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The National Brass Band of New Zealand, the elite brass band made up of the best players in the country, chosen by audition, performs in Hamilton in November 2020.

First formed in 1953, the National Band has come together periodically ever since.

In 2020, a quick tour of the county was planned but Covid-19 put paid to that and we can count ourselves lucky that we had this one and only concert in Hamilton.

This year the band’s music director is David Bremner, perhaps better known as the Principal Trombone with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, but he has been a stalwart of the brass band scene and is the music director of the Wellington Brass Band, currently New Zealand’s champion band.

David is also the presenter of RNZ Concert's Brilliant Brass.

National Band of New Zealand 2020, Music Director David Bremner

National Band of New Zealand 2020, Music Director David Bremner Photo: Dana Foley, used with permission

Programme:

DVORAK arr Brand: Carnival Overture Op 92
MENDELSOHN arr Hopkinson: Violin Concerto (3)
BERLIOZ arr Harper: The Brigands' Orgy, from Harold in Italy
CHAULK: And my Soul Overflow
JAMES arr Howarth: Concerto for trumpet
GRAHAM: Shine as the Light
BEWLEY, Jack: Parade (world première)
RIMSKY-KORSAKOV arr Wilkinson: Capriccio Espagnol Op 34
SPARKE: Pantomime
AERTGEERTS: Hope
CRAUSAZ: Balkan Dance
EDENROTH, KALLIO arr Harper: Nordic Polska
J RICHARDS arr Harper: La suerte de los tontos
J J RICHARDS arr D Broadbent: Midwest March
ZAWINUL arr Bremner: Birdland

Recorded by RNZ Concert in Dr John Gallagher Concert Chamber, 1 November 2020
Producer: Tim Dodd; Engineer: Adrian Hollay