But the passages in Albury City Band – 150 Years Entertaining our Community were not arranged by a saxophonist or trumpeter.

The book’s author Greg Ryan is a retired high school science teacher.

“My musical talent is about zero, I had a go on the kazoo at one stage, but my great uncles were great musicians,” he said.

His family ties led Mr Ryan to speaking publicly on the first 50 years of the Albury City Band in late 2015 which eventually resulted in him chronicling its 150 years.

“I spent about 700 hours working on the book, which if you work it out is 20 average working weeks,” Mr Ryan said at the book’s launch at the Albury Library-Museum on Monday.

Member for Albury Greg Aplin launched the book which benefited from a $4000 grant from Arts NSW and the Royal Australian Historical Society.

He applauded the “diligent research, discretion and discerning ear” shown by Mr Ryan to produce a “great read”.

Among the stories is that of the group’s first professional bandmaster Daniel Pogson and fellow musician Fred Kidd who left Albury to be part of the utopian New Australia settlement in Paraguay in 1893.

Mr Pogson’s sons Percy and Les also led the band.

Coinciding with the launch was the opening of an exhibition at the library-museum marking the 150^th anniversary.

It has memorabilia from the city collection and items loaned by the band.

Albury City Band is on sale for $35 at the library and Dymocks book shop.