‘This Is Our Sport!' Christmas Band Competitions And The Enactment Of An Ideal Community

Abstract

Members of St. Joseph's Christmas band arrive at their clubhouse at around 8am on 14 February 2005. They put the final touches to their dress: ties all have to be knotted in
exactly the same manner for the best-dressed band category of the competition, so one
member is placed in charge of knotting everyone's tie. Their uniform colours are grey
trousers, shoes, and hat, with a green blazer and a matching striped tie. There is excitement in the air as they wait for everyone to arrive. The men joke with each other,
they talk about which band they will be putting to shame that year, they boast about their
prowess at competitions and the fact that their record for winning the ‘solo' category for
nine consecutive years is still unbeaten. The children are restless, playing with each other,
running around and the men shout at them to stop running and to keep their uniforms
clean. There is much excitement in the air as they prepare for the City & Suburban
Christmas Bands' Union's Annual Competition.

South African Music Studies Vol. 26-27 2006/7: pp. 109-126