Thesis (MMus (Music))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Kersfeesorkeste is ‟n Christelike tradisie binne die Kleurling-gemeenskap van die Wes-Kaap wat dissipline en goeie waardes by lede van hierdie gemeenskap inboesem en musiek in voorheen benadeelde en minderbevoorregte sektore van die samelewing bevorder. Die geskiedenis en agtergrond van die Kersfeesorkeste is soortgelyk aan dié van die Kaapse Klopse en die Maleierkore, wat veral prominent na vore kom tydens die Kersfees- en Nuwejaarsfeestelikhede in die Kaap. Alhoewel hierdie drie groepe ‟n nou verbintenis tot mekaar het en dikwels deur die publiek saamgroepeer word, funksioneer hulle onafhanklik van mekaar en is daar beduidende verskille in kultuur, repertoire, kleredrag, organisatoriese struktuur en samestelling. Hierdie studie fokus op die Perseverance Kersfeesorkes en ondersoek dié orkes in sy vele fasette binne die raamwerk van wat in die musiekwetenskap deesdae “gemeenskapsmusiek” genoem word. Die kenmerke van die begrip “gemeenskapsmusiek”, soos dit in die laaste 15 jaar in ander lande geformuleer is, word aan die hand van die Perseverance Kersfeesorkes getoets om uit te vind of die Perseverance Kersfeesorkes as ‟n voorbeeld van gemeenskapsmusiek beskou kan word en, omgekeerd, of die begrip “gemeenskapsmusiek” aan die hand van hierdie geval in alle opsigte gepas is of dalk aangepas moet word. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Christmas Bands are a Christian tradition within the Coloured community of the Western Cape that instils discipline and values amongst members of this community and promotes music within previously disadvantaged and under-privileged sectors of society. The history and background of the Christmas Bands is similar to that of the Cape Minstrels and Malay Choirs, who are very prominent during the Christmas and New Year festivities in the Cape. Although these three groups have a close connection they function independently of each other. There are significant differences amongst these groups in respect of culture, repertoire, uniform, organisational structure and composition. This study focuses on the Perseverance Christmas Band and examines this band in all its different facets within the framework of what, in current musicological terminology, is called “community music”. The characteristics of the concept of community music, as they have been formulated in other countries over the last 15 years, are tested against the Perseverance Christmas Band to determine whether the Perseverance Christmas Band should be understood as a example of community music and, vice versa, whether the concept of community music itself is valid when measured against the Perseverance Christmas Band or whether it needs adjustment or expansion.