"God Defend New Zealand" was written as a poem in the 1870s by Irish-born, Victorian-raised immigrant Thomas Bracken of Dunedin. A competition to compose music for the poem was held in 1876 by The Saturday Advertiser and judged by three prominent Melbourne musicians, with a prize of ten guineas. The winner of the competition was the Tasmanian-born John Joseph Woods of Lawrence, New Zealand who composed the melody in a single sitting the evening after finding out about the competition. The song was first performed at the Queen?s Theatre, Princes Street, Dunedin, on Christmas Day, 1876. [Wikipedia]

This arrangement is for Concert Band and with optional Strings and Piano parts included (but not shown on the score) - Lower Key of F (Original in G) ? If singing the words for more than one verse, accompaniment can be varied eg. Woodwind only for one verse ? as in the MP3 recording with was recorded with NotePerformer. Also available MARCH CARD format...

Duration = 2:00 mins Grade 2-3

Here?sa new collection of thirty-two of America?s best-loved hymn tunes, at a bargainprice too! The arrangements are intended either as stand-alone pieces thatcould be used as interludes in a service, or they could be used to accompanysolo, choral or congregational singing.

Thepublication consists of a four-staff score in concert pitch together withfifteen separate parts in various transpositions including a simplifiedoptional keyboard part. These four-partarrangements use flexible instrumentation so that you can exercise considerablecontrol over the instrumental voicing or use them for non-standard ensembles. You can also create interesting instrumentaltone color by omitting groups of instruments. If the ensemble is large enoughyou could omit brass instruments in the quieter sections, or use a solo trumpetagainst a woodwind background. There are endless possibilities.

Thecomplete set includes Part 1 in B flat, E flat and C (high and low pitch); Part2 in B flat, E flat and C; Part 3 in B flat, E flat, F and C and Part 4 in Bflat, E flat and C. While Part 1 (high pitch) is suitable for flute and oboebeing an octave above concert, the low pitch version is more suited toelementary players. Part 2 in C is an octave higher than concert. Parts 3 and 4in C are in the bass clef. The arrangements could be played by virtually anycombination of conventional wind instruments. Using the optional keyboard partthey could also be used as solos, duets or trios. The scores and all the parts are containedin a single 244-page PDF file.

The collection includes the followingtitles: A Mighty Fortress IsOur God (Ein? Feste Burg); All Creatures Of our God and King(Lasst uns Erfreuen); All People that on Earth do Dwell (OldHundredth); Abide with Me (Eventide); AllHail the Power of Jesus? Name (Coronation); Amazing Grace (Trad); At the Cross(Alas and Did My Savior Bleed) (Hudson); Be Thou My Vision(Slane); Blessed Assurance(Assurance); Blest Be the Tie That Binds (Dennis - N�geli); ComeThou Fount of Every Blessing (Nettleton); ComeWe That Love the Lord (St. Thomas);Crown Him with ManyCrowns (Diademata); Guide Me OThou Great Jehovah (Cwm Rhondda); Holy, Holy, Holy(Nicea); How Firm a Foundation (Foundation); It is Wellwith my Soul (Ville du Havre); Jesus Christ is Risen Today(Easter Hymn);Jesus, Lover of My Soul (Hollingside); JesusPaid it All (All to Christ); Joy to theWorld (Antioch); Just as I Am, Without one Plea (Woodworth); Love Divine, AllLoves Excelling (Hyfrydol); Nearer my God to Thee (Bethany); Praise To the Lord, The Almighty(Lob den Herren); Rock of Ages (Top�la�dy); Shall we gather at the River?(Hanson Place); The Day thou Gave us, Lord is Ended (St. Clement);To God Be The Glory(To God be the Glory); There is a Fountain (Cleansing Fountain);What a Friend WeHave in Jesus (Converse) and WhenI Survey the Wondrous Cross (Hamburg).

The audio demo contains the followingtitles (1) Abide with Me; (2) All Hailthe Power of Jesus? Name; (3) A Mighty Fortress is our God and (4) Love Divine,all Loves Excelling.