Brass Band became the J Battery B band under Thomas Faram, in December, 1878.
There is a break of eight years before records show the band re-formed in March, 1886, when it was again attached to J Battery, under S. G. Poppelwell, writes McKay.
An article published in the Gisborne Herald in 1973, celebrating the band’s centennial concert, confirms the fact that even the band’s inception suffered “certain frustrations”.
The continuation of each band depended on the “sturdy efforts of a few determined musical enthusiasts”.
The band’s uniform colours have also changed over time.
The article records, “ The late Mr H. Clayton, who joined the band in 1882, recorded that the uniform then was German grey with a red collar, red band around a ‘cheese cutter’ cap. Later it was blue with red facings and white belt.”
The title “City Band” was first used in 1888, when Tom Morrison was the conductor. In turn, the band became associated with other military units, and, temporarily, appeared under other designations.
“Over the period of 150 years, we’ve reinvented ourselves with our name many times,” Mr Reynold said.
“However, the name change, was more of a case of changing locations. For instance, the first band was called the Roseland Town Band because back then the band was garrisoned in Roseland township. When they moved in to the city, they renamed themselves as the City Band,” he said.
Ms Botting has a photograph of the 1879 band which was the first group to have an “outing”.
She said going to playouts was not easy. Transport included “shank’s pony” (on foot), horse and cart, paddle boat and steamship — usually the preferred choice.
“The roads were rough and muddy and when it rained they were impassable. An anecdote from the archives talks about the band rowing to a gig when they encountered a downpour, filling their instruments with water and they had to abandon the event.”
Ms Botting said fundraising events were crucial as instruments had to be purchased either from Wellington or overseas.
Music was a big part of community life and by the 1880s the band had a dedicated bandroom in Palmerston Road. Fundraising helped bring in a good selection of instruments and later that decade the bandroom was enlarged due to player demand.
The Gisborne City Band was by then a popular and well-respected entity.
In 1903 the band entered its first brass band contest in Masterton under the baton of conductor, the late M L Foster.
According to an account in a Gisborne Herald article, the first gift received by the city band was a “dud”.
Presented by Captain Read — he of Read’s Quay — the present was a drum which was so large the drummer could not carry it. Other records note that on one of the captain’s trips he brought back a set of brass instruments.
Other memorable events include in 1897, when the band performed the “Dead March” at the tangi for Major Ropata Wahawaha, one of Aotearoa’s most notable fighting chiefs (from Gisborne), who was decorated with the New Zealand Cross.
Ms Botting said, “ The band travelled by steamship to port Awanui (near Ruatoria) encountering rough seas. They disembarked via rowboats, carrying their instruments through the surf, walked through the mud and travelled on horseback, to the service a good distance away.”
Another highlight was in 1918 at the end of World War 1 when the band had the honour of leading the parade at the November Armistice commemorations.
When they were not playing music they were busy performing civic duties, annual hospital sports and race meetings throughout the district, Ms Botting said.
As well as being president of the band, Chris Reynolds is also the musical director. He played for the Navy band before coming to Gisborne. He started as a trombone player and became the conductor in 2015. Six years later he was elected president.
Like many other members, Grant Harris was a member of the Gisborne Salvation Army Band before moving to the Gisborne Civic Brass Band.
“It’s great playing for a band with such a rich history,” he said.
Mr Reynolds said the band performs at civic parades such as Anzac and Remembrance days, funerals, beer festivals, church services, Christmas carols and private engagement among others.
The senior band consists of more than 30 members . They are ably supported by the auxiliary band ( called junior band in the 90s) which has about 20 members.
■ Gisborne Civic Brass Band 150th anniverary: lawn concert, Botanical Gardens April 7, 12 noon. Dinner dance, Gisborne RSA, April 8, 6pm. Celebration concert Salvation Army Citadel, 4pm
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