THE 1953 NATIONAL BAND OF NEW ZEALAND
CONDUCTED BY K.G.L. SMITH

The 1953 National Band was the first of many representative New Zealand brass bands to travel overseas. Its superb playing won it the British Open Brass Band Championship, paving the way for many successive National Bands also to perform with distinction in later years. By playing at the Coronation festivities of Queen Elizabeth II and at numerous concerts and appearances throughout the British isles, it drew international attention to the fine tradition and excellent standards of brass band playing in NZ.
This CD contains music recorded at a concert given ion the Wellington town Hall shortly after the band's triumphant return home and includes many of its popular concert works, as well as the test piece which brought it lasting acclaim.
Many of the most notable individuals in NZ's brass band history were members of this band. Not for nothing was one critic moved to claim at the end of the tour:"there's no better band anywhere".

"A brilliant musical performance goes way beyond mere notes to an indescribable musical world to which one can only refer as magical. Such is the case of the performance of the famous 1953 National Band of NZ in this reissue. The musicianship of the band is stunning."
John Rimmer, Music in NZ.

"They had verve, precision, a bright sense of showmanship, and on these
50year old live recordings you can still sense the way they responded to the
audience"
Rod Biss, Sunday Star-Times.