The Nelson Garrison Band was a military brass band in the

New Zealand Army , image = New Zealand Army Logo.png , image_size = 175px , caption = , start_date = , country = , branch = ...

that served the citizens of the city of

Nelson Nelson may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Nelson'' (1918 film), a historical film directed by Maurice Elvey * ''Nelson'' (1926 film), a historical film directed by Walter Summers * ''Nelson'' (opera), an opera by Lennox Berkeley to a lib ...

in the eastern shores of

Tasman Bay Tasman Bay (; officially Tasman Bay / Te Tai-o-Aorere), originally known in English as Blind Bay, is a large V-shaped bay at the north end of New Zealand's South Island. Located in the centre of the island's northern coast, it stretches along ...

. It was one of 5 garrison bands in the

New Zealand Army , image = New Zealand Army Logo.png , image_size = 175px , caption = , start_date = , country = , branch = ...

and is considered by many to be the country's first brass band. Its legacy is retained today through the Nelson City Band. During its existence, the band had served as the premier brass band in the city of Nelson, often working with other brass bands such as the Nelson Citizen's Silver Band.

History

The band has roots in bands that date back to 1857 and 1841. These bands were formed by early settlers to the city and later came under the control of the regular army. It was formed as an army band 1873, being originally known as the Artillery Band. It took part in notable events related to the community. In late April 1888, in the presence of about 250 citizens, the band took part in the opening of the Nelson Athletic Ground Company. That same year, the band was dissolve, with another Garrison Band being formed in 1890, and Fred House serving as conductor. As it was attached to volunteer force units, there few regulations on the structure of bands. From 1901 to 1903, the band was led by

Charles Trussell Charles Trussell aka Carlile Vernon, (1860, London, England – 1946, Bauple, Queensland, Australia) was a prominent musician in brass bands (British style) both in Australia and New Zealand during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centur ...

, during which he had composed the ''Alexandra Dance''."Papers Past"
"Nelson Garrison Band"

Colonist A settler is a person who has migrated to an area and established a permanent residence there, often to colonize the area. A settler who migrates to an area previously uninhabited or sparsely inhabited may be described as a pioneer. Settle ...

, Nelson, 15 December 1899 and the march ''Joys of Life'' (the latter for the national band contest held in

New Plymouth New Plymouth ( mi, Ngāmotu) is the major city of the Taranaki region on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is named after the English city of Plymouth, Devon from where the first English settlers to New Plymouth migrated. ...

). It moved into the building of the

Nelson Provincial Council Nelson Province was constituted in 1853 under the New Zealand Constitution Act 1852, and originally covered the entire upper South Island, including all of present-day Buller, Kaikoura, Marlborough, and Tasman districts, along with Nelson Ci ...

in 1903. The band led a farewell parade in December 1939 for troops being deployed during the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

. In 1964, the number of army bands was reduced to seven, with the Nelson Garrison Band being one of them in order to create a larger

New Zealand Army Band The New Zealand Army Band ( mi, Puoro Puoro Ngāti Tūmatauenga) is a brass band that primarily provides musical support for the New Zealand Army at all state and ceremonial occasions. It was founded in 1964 by Captain James Donald Carson (1935 ...

. It later changed its name to the Nelson Municipal Band and the Nelson City Brass throughout the latter half of the 20th century.

Notable people

* George Page –

Mayor of Nelson The mayor of Nelson is the head of the municipal government of Nelson, New Zealand, and presides over the Nelson City Council. The mayor is directly elected using a single transferable vote electoral system. The current mayor is Nick Smith, wh ...

from 1935 to 1941. *

, bandmaster of the band from 1901 to 1903. *Maurice Abrahams, bandmaster of the band from 1956 to 1964. *Alfred Oakley, director of the band in the 1870s. *Herr Julius Lemmer, former bandmaster and principal of the Nelson School of Music.

References

{{Nelson, New Zealand, state=collapsed Military bands of New Zealand Brass bands 1873 establishments in New Zealand 1890 establishments in New Zealand Nelson, New Zealand