Story: Brass and pipe bands

Rātana brass band, Rātana Pā, January 2007 (4th of 4)

Rātana brass band, Rātana Pā, January 2007

One of the seven Rātana brass bands is seen at Rātana Pā, in the Whanganui district, in January 2007. In the 1930s the prophet Tahupōtiki Wiremu Rātana established seven brass bands, taking his lead from the Biblical account of the musicians who brought down the walls of Jericho. Rātana saw the bands as leading people into the promised land and bringing down the strongholds of oppression. He believed music would soften people's hearts and open them to the spiritual message of his church.

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Setford News Photo Agency
Reference: SNPA1149.JPG
Photograph by Ross Setford

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How to cite this page:

Peter Clayworth, 'Brass and pipe bands - Brass bands, 1880s onwards', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/43250/ratana-brass-band-ratana-pa-january-2007 (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Peter Clayworth, published 22 Oct 2014