Christchurch Bicycle Band Coda

The Bicycle Band [ca. 1900]. Re-published Christchurch Star, 10 Mar. 1965, p. 10
Christchurch City Libraries Image Collection

Accompanying caption:

"Christchurch's Bicycle Band claimed to be the only one of its kind in the world. Joshua W. Painter (d. 1944), a well-known distance and trick cyclist, and his brother Fred started the bicycle band in 1895. It was really an offshoot of the already established Christchurch Professional Brass Band. The men held instruments in one hand and steered their cycles with the other, and they rehearsed in the open ground of Barracks Square, Hereford Street. Left to right, front row: H. Woods, T. Dalton, A.J. Watts; second row: G.H. Gordon, W. Crawford, F. Hopkins, F. Painter; third row: F. Taylor, A.W. Gordon."

Despite the claim to uniqueness, evidence from the Netherlands and Australia suggests other bicycling bands existed and some remained playing long after the Christchurch bicycle band disbanded circa 1915.

Invalided Returned Servicemen Parade at the Bottleneck, Christchurch 1918c

Returned Servicemen of World War (Invalided) in Motorcade, circa 1918, at "the Bottleneck", intersection of High, Hereford, and Colombo Streets, Christchurch. Press photographer. Alexander Turnbull Library.

Christchurch Bicycle Band Reprise

The Christchurch Bicycle Band on the "march" once again. circa 1895.
Alexander Turnbull Library

We sincerely hope Mr Canterbury Heritage will stop by & perhaps help us out with a suggestion as to which of Christchurch's fine streets this parade may be on.

Update: And he did:

"This is a westerly view of Kilmore Street from the Victoria Street intersection, looking past Cranmer Square toward Hagley Park.

The two storey building in the distance still exists; formerly a convenience store and then a school tuck shop, it stands at the corner of Cranmer Square opposite the former Normal School."

Earlier post on the Christchurch bicycle band here.

The Christchurch Bicycle Brass Band - Multi-tasking in the 1890s

Not too much information on this picture, simply identified as the Christchurch Cycle Band, probably circa 1890s.

Who said multi-tasking is a modern phenomenon? Aside from steering, pedalling, & balancing simultaneously, these daring bandsmen had to recall their music and play one-handed.

Perhaps there was a first aid cycle team that followed them around.

Ashburton, Canterbury, New Zealand - The Band Stand

Band Rotunda, Ashburton, New Zealand, early 1900s.

Communities around the world built band stands in the second half of the nineteenth century into the early twentieth century as objects of civic pride and to support the brass band concerts that were important elements of social life.

Ashburton's bulbous-topped band rotunda serves as a platform for speech making on some civic occasion in the early 1900s. The band appears to have been banished from the stand for this occasion but troops or cadets in both Scottish uniforms and naval garb are lined up to left and right of the rotunda. A good number of Ashburton's population appears to have turned out for the event. The railway station located on the southern line can been seen in the distance.

New Zealand Brass Bands

New Zealand's brass bands evolved out of English band traditions with many of the early bands being formed between the 1860s and 1880s, first as military bands then industry-related bands. These were later joined by municipal or city bands.

Brass bands are closely linked to working class culture during the English Industrial Revolution. An unbalanced focus on rapid industrialization and urbanization did not provide for much in the way of recreational opportunities. In the UK, more enlightened owners of textile mills, mines (colliery bands), foundries, and factories sponsored brass bands to encourage recreation and provide entertainment for the larger community. The Salvation Army also found the brass band a powerful tool in its evangelizing efforts; however, the Army's spiritual mission precludes its bands from participating in band competitions.

English immigrants to New Zealand continued the tradition, forming brass bands linked to the military, especially after the New Zealand Wars of the 1860s, and industry. For example, The Addington Workshops band of Christchurch was financed by a subscription that all of the railway workshops employees levied on themselves. Woolston Brass was sponsored for many years by Skellerup Industries, a rubber goods manufacturer in the Christchurch suburb of Woolston.

Woolston Brass is to many the premier band in New Zealand, particularly as consistent First Grade street march competition performers (web page here). Watch the tight turn executed at the intersection in the video below.

Woolston Brass: Street March, "Queensbury", Christchurch, NZ.

The New Zealand Army Band has a well- deserved international reputation for its musical ability, versatility, and creativity.

The New Zealand Army Band - Marching display - medley - at Main Parade Ground, Burnham Military Camp, outside Christchurch, June 2007.