Brass band (British style)
Encyclopedia
A British-style brass band is a musical ensemble comprising a standardised range of brass and percussion instruments. The modern form of the brass band in the United Kingdom dates back to the 19th century, with a vibrant tradition of competition based around local industry and communities. The Stalybridge
Old Band (still in existence) was formed in 1809 and was perhaps the first civilian brass band in the world. Bands using the British instrumentation are the most common form of brass band in the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand, and are also widespread in continental Europe, Japan and North America. The tradition for brass bands in the UK is continuing, and local communities and schools have brass bands, such as The Ouston
and Pelton Community brass band, which draws their new members from more than seven local schools. A selection of brass bands can be experienced at the annual Durham Miners' Gala
.
The term 'silver band' is synonymous with 'brass band' in this sense; the vast majority of bands termed either 'brass' or 'silver' incorporate musicians playing both lacquered and silver-plated instruments. In the days when 'brass' instruments were not as costly as silver plated ones, the term 'silver band' implied a band that could afford the latter and thus were a more successful band. Now, however, the costs are similar and the distinction between brass and silver bands is generally not made.
s or french horn
s, which are found in orchestra
s and concert band
s.
The standard instrumentation is as follows:
The above totals 27–29 players, although in practice a band often has fewer than this. Spare seats may be filled for concerts and contests by players brought in from other bands, commonly known as deputising players or deps.
With the exception of percussion, bass trombone and some tenor trombone
music, all parts are transposing and written in the treble clef. This means that for every instrument, from the big basses right up to the soprano cornet, the fingering is similar and players can switch more easily between instruments. This system, which is unique to UK-style brass bands, ensures most parts can be covered when there is less than a full complement of players.
Bass Trombone music is written in Bass Clef, and Tenor Trombone music is in Tenor Clef on older scores.
, agreed to stage the first British open brass band championships. The event was attended by a crowd of over 16,000, and continued annually until 1981. Brass bands probably reached their peak in the early twentieth century, when it has been estimated there were over 20,000 players in the country.
Many UK bands were originally either works bands, or sponsored by various industrial concerns. This was particularly evident in coal mining areas, such as the Grimethorpe Colliery Band
, in Yorkshire
and Tredegar Town Band in the South Wales Valleys
. Bands sponsored by factories include The Black Dyke Mills Band (a wool mill); the Yorkshire Imperial Band
, originally the Yorkshire Copperworks Band; the Hammonds Saltaire Band
, sponsored by the Hammond Sauce Works (and latterly by the Yorkshire Building Society
, changing its name to the YBS Band); Foden's
by the truck manufacturer, Fairey
by the aircraft manufacturer, and Leyland Band
by the vehicle manufacturer. One of the reasons for this was to keep the workers from organizing in radical groups. With the decline of these industries several bands have dissolved and others now draw their membership from other industries and other parts of the community. The Brighouse and Rastrick Band
is unique in having operated continually at the highest level without sponsorship, drawing its income from regular concerts, public donations and sales of recordings and merchandise.
The leading bands in Wales are the Cory Band
, Tredegar, Tongwynlais Temperance Band The leading bands in Scotland are the Scottish Co-op Band (formally CWS Glasgow), Whitburn Band, and the Kirkintilloch Band. All these bands compete at the highest level in the banding movement.
There is also a depth of non-contesting "community" brass bands in the UK providing entertainment for audiences and enjoyment for musicians of all ages. A typical community brass band is West Chiltington Silver Band in Sussex, near the south coast of England.
, 1st section
, 2nd section
, 3rd section
and 4th section
. Competitions are held throughout the year at local, regional, and national levels, and at the end of each year there are promotions and relegations.
At a national level the main contest is the Besson National Brass Band Championship, and this determines a band's section. For this, the UK is split into 8 regions: London and Southern Counties, Midlands, North, North West, Scotland, Wales, West of England, and Yorkshire. Each year in Spring the bands compete in a regional contest for their section, and the top two or three in each section go on to the "National Finals" in Autumn. Recently (2011), the finals for Sections 1 to 4 have been held in Cheltenham
, and the finals for the Championship Section at the Royal Albert Hall
in London (as featured in the film Brassed Off
).
The bands are awarded points for their result (1st gets 1 point, 9th gets 9 points), and this is added to the previous two years to give a three-year total. Two or three bands with the best total are promoted, and two or three bands are relegated.
brass bands have run parallel to the main brass band movement since the 1870s. Salvation Army Bands range from small church bands to staff bands composed of the best Salvation Army bandsmen in the area. The finest of them are of comparable standard to the Championship
and 1st section
bands. Their instrumentation is almost identical except for a minor difference in the cornet section whereby the repiano is dropped and the remainder of the row is made up of parts designated 1st and 2nd (two players each) rather than 2nd and 3rd; and that some major pieces have a split first trombone part, the lower part usually cued elsewhere in the band.
Among the country's most famous brass band identities have been conductor and composer Percy Code; and David King and Frank Wright who made their mark in Britain. In later years, leading composers have included Brenton Broadstock (Winds of Change, Rutherford Variations, Valiant Take All My Sins Away and many more), Barrie Gott (Mumbo Jumbo, Gospel Train, Glasshouse Sketches) and Joe Cook (Taskforce, Keighley Moor) which have been published by Muso's Media, an Australian company founded and managed by Chris Earl.
Earl published Australia's Band World magazine for 15 years between 1993 and 2008. The magazine's 16 year run was the second-longest duration of any Australian band journal in the previous 150 years. Muso's Media has been recording the National championships on CD since 1998.
The national brass band Championships are held annually at the Royal Music Conservatory in Brussels. The winner represents Belgium at the European Championships.
Participants are divided into four categories going from Championship section to third section. Currently there are seven bands competing in Championship section. These are: Brass Band Willebroek Brass Band Buizingen, Metropole Brass Band, Festival Brass Band, Kortrijk Brass Band, Brass Band Heist, and De Noord-Limburgse Brassband,
Other Belgian bands include: Brass Band Leieland, Brass Band Zele, Brass Band De Kempengalm and many more.
Some of the brass bands in Belgium are primarily based around recreational music, do not conform to British brass band instrumentation, and therefore do not compete.
There are just a few bands (about five) playing in authentic British instrumentation. This is primarily due to the popularity of wind bands, particularly in Southern Germany.
