Amazingly good Air Force Band Concert

Tonight my mate Mike and I went to see the Central Band of the Royal New Zealand Air Force, at Te Awamutu.

They were terriffic! We were blown away by how good they are. I had heard before that they are the best big band in the country and was dubious, but now that I’ve seen them I really have to agree.

They are a 65-piece symphonic concert band, that was formed in 1937 as a Territorial ubit. They became full time during the war, travelling the country raising funds for War Bonds campaigns, and also touring the Pacific rear areas to entertain troops and airmen. They also tourd the USa during the war where they received rave reviews. After the war the band reverted to Territorial status which they still are today, with only three regular RNZAF members.

They have such rnage and versatility, from marches and drum corp military stuff, to classical, to swing (with an excellent brass section and three girls doing Andrews Sisters songs perfectly), to Pacific drum music, to fun stuff like a 007 medley and the drum corp dressed as the Village People singing YMCA !!! They played some chilling stuff too – a piper backed by the band playing Scottish Cathedral – that made the hair on my neck stand up. And a marvellous tune I’d not heard before called To Tame the Perilous Skies by David Holsinger, which was written for the 50th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain. You can just imagine the Spitfires and Hurricanes taking off, and the battle, as you listen.

The hall was packed to the brims and some people stood throughout, and the audience totally loved every minute of it. I was pleased that we were not the youngest there as we’d suspected we would be, there was a wide range from school kids and teens right up to elderly there. The audience’s applause after each tune was rapturous and genuinely full of praise and enthusiasm. My hands began to sting from clapping so much.

Of course they played a few Air Force favourites – Aces High, 633 Squadron and The Dambusters March. They nailed all three perfectly.

Sadly this band tours only once a year for a short tour, due to commitments in Wellington where they’re based. They do a lot of work at Parliament, and when dignitaries visit NZ, and at commemorations etc. The bandmaster said this year is a big one for them with the 90th Anniversary of Gallipoli, the 60th Anniv of both VE and VJ Days, and other ones too. And when they do tour it is always to a different region, so it may be ten years before the full band is back in the Waikato district. 🙁

There is talk that we might get some of them (probably the swing section) up next year for Cambridge’s Armistace Day commemorations. That would be superb.

Anyway, all I can say is, if you get the chance to see this band, do so. I highly recommend it. We talked to some mates outside that we met (incidentally the parents of Matt from the Datsuns, but anyhow) and Terry said he was reluctant to come and was dragged along, but he really got into it and totally loved it.

They are in Rotorua tomorrow night, Taupo on Saturday and then back to Wellington to finish their tour.

Anyway, this is probably no doubt of no interest to people here, but I’m still buzzing and had to tell someone about it… 🙂