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The History of the Tanunda Town Band.
Wilhelm Ferdinand Draeger and his brother Carl Wilhelm Draeger, both natives of Prussia, arrived in South Australia in 1848. Both men were extremely talented musicians and it took little time for the pair to begin playing a leading role in the musical scene of the time, notably in the Barossa Valley.
Carl Draeger who had attained the title of ‘Professor of Music’ at Dresden University formed his first band at Gawler. Wilhelm Draeger moved to Tanunda where he formed the Tanunda Brass Band, later to change its name to Tanunda Town Band.
Both brothers were close friends of Carl Linger who composed the "Song of Australia". It was Carl Linger who loaned Wilhelm Draeger sufficient funds to purchase 12 acres of land immediately behind what is now known as Heineman Park in Tanunda.
It was on the 6th of October 1857 that the Tanunda Town Band performed its first official concert at the Tanunda Hotel. That humble concert was the beginning of a long tradition of music making in the Barossa Valley. The Tanunda Town Band, having been in continuous existence from that date, is the oldest Brass Band in the Southern Hemisphere.
In about 1880, the Band’s conductor was Swiss musician Rudolf Gilgen who composed and wrote music for the players he conducted. Sadly, from a historical point of view, the music he prepared has long since disappeared.
The Tanunda Band Competition was instituted in 1910. To this day the competitions held at Tanunda remain legendary and are remembered with fondness by all who participate, be it band personnel or spectators.
The band received it’s ‘A’ Grade status in 1927. This first South Australian band to receive this grading.
Throughout the decades, the band has competed on the national and international stage.
By special invitation the band has:
Performed at the Hong Kong Fringe Festival. Toured Malaysia (twice) and Singapore (twice). Represented the South Australian State Government in promotions held in Tasmania, Queensland, N.S.W., Victoria and internationally in Japan and New Zealand Played a 2-week season on the Oriana on a Pacific Cruise and a 10-day season on the Archille Lauro. Performed onboard the ocean liner Queen Elizabeth II when it visited Adelaide.
Other highlights include the band’s engagement to record the soundtracks for the movies ‘Breaker Morant’ and ‘The Reunion’.
In 1957 the band won the Australasian ‘A’ Grade Championships - another first for a South Australian band. Since then, the Band has won many State Championships and has performed creditably at National competitions.
In 1967 the first ‘Melodie-Nacht’ concert took place. This phenomenally successful concert was the brainchild of a local businessman of the time. The concept was simple: ‘A programme of music that everyday people want to hear – NOT band music’. From that first successful night, Melodie-Nacht has expanded into an annual two night ‘sell-out’ concert performance to audiences of over 2000. They flock to hear popular melodies from the Band and guest artists.
In 2004 the band won much acclaim for its concert performing the works of ‘Verdi’. Following the same theme, the ‘Classics Concert’ in 2005 featured the works of ‘The Great Composers’. More recent Classics Concerts have also featured works from Broadway and spotlighted composers from specific regions of the world.
The Tanunda Town Band has come along way. Still true to the ‘Town Band philosophy’ that communities sought from their bands in the last century, the band has emerged today as a modern vibrant ‘A’ Grade band that still entertains the local community and competes both on the State and National stage.
The Tanunda Town Band celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2007, as the oldest band in continual existence in the Southern Hemisphere.
The Band rehearses most Thursday nights at 8pm at the Band Hall in Mill Street, Tanunda. Visitors are always welcome to attend rehearsals.
Please contact the band at: secretary@tanundatownband.com or by phoning the band on +61 (0)8 8563 0220.
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