The first National Brass Band "competition" took place as part of the German Festival of Wind Music in Würzburg, from 18–20 May 2007.
s are more prevalent today, possibly due to the association of brass bands with British rule, brass bands are still popular, especially on the east coast. Dungarvan
, Arklow
and Drogheda
are all examples of towns with brass bands of note. In the north of the country, the Brass Band League (NI) currently has 26 members.
Brass competitions take place annually, both regionally and nationally.
spread out their missionary activities in the Netherlands, at first the main port city Amsterdam
, and then to the then still important northern seaport of Harlingen
, Fryslân around the 1900.
Brass Band contesting began in Fryslân after World War II. The Frisian conductor Sierd de Boer made a great effort to develop the British Brass Band standardisation, and the Frisians nowadays continue to set the standard of Brass Bands in the Netherlands. Brass Bands in Fryslân include
'de Wâldsang',Bûtenpost
'Pro Rege' Heerenveen
'Soli Brass Leeuwarden
'It Heidebloempje' Harkema
'Crescendo' Surhuizum
'Crescendo' Workum
'De bazuin' Oenkerk
'Hosannah' Leeuwarden
'Friese jeugdbrassband'
and 20 more bands
King Harald V
is the patron of the Norwegian Band Federation. The Federation is granted an annual audience with the King in order to report to him and receive advice for the future. The King has awarded a royal trophy to the championships for adult bands.
Today, excepting the Salvation Army bands (such as the Canadian Staff Band and the North York Temple Band) there are few British-style brass bands (perhaps fewer than two dozen) in Canada, most of which are in Ontario
. Most operate as recreational, amateur, "community" bands such as the Oshawa Civic Band
, and the Whitby Brass Band, who will celebrate their 150th anniversary in 2013. There are some semi-professional groups, like the Intrada Brass of Oakville
, Ontario
. One of the most successful brass bands in Canada is the Hannaford Street Silver Band.
There are hopes for growth in the education field of brass bands in Canada, and in particular southern Ontario. In 1999, the professional Hannaford Street Silver Band launched the Hannaford Street Youth Band, which is internationally recognized for its success. In 2005, another youth band was created for beginning brass players known as the Hannaford Junior Band. Beginning in September 2006, the Hannaford organization plans to launch a third, intermediate, band known as the Hannaford Community Youth Band. These three ensembles target a wide range of youth from ages 11 to people well into their twenties.
as well. In 19th century Mexico very large bands were formed, such as that of composer Juventino Rosas
. In parts of Mexico brass band concerts remain a popular entertainment.
Brass bands were very popular throughout the United States in the late 19th century and the early decades of the 20th century. Well known bands of virtuoso musicians toured widely, and most towns had their own bands that put on weekend music concerts. Other groups, ranging from benevolent societies
to large factories
, would often have a band. The brass band movement has undergone a resurgence in the late twentieth century, led by the North American Brass Band Association. The United States boasts a number of professional brass bands, including the [Brass Band of Battle Creek], the River City Brass Band
, and the Chesapeake Silver Cornet Brass Band; community brass bands such as the Allegheny Brass Band and the Triangle Brass Band; several collegiate brass bands, including the James Madison University Brass Band and the Slippery Rock University Brass Ensemble; and various youth brass bands, including the Triangle Youth Brass Band
also exist.
's Air on a G String, to The Bangles
' "Eternal Flame
", to brand new compositions commissioned for the National Finals held at the Royal Albert Hall
. In recent years these have included commissions by Michael Ball – "...All The Flowers of the Mountain..." – and John Pickard
– "Eden", which incorporates "irrational" time signature
s, a first for band writing.
There are several notable composers in the brass band world. The current favourite is possibly Philip Sparke
, who has written many pieces, including Music of the Spheres. A noted Welsh Composer was T. J. (Tom) Powell, born in Tredegar
in 1897, also known as "The Welsh Sousa
". Powell composed over 500 pieces for brass bands, including marches (such as "The Castle Marches"), tone poems and suites.
Other composers include:
Several classical composers have written music specifically for brass band. These include:
One of the main advantages of the brass band is that it is portable and capable of playing at any time and anywhere, even on the march. Marching and outdoor functions have been the preserve of the brass band for well over a century. Many UK brass bands are closely woven into the local community, performing outdoor civic duties throughout the year.
The bandstand
became popular in the Victorian era
, typically associated with the British brass band or military band. It is a simple construction which not only creates an ornamental focal point, but also serves acoustic requirements whilst providing shelter from the changeable British weather.
Great Britain
Northern England and Scotland
Southern England and Wales
Stalybridge
Stalybridge is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Tameside in Greater Manchester, England, with a population of 22,568. Historically a part of Cheshire, it is east of Manchester city centre and northwest of Glossop. With the construction of a cotton mill in 1776, Stalybridge became one of...
Old Band (still in existence) was formed in 1809 and was perhaps the first civilian brass band in the world. Bands using the British instrumentation are the most common form of brass band in the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand, and are also widespread in continental Europe, Japan and North America. The tradition for brass bands in the UK is continuing, and local communities and schools have brass bands, such as The Ouston
Ouston, County Durham
Ouston is a village in County Durham, approximately 5 miles to the south-west of the city of Newcastle upon Tyne in the north-east of England...
and Pelton Community brass band, which draws their new members from more than seven local schools. A selection of brass bands can be experienced at the annual Durham Miners' Gala
Durham Miners' Gala
The Durham Miners' Gala is a large annual gathering held on the second Saturday in July in the city of Durham, England. It is associated with the coal mining heritage of the Durham Coalfield, which stretched throughout the traditional County of Durham. It is also locally called "The Big Meeting"...
.
The term 'silver band' is synonymous with 'brass band' in this sense; the vast majority of bands termed either 'brass' or 'silver' incorporate musicians playing both lacquered and silver-plated instruments. In the days when 'brass' instruments were not as costly as silver plated ones, the term 'silver band' implied a band that could afford the latter and thus were a more successful band. Now, however, the costs are similar and the distinction between brass and silver bands is generally not made.
Instrumentation
British Brass Bands are limited to specific instruments, which does not include, for instance trumpetTrumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
s or french horn
Horn (instrument)
The horn is a brass instrument consisting of about of tubing wrapped into a coil with a flared bell. A musician who plays the horn is called a horn player ....
s, which are found in orchestra
Orchestra
An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
s and concert band
Concert band
A concert band, also called wind band, symphonic band, symphonic winds, wind orchestra, wind symphony, wind ensemble, or symphonic wind ensemble, is a performing ensemble consisting of several members of the woodwind instrument family, brass instrument family, and percussion instrument family.A...
s.
The standard instrumentation is as follows:
- 1 Soprano CornetSoprano cornetThe soprano cornet is a brass instrument that is very similar to the standard B cornet. It is a transposing instrument in E, pitched higher than the standard B cornet....
(E) - 9 CornetCornetThe cornet is a brass instrument very similar to the trumpet, distinguished by its conical bore, compact shape, and mellower tone quality. The most common cornet is a transposing instrument in B. It is not related to the renaissance and early baroque cornett or cornetto.-History:The cornet was...
s (B) –- Front row: 1 Principal Cornet, 3 Solo Cornets
- Back row: 1 Repiano Cornet, 2 2nd Cornets, 2 3rd Cornets
- 1 FlugelhornFlugelhornThe flugelhorn is a brass instrument resembling a trumpet but with a wider, conical bore. Some consider it to be a member of the saxhorn family developed by Adolphe Sax ; however, other historians assert that it derives from the valve bugle designed by Michael Saurle , Munich 1832 , thus...
(B) - 3 Tenor Horns (E), sometimes called Alto HornsAlto hornThe alto horn is a brass instrument pitched in E...
in the United States and Germany – Solo, 1st, 2nd - 2 BaritonesBaritone hornThe baritone horn is a member of the brass instrument family. The baritone horn has a predominantly cylindrical bore as do the trumpet and trombone. A baritone horn uses a large mouthpiece much like those of a trombone or euphonium, although it is a bit smaller. Some baritone mouthpieces will sink...
(B) – 1st, 2nd - 2 Tenor TrombonesTromboneThe trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
(B) – 1st, 2nd - 1 Bass Trombone
- 2 EuphoniumEuphoniumThe euphonium is a conical-bore, tenor-voiced brass instrument. It derives its name from the Greek word euphonos, meaning "well-sounding" or "sweet-voiced"...
s (B) - 2 E BassesTubaThe tuba is the largest and lowest-pitched brass instrument. Sound is produced by vibrating or "buzzing" the lips into a large cupped mouthpiece. It is one of the most recent additions to the modern symphony orchestra, first appearing in the mid-19th century, when it largely replaced the...
, also known as E tubas - 2 B BassesTubaThe tuba is the largest and lowest-pitched brass instrument. Sound is produced by vibrating or "buzzing" the lips into a large cupped mouthpiece. It is one of the most recent additions to the modern symphony orchestra, first appearing in the mid-19th century, when it largely replaced the...
, also known as B tubas - 2 to 4 Percussion
The above totals 27–29 players, although in practice a band often has fewer than this. Spare seats may be filled for concerts and contests by players brought in from other bands, commonly known as deputising players or deps.
With the exception of percussion, bass trombone and some tenor trombone
Trombone
The trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
music, all parts are transposing and written in the treble clef. This means that for every instrument, from the big basses right up to the soprano cornet, the fingering is similar and players can switch more easily between instruments. This system, which is unique to UK-style brass bands, ensures most parts can be covered when there is less than a full complement of players.
Bass Trombone music is written in Bass Clef, and Tenor Trombone music is in Tenor Clef on older scores.
United Kingdom
History
Most of the instruments used in British brass bands had been in use for some time in village, church and military bands, and in the 1840s and 1850s the brass band emerged from these as a popular pastime. Brass bands were a response to industrialisation, which produced a large working class population, technological advances in instrument design, and the mass production to manufacture and distribute the instruments. A major improvement to the old designs was the development of efficient piston valves, which were easier to play and produced a more accurate, consistent sound. Arguably brass bands were an expression of the local solidarity and aspirations of newly formed or rapidly growing communities. This was seen, for instance, in the creation of brass band competitions by the late 1850s. In 1853 John Jennison, the owner of Belle Vue Zoological Gardens in ManchesterManchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, agreed to stage the first British open brass band championships. The event was attended by a crowd of over 16,000, and continued annually until 1981. Brass bands probably reached their peak in the early twentieth century, when it has been estimated there were over 20,000 players in the country.
Many UK bands were originally either works bands, or sponsored by various industrial concerns. This was particularly evident in coal mining areas, such as the Grimethorpe Colliery Band
Grimethorpe Colliery Band
The Grimethorpe Colliery Band is a brass band, based in Grimethorpe, South Yorkshire, England. It was formed in 1917, as a leisure activity for the workers at the colliery, by members of the disbanded Cudworth Colliery Band...
, in Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
and Tredegar Town Band in the South Wales Valleys
South Wales Valleys
The South Wales Valleys are a number of industrialised valleys in South Wales, stretching from eastern Carmarthenshire in the west to western Monmouthshire in the east and from the Heads of the Valleys in the north to the lower-lying, pastoral country of the Vale of Glamorgan and the coastal plain...
. Bands sponsored by factories include The Black Dyke Mills Band (a wool mill); the Yorkshire Imperial Band
Yorkshire Imperial Band
The Yorkshire Imperial Band, also known as the Yorkshire Imperial Urquhart Travel Band and the Yorkshire Imps, is a brass band from West Yorkshire, England...
, originally the Yorkshire Copperworks Band; the Hammonds Saltaire Band
Hammonds Saltaire Band
The Hammonds Saltaire Band, formerly also known as YBS Band, Yorkshire Building Society Band, and Hammonds Sauce Works Band is one of the best brass bands originating from Yorkshire.- History :...
, sponsored by the Hammond Sauce Works (and latterly by the Yorkshire Building Society
Yorkshire Building Society
The Yorkshire Building Society is the second largest building society in the UK, with its headquarters in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. Assets now exceed £20 billion....
, changing its name to the YBS Band); Foden's
Foden's Band
Foden's Band is a brass band from Sandbach in Cheshire. The band derives its name from the Foden manufacturer of trucks in Sandbach...
by the truck manufacturer, Fairey
Fairey Band
The Fairey Band is a brass band based in Heaton Chapel in Stockport, Greater Manchester.Its name comes from Sir Richard Fairey and the Fairey Aviation Company, famous in later years for the Fairey Delta 2 aircraft - the first aircraft in level flight to exceed 1,000mph, and had an important...
by the aircraft manufacturer, and Leyland Band
Leyland Band
The Leyland Band is a brass band based in Lancashire in the UK.-History:The Leyland Band was established in 1946 in the heart of industrial Lancashire as the Leyland Motors Band, taking its name from the world famous truck and bus company...
by the vehicle manufacturer. One of the reasons for this was to keep the workers from organizing in radical groups. With the decline of these industries several bands have dissolved and others now draw their membership from other industries and other parts of the community. The Brighouse and Rastrick Band
Brighouse and Rastrick Brass Band
The Brighouse and Rastrick Brass Band was formed in 1881. It is based in Brighouse, in Calderdale, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom.-History:The Brighouse and Rastrick Band is regarded by many as the best and most consistent ‘public subscription band’ in the world...
is unique in having operated continually at the highest level without sponsorship, drawing its income from regular concerts, public donations and sales of recordings and merchandise.
The leading bands in Wales are the Cory Band
Cory Band
The Cory Band, formerly the Buy As You View Band, is one of the oldest and best known brass bands in the world.-History and origins:The Cory Band hails from the Rhondda Valley in Wales. They were formed in 1884 and originally bore the name ‘Ton Temperance’ a reference to the Temperance movement in...
, Tredegar, Tongwynlais Temperance Band The leading bands in Scotland are the Scottish Co-op Band (formally CWS Glasgow), Whitburn Band, and the Kirkintilloch Band. All these bands compete at the highest level in the banding movement.
Contesting in the United Kingdom
British banding is highly competitive, with bands organized into five sections much like a football league – Championship sectionBrass Band Sections in Britain
There are five main brass band sections in the United Kingdom: Championship, First, Second, Third, and Fourth. The top bands are in the Championship section, and the bottom ones are in the Fourth section...
, 1st section
Brass Band Sections in Britain
There are five main brass band sections in the United Kingdom: Championship, First, Second, Third, and Fourth. The top bands are in the Championship section, and the bottom ones are in the Fourth section...
, 2nd section
Brass Band Sections in Britain
There are five main brass band sections in the United Kingdom: Championship, First, Second, Third, and Fourth. The top bands are in the Championship section, and the bottom ones are in the Fourth section...
, 3rd section
Brass Band Sections in Britain
There are five main brass band sections in the United Kingdom: Championship, First, Second, Third, and Fourth. The top bands are in the Championship section, and the bottom ones are in the Fourth section...
and 4th section
Brass Band Sections in Britain
There are five main brass band sections in the United Kingdom: Championship, First, Second, Third, and Fourth. The top bands are in the Championship section, and the bottom ones are in the Fourth section...
. Competitions are held throughout the year at local, regional, and national levels, and at the end of each year there are promotions and relegations.
At a national level the main contest is the Besson National Brass Band Championship, and this determines a band's section. For this, the UK is split into 8 regions: London and Southern Counties, Midlands, North, North West, Scotland, Wales, West of England, and Yorkshire. Each year in Spring the bands compete in a regional contest for their section, and the top two or three in each section go on to the "National Finals" in Autumn. Recently (2011), the finals for Sections 1 to 4 have been held in Cheltenham
Cheltenham
Cheltenham , also known as Cheltenham Spa, is a large spa town and borough in Gloucestershire, on the edge of the Cotswolds in the South-West region of England. It is the home of the flagship race of British steeplechase horse racing, the Gold Cup, the main event of the Cheltenham Festival held...
, and the finals for the Championship Section at the Royal Albert Hall
Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall situated on the northern edge of the South Kensington area, in the City of Westminster, London, England, best known for holding the annual summer Proms concerts since 1941....
in London (as featured in the film Brassed Off
Brassed Off
Brassed Off is a 1996 British film written and directed by Mark Herman. The film, a British-American co-production made between Channel Four Films, Miramax Films and Prominent Films, is about the troubles faced by a colliery brass band, following the closure of their pit...
).
The bands are awarded points for their result (1st gets 1 point, 9th gets 9 points), and this is added to the previous two years to give a three-year total. Two or three bands with the best total are promoted, and two or three bands are relegated.
Salvation Army brass bands
Mainly based in the UK, Salvation ArmySalvation Army
The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
brass bands have run parallel to the main brass band movement since the 1870s. Salvation Army Bands range from small church bands to staff bands composed of the best Salvation Army bandsmen in the area. The finest of them are of comparable standard to the Championship
Brass Band Sections in Britain
There are five main brass band sections in the United Kingdom: Championship, First, Second, Third, and Fourth. The top bands are in the Championship section, and the bottom ones are in the Fourth section...
and 1st section
Brass Band Sections in Britain
There are five main brass band sections in the United Kingdom: Championship, First, Second, Third, and Fourth. The top bands are in the Championship section, and the bottom ones are in the Fourth section...
bands. Their instrumentation is almost identical except for a minor difference in the cornet section whereby the repiano is dropped and the remainder of the row is made up of parts designated 1st and 2nd (two players each) rather than 2nd and 3rd; and that some major pieces have a split first trombone part, the lower part usually cued elsewhere in the band.
Australia
The Australian derivation of a brass band is the same as the UK brass band (i.e. standard instrumentation with no woodwind). Contesting bands in Australia are graded from A Grade to D Grade National Contests are held each year at Easter, with the location moving from state to state. The current champions are Gunnedah Shire Brass for both the open and junior categories. Each state also conducts their own championships. National and state contests are generally of the same format: a set test piece for each grade, a hymn, an own choice, a stage march (march or concert march performed on the stage without marching) and a light entertainment concert program. Smaller regional contests often replace the major works with an own choice concert program.Among the country's most famous brass band identities have been conductor and composer Percy Code; and David King and Frank Wright who made their mark in Britain. In later years, leading composers have included Brenton Broadstock (Winds of Change, Rutherford Variations, Valiant Take All My Sins Away and many more), Barrie Gott (Mumbo Jumbo, Gospel Train, Glasshouse Sketches) and Joe Cook (Taskforce, Keighley Moor) which have been published by Muso's Media, an Australian company founded and managed by Chris Earl.
Earl published Australia's Band World magazine for 15 years between 1993 and 2008. The magazine's 16 year run was the second-longest duration of any Australian band journal in the previous 150 years. Muso's Media has been recording the National championships on CD since 1998.
Belgium
In Belgium, there are about 30 brass bands. The best known is the Willbroek band, who were crowned European Brass Band Champions in 1993, 2006 and 2007. The average banding level is still rising, as the brass movement was only introduced in Belgium some 30 years ago.The national brass band Championships are held annually at the Royal Music Conservatory in Brussels. The winner represents Belgium at the European Championships.
Participants are divided into four categories going from Championship section to third section. Currently there are seven bands competing in Championship section. These are: Brass Band Willebroek Brass Band Buizingen, Metropole Brass Band, Festival Brass Band, Kortrijk Brass Band, Brass Band Heist, and De Noord-Limburgse Brassband,
Other Belgian bands include: Brass Band Leieland, Brass Band Zele, Brass Band De Kempengalm and many more.
Some of the brass bands in Belgium are primarily based around recreational music, do not conform to British brass band instrumentation, and therefore do not compete.
Germany
Brass bands in Germany are not as widespread as in other European countries like Switzerland or the Netherlands.There are just a few bands (about five) playing in authentic British instrumentation. This is primarily due to the popularity of wind bands, particularly in Southern Germany.
The first National Brass Band "competition" took place as part of the German Festival of Wind Music in Würzburg, from 18–20 May 2007.
Ireland
Brass bands in Ireland can primarily trace their origins to the past influence of British Army bands during the period between 1801 and 1922. As well as military bands however, community led groups were also in existence around this time. While concert bandConcert band
A concert band, also called wind band, symphonic band, symphonic winds, wind orchestra, wind symphony, wind ensemble, or symphonic wind ensemble, is a performing ensemble consisting of several members of the woodwind instrument family, brass instrument family, and percussion instrument family.A...
s are more prevalent today, possibly due to the association of brass bands with British rule, brass bands are still popular, especially on the east coast. Dungarvan
Dungarvan
Dungarvan is a town and harbour on the south coast of Ireland in the province of Munster. Dungarvan is the county town and administrative centre of County Waterford. The town's Irish name means "Garbhan's fort", referring to Saint Garbhan who founded a church there in the seventh century...
, Arklow
Arklow
Arklow , also known as Inbhear Dé from the Avonmore river's older name Abhainn Dé, is a historic town located in County Wicklow on the east coast of Ireland. Founded by the Vikings in the ninth century, Arklow was the site of one of the bloodiest battles of the 1798 rebellion...
and Drogheda
Drogheda
Drogheda is an industrial and port town in County Louth on the east coast of Ireland, 56 km north of Dublin. It is the last bridging point on the River Boyne before it enters the Irish Sea....
are all examples of towns with brass bands of note. In the north of the country, the Brass Band League (NI) currently has 26 members.
Brass competitions take place annually, both regionally and nationally.
Netherlands
In the years 1870-1900 the Salvation ArmySalvation Army
The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
spread out their missionary activities in the Netherlands, at first the main port city Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
, and then to the then still important northern seaport of Harlingen
Harlingen
Harlingen may mean:* Harlingen, Netherlands, a municipality and city in the province of Friesland* Harlingen, Texas, a city in the United States* Harlingen, New Jersey, an unincorporated village in Montgomery Township, New Jersey, United States...
, Fryslân around the 1900.
Brass Band contesting began in Fryslân after World War II. The Frisian conductor Sierd de Boer made a great effort to develop the British Brass Band standardisation, and the Frisians nowadays continue to set the standard of Brass Bands in the Netherlands. Brass Bands in Fryslân include
'de Wâldsang',Bûtenpost
'Pro Rege' Heerenveen
'Soli Brass Leeuwarden
'It Heidebloempje' Harkema
'Crescendo' Surhuizum
'Crescendo' Workum
'De bazuin' Oenkerk
'Hosannah' Leeuwarden
'Friese jeugdbrassband'
and 20 more bands
Norway
The Norwegian Band Federation is the largest voluntary music organisation in Norway. Through their membership, the 1712 member bands with their 70,318 players (official figures as of 9/1/04) are offered good conditions for their hobby. A network rich in tradition also gives them a strong and influential position in the cultural life of Norway. Many primary schools have their own bands.King Harald V
Harald V of Norway
Harald V is the king of Norway. He succeeded to the throne of Norway upon the death of his father Olav V on 17 January 1991...
is the patron of the Norwegian Band Federation. The Federation is granted an annual audience with the King in order to report to him and receive advice for the future. The King has awarded a royal trophy to the championships for adult bands.
Canada
Brass bands in the British tradition, sometimes sponsored by employers, existed in Canada in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The geography of Canada (e.g. large distances between communities, making regular contests and migration of players difficult) was a key factor among many challenges that led to the demise of most such bands.Today, excepting the Salvation Army bands (such as the Canadian Staff Band and the North York Temple Band) there are few British-style brass bands (perhaps fewer than two dozen) in Canada, most of which are in Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
. Most operate as recreational, amateur, "community" bands such as the Oshawa Civic Band
Oshawa Civic Band
The Oshawa Civic Band began life in 1870 as the band of the 34th Ontario Regiment, and was a traditional Military band. However, as time passed the band evolved into its current configuration of a traditional "British" brass band , which means that all parts, except for the bass trombone and...
, and the Whitby Brass Band, who will celebrate their 150th anniversary in 2013. There are some semi-professional groups, like the Intrada Brass of Oakville
Oakville, Ontario
Oakville is a town in Halton Region, on Lake Ontario in Southern Ontario, Canada, and is part of the Greater Toronto Area. As of the 2006 census the population was 165,613.-History:In 1793, Dundas Street was surveyed for a military road...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
. One of the most successful brass bands in Canada is the Hannaford Street Silver Band.
There are hopes for growth in the education field of brass bands in Canada, and in particular southern Ontario. In 1999, the professional Hannaford Street Silver Band launched the Hannaford Street Youth Band, which is internationally recognized for its success. In 2005, another youth band was created for beginning brass players known as the Hannaford Junior Band. Beginning in September 2006, the Hannaford organization plans to launch a third, intermediate, band known as the Hannaford Community Youth Band. These three ensembles target a wide range of youth from ages 11 to people well into their twenties.
Latin America
Brass bands long enjoyed popularity in many parts of Latin AmericaLatin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
as well. In 19th century Mexico very large bands were formed, such as that of composer Juventino Rosas
Juventino Rosas
José Juventino Policarpo Rosas Cadenas was a Mexican composer and violinist.-Life and career:Rosas was born in Santa Cruz de Galeana, Guanajuato, now renamed Santa Cruz de Juventino Rosas. Rosas began his musical career as a street musician and playing with dance music bands in Mexico City...
. In parts of Mexico brass band concerts remain a popular entertainment.
United States
Brass bands in the British tradition are becoming more popular through the efforts of the North American Brass Band Association, which organizes an annual brass band convention and contest.Brass bands were very popular throughout the United States in the late 19th century and the early decades of the 20th century. Well known bands of virtuoso musicians toured widely, and most towns had their own bands that put on weekend music concerts. Other groups, ranging from benevolent societies
Benevolent Society
The Benevolent Society, founded by Edward Smith Hall in 1813, is Australia's first charity. It is an independent, non-religious, non-profit organisation which aims to help people overcome the barriers preventing them from participating fully in society...
to large factories
Factory
A factory or manufacturing plant is an industrial building where laborers manufacture goods or supervise machines processing one product into another. Most modern factories have large warehouses or warehouse-like facilities that contain heavy equipment used for assembly line production...
, would often have a band. The brass band movement has undergone a resurgence in the late twentieth century, led by the North American Brass Band Association. The United States boasts a number of professional brass bands, including the [Brass Band of Battle Creek], the River City Brass Band
River City Brass Band
The River City Brass Band is a modified British-style brass band based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The band performed its first concert on November 21, 1981, with its founder Robert Bernat as conductor. In addition to its accessible performance style, RCBB is renowned for its recordings and...
, and the Chesapeake Silver Cornet Brass Band; community brass bands such as the Allegheny Brass Band and the Triangle Brass Band; several collegiate brass bands, including the James Madison University Brass Band and the Slippery Rock University Brass Ensemble; and various youth brass bands, including the Triangle Youth Brass Band
Triangle Youth Brass Band
Triangle Youth Brass Band a national award-winning British style brass band located in Raleigh, North Carolina that was formed in 1997 as a youth component of the Triangle Brass Band . Under the direction of Tony Granados and Jesse Rackley, the Youth Band serves nearly 70 high school aged...
also exist.
Repertoire
Brass Band repertoire is as wide and as varied as one's imagination. For example, a typical brass band could play items from BachJohann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach was a German composer, organist, harpsichordist, violist, and violinist whose sacred and secular works for choir, orchestra, and solo instruments drew together the strands of the Baroque period and brought it to its ultimate maturity...
's Air on a G String, to The Bangles
The Bangles
The Bangles are an American all-female band that originated in the early 1980s, scoring several hit singles during the decade.-Formation and early years :...
' "Eternal Flame
Eternal Flame (song)
"Eternal Flame" is a song by The Bangles from their 1988 album Everything. It became a hit single, when released in 1989, peaking at number one in the charts in nine countries, including Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. It was written by popular songwriters Billy Steinberg and...
", to brand new compositions commissioned for the National Finals held at the Royal Albert Hall
Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall situated on the northern edge of the South Kensington area, in the City of Westminster, London, England, best known for holding the annual summer Proms concerts since 1941....
. In recent years these have included commissions by Michael Ball – "...All The Flowers of the Mountain..." – and John Pickard
John Pickard (composer)
John Pickard , is a British classical composer.Pickard was born in Burnley, Lancashire, England. He studied music and composition at the University of Wales, under Welsh composer William Mathias, and later in The Netherlands under Louis Andriessen and in 1989 was awarded a PhD in composition...
– "Eden", which incorporates "irrational" time signature
Time signature
The time signature is a notational convention used in Western musical notation to specify how many beats are in each measure and which note value constitutes one beat....
s, a first for band writing.
There are several notable composers in the brass band world. The current favourite is possibly Philip Sparke
Philip Sparke
Philip Sparke is a British composer and musician. He is noted for his concert band and brass band music.- Music for Winds :* 1973/1976 Gaudium* 1975 The Prizewinners for Brass-Band* 1978/1995 Fantasy for Euphonium...
, who has written many pieces, including Music of the Spheres. A noted Welsh Composer was T. J. (Tom) Powell, born in Tredegar
Tredegar
Tredegar is a town situated on the Sirhowy River in the county borough of Blaenau Gwent, in south-east Wales. Located within the historic boundaries of Monmouthshire, it became an early centre of the Industrial Revolution in South Wales...
in 1897, also known as "The Welsh Sousa
John Philip Sousa
John Philip Sousa was an American composer and conductor of the late Romantic era, known particularly for American military and patriotic marches. Because of his mastery of march composition, he is known as "The March King" or the "American March King" due to his British counterpart Kenneth J....
". Powell composed over 500 pieces for brass bands, including marches (such as "The Castle Marches"), tone poems and suites.
Other composers include:
|
Elgar Howarth Elgar Howarth is an English conductor and composer.Howarth was educated in the 1950s at Manchester University and the Royal Manchester College of Music , where his fellow students included the composers Harrison Birtwistle, Alexander Goehr, Peter Maxwell Davies, and the... Gordon Jacob Gordon Percival Septimus Jacob was an English composer. He is known for his wind instrument composition and his instructional writings.-Life:... Henry James Metcalfe Henry James Metcalfe was a bandmaster, composer and publisher of music for Brass band . He served in Ireland in a Depot Battalion of the 3rd Regiment of Foot, 'The Buffs', becoming bandmaster of its Bugle, Fife and Drum band... William Rimmer (music) William Rimmer was a Lancashire composer and conductor of brass band music who was particularly well-known for his marches.Rimmer was born in Southport in 1862 into a musical family. His father was bandmaster of the Lancashire Volunteer Rifles and encouraged both Rimmer and his brother Robert in... Philip Sparke Philip Sparke is a British composer and musician. He is noted for his concert band and brass band music.- Music for Winds :* 1973/1976 Gaudium* 1975 The Prizewinners for Brass-Band* 1978/1995 Fantasy for Euphonium... Ray Steadman-Allen Lieutenant Colonel Ray Steadman-Allen is a composer of choral and brass band music for the Salvation Army and for band competition.... Gilbert Vinter Gilbert Vinter was an English conductor and composer, most celebrated for his compositions for brass bands.... Paul Lovatt-Cooper Paul Lovatt-Cooper is "Composer in Association" of the Black Dyke Band of which he was also formerly a percussionist.Coming from a Salvation Army family, he studied music at the University of Salford... |
Several classical composers have written music specifically for brass band. These include:
- Malcolm ArnoldMalcolm ArnoldSir Malcolm Henry Arnold, CBE was an English composer and symphonist.Malcolm Arnold began his career playing trumpet professionally, but by age thirty his life was devoted to composition. He was ranked with Benjamin Britten as one of the most sought-after composers in Britain...
: Little Suite for Brass - Granville BantockGranville BantockSir Granville Bantock was a British composer of classical music.-Biography:Granville Ransome Bantock was born in London. His father was a Scottish doctor. He was intended by his parents for the Indian Civil Service but was drawn into the musical world. His first teacher was Dr Gordon Saunders at...
: Prometheus Unbound - Judith BinghamJudith BinghamJudith Bingham is a British composer and mezzo-soprano singer.Born in Nottingham in 1952 and educated at High Storrs Grammar School for Girls in Sheffield, she attended the Royal Academy of Music , where her teachers were Malcolm MacDonald, Eric Fenby, Alan Bush and John Hall , and Jean...
: Prague - Harrison BirtwistleHarrison BirtwistleSir Harrison Paul Birtwistle CH is a British contemporary composer.-Life:Birtwistle was born in Accrington, a mill town in Lancashire some 20 miles north of Manchester. His interest in music was encouraged by his mother, who bought him a clarinet when he was seven, and arranged for him to have...
: Grimethorpe Aria - Arthur BlissArthur BlissSir Arthur Edward Drummond Bliss, CH, KCVO was an English composer and conductor.Bliss's musical training was cut short by the First World War, in which he served with distinction in the army...
: Kenilworth - Derek BourgeoisDerek BourgeoisDerek Bourgeois is an English composer. Educated at Cambridge University , he spent two years at the Royal College of Music studying composition with Herbert Howells and conducting with Sir Adrian Boult.From 1970 to 1984 he was a lecturer in music at Bristol University, and then Director of the...
: Blitz, Concertos Nos. 1 & 2 for Brass Band, Concerto Grosso & Apocalypse - Arthur ButterworthArthur ButterworthArthur Butterworth MBE is an English composer, conductor and teacher.Butterworth attended the Royal Manchester College of Music , where he studied composition with Richard Hall and also learned the trumpet and conducting...
: Three Impressions for Brass, Odin - Simon DobsonSimon DobsonSimon Dobson is an English composer particularly noted for his brass band compositions.-Biography:Having grown up in a brass banding family, Simon moved to London at age 18 on a scholarship to study composition under Timothy Salter, Theo Verby and George Benjamin, at South Kensington's Royal...
: The Drop, Lydian Pictures & Penlee - Edward ElgarEdward ElgarSir Edward William Elgar, 1st Baronet OM, GCVO was an English composer, many of whose works have entered the British and international classical concert repertoire. Among his best-known compositions are orchestral works including the Enigma Variations, the Pomp and Circumstance Marches, concertos...
: The Severn SuiteThe Severn SuiteThe Severn Suite, Opus 87, is a musical work written by Sir Edward Elgar. It is a late composition, written in 1930, the result of an invitation to write a test piece for the National Brass Band Championship... - Edward GregsonEdward GregsonEdward Gregson is an English composer of international standing, whose music has been performed, broadcast, and recorded worldwide. He was born in Sunderland, England, in 1945. He studied composition and piano at the Royal Academy of Music from 1963-7, winning five prizes for composition...
: Of Men and Mountains, Connotations & Variations on Laudate Dominum - Hans Werner HenzeHans Werner HenzeHans Werner Henze is a German composer of prodigious output best known for "his consistent cultivation of music for the theatre throughout his life"...
: Ragtimes and Habaneras - Gustav HolstGustav HolstGustav Theodore Holst was an English composer. He is most famous for his orchestral suite The Planets....
: A Moorside Suite - Joseph HorovitzJoseph HorovitzJoseph Horovitz is a British composer and conductor. Horovitz's family emigrated to England in 1938. He studied music and modern languages at New College, Oxford, and later attended the Royal College of Music in London, studying composition with Gordon Jacob. He then undertook a year of further...
: Ballet for Band & Sinfonietta - Herbert HowellsHerbert HowellsHerbert Norman Howells CH was an English composer, organist, and teacher, most famous for his large output of Anglican church music.-Life:...
: Three Figures Suite - John IrelandJohn Ireland (composer)John Nicholson Ireland was an English composer.- Life :John Ireland was born in Bowdon, near Altrincham, Manchester, into a family of Scottish descent and some cultural distinction. His father, Alexander Ireland, a publisher and newspaper proprietor, was aged 70 at John's birth...
: A Comedy Overture & A Downland Suite - George LloydGeorge Lloyd (composer)George Walter Selwyn Lloyd was a British composer.-Early life:Of Cornish ancestry, Lloyd grew up in a family with great enthusiasm for music. He was mainly home-schooled because of rheumatic fever. He later studied violin with Albert Sammons and composition with Harry Farjeon. He was a student at...
: Diversions on a Bass Theme & English Heritage - William MathiasWilliam MathiasWilliam Mathias CBE was a Welsh composer.-Brief biography:Mathias was born in Whitland, Carmarthenshire. A child prodigy, he started playing the piano at the age of three and composing at the age of five. He studied at the Royal Academy of Music under Lennox Berkeley, where he was elected a fellow...
: Vivat Regina - John McCabeJohn McCabe (composer)John McCabe CBE is an English composer and pianist.- Biography :John McCabe was born in Huyton, Liverpool, Merseyside. A prolific composer from an early age, he had written thirteen symphonies by the time he was eleven...
: Cloudcatcher Fells, Salamander & The Maunsell Forts - Edmund RubbraEdmund RubbraEdmund Rubbra was a British composer. He composed both instrumental and vocal works for soloists, chamber groups and full choruses and orchestras. He was greatly esteemed by fellow musicians and was at the peak of his fame in the mid-20th century. The most famous of his pieces are his eleven...
: Variations on 'The Shining River' - Robert SimpsonRobert Simpson (composer)Robert Simpson was an English composer and long-serving BBC producer and broadcaster.He is best known for his orchestral and chamber music , and for his writings on the music of Beethoven, Bruckner, Nielsen and Sibelius. He studied composition under Herbert Howells...
: Energy & Volcano - Phyllis TatePhyllis TatePhyllis Tate was an English composer known for forming unusual instrumentations in her compositions. Her musical style has been called avant-garde and she is recognized for appealing to amateur performers and children....
: Illustrations - Bramwell ToveyBramwell ToveyBramwell Tovey, OM is an English-born Grammy Award winning conductor and composer. His musical roots are in The Salvation Army. He was educated at Ilford County High School, the Royal Academy of Music and the University of London. His formal music education was as a pianist and composer...
: Coventry Variations, Pictures in the Smoke & The Night To Sing - Ralph Vaughan WilliamsRalph Vaughan WilliamsRalph Vaughan Williams OM was an English composer of symphonies, chamber music, opera, choral music, and film scores. He was also a collector of English folk music and song: this activity both influenced his editorial approach to the English Hymnal, beginning in 1904, in which he included many...
: Overture – Henry the Fifth, Prelude on Three Welsh Hymn Tunes & Variations for Brass Band - Philip WilbyPhilip WilbyPhilip Wilby is a British composer.Educated at Leeds Grammar School and Keble College, Oxford, he joined the staff at the University of Leeds in 1972...
: Paganini Variations, A Breathless Alleluia, ...Dove Descending..., Vienna Nights, Revelation, Masquerade, Northern Lights, New Jerusalem & Red Priest - Thomas WilsonThomas Wilson (composer)Thomas Wilson CBE was a Scottish composer of classical music.One of the greatest musicians Scotland has produced, Thomas Brendan Wilson was born in Trinidad, Colorado, USA to British parents, but moved to Scotland with his family when he was 17 months old. They settled in the Glasgow area where he...
: Processional, Sinfonietta, Refrains and Cadenzas, Cartoon for cornet and brass band, Cartoon for solo cornet and brass band, Cartoon for brass ensemble and optional percussion, Cartoon for cornet and piano
Outdoor banding
The bandstand
Bandstand
A bandstand is a circular or semicircular structure set in a park, garden, pier, or indoor space, designed to accommodate musical bands performing concerts...
became popular in the Victorian era
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
, typically associated with the British brass band or military band. It is a simple construction which not only creates an ornamental focal point, but also serves acoustic requirements whilst providing shelter from the changeable British weather.
Band associations
- Brass Band Switzerland
- Brass Bands' Association of New Zealand
- European Brass Band Association
- National Association of Brass Band Conductors
- National Band Council of Australia
- North American Brass Band Association
- Scottish Brass Band Association
- Southern Counties Amateur Bands Association
Europe
Continental Europe- Brass Band Willebroek, a non-English brass bands.
- Brass Band BuizingenBrass Band BuizingenBrass Band Buizingen are based in the town of Halle outside of Brussels in Belgium and was founded in 1975.Brass Band Buizingen became a traditional brass band after the switch from fanfare band. In 1997 their achievements were recognised with their nomination as Cultural Ambassador of Flanders...
, brass band from Belgium. - Brass Band Leieland Belgian brass band.
Great Britain
Northern England and Scotland
- Fairey BandFairey BandThe Fairey Band is a brass band based in Heaton Chapel in Stockport, Greater Manchester.Its name comes from Sir Richard Fairey and the Fairey Aviation Company, famous in later years for the Fairey Delta 2 aircraft - the first aircraft in level flight to exceed 1,000mph, and had an important...
, brass bands and the current 2011 English Champions - Black Dyke BandBlack Dyke BandThe Black Dyke Band, formerly the Black Dyke Mills Band, is one of the oldest and best-known brass bands in the world. The band has won many prizes and competitions over the years...
, brass bands and the reigning English Champions - Brighouse and Rastrick Brass BandBrighouse and Rastrick Brass BandThe Brighouse and Rastrick Brass Band was formed in 1881. It is based in Brighouse, in Calderdale, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom.-History:The Brighouse and Rastrick Band is regarded by many as the best and most consistent ‘public subscription band’ in the world...
, the National Champions of Great Britain - Foden's BandFoden's BandFoden's Band is a brass band from Sandbach in Cheshire. The band derives its name from the Foden manufacturer of trucks in Sandbach...
, brass band based in Cheshire - Grimethorpe Colliery BandGrimethorpe Colliery BandThe Grimethorpe Colliery Band is a brass band, based in Grimethorpe, South Yorkshire, England. It was formed in 1917, as a leisure activity for the workers at the colliery, by members of the disbanded Cudworth Colliery Band...
, brass bands - The Harrogate BandThe Harrogate BandThe Harrogate Band are a brass band based in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England and were formed in 1970. They perform regularly in the local area and compete nationally in the 1st Section. The band are one of North Yorkshire's premier brass bands and are seen as a progressive and versatile band...
, brass band based in North Yorkshire - The Scottish Co-op Band (formerly CWS Glasgow)
- Hammonds Saltaire BandHammonds Saltaire BandThe Hammonds Saltaire Band, formerly also known as YBS Band, Yorkshire Building Society Band, and Hammonds Sauce Works Band is one of the best brass bands originating from Yorkshire.- History :...
formerly also known as YBS Band, Yorkshire Building Society Band, or Hammonds Sauce Works Band. A brass band based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire - Yorkshire Imperial BandYorkshire Imperial BandThe Yorkshire Imperial Band, also known as the Yorkshire Imperial Urquhart Travel Band and the Yorkshire Imps, is a brass band from West Yorkshire, England...
, National Winners 1978, British Open Winners on three occasions
Southern England and Wales
- Burry Port Town Band, a West Wales brass band
- Carharrack & St Day Silver Band, a band from two west Cornish villages
- Cory BandCory BandThe Cory Band, formerly the Buy As You View Band, is one of the oldest and best known brass bands in the world.-History and origins:The Cory Band hails from the Rhondda