Story: Brass and pipe bands

Armed constabulary fife-and-drum band

Armed constabulary fife-and-drum band

An armed constabulary band is shown at a defensive redoubt during the New Zealand wars in the late 1860s or early 1870s. Early military bands included brass, woodwind and percussion ensembles, as well as fife-and-drum bands such as the one in this photo. This band also includes a triangle and a bugle. The New Zealand wars brought British regimental bands to the colony, and local units were formed, which set up their own bands.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference: PAColl-9765-1

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Peter Clayworth, 'Brass and pipe bands - Early military and brass bands', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/43232/armed-constabulary-fife-and-drum-band (accessed 19 March 2024)

Story by Peter Clayworth, published 22 Oct 2014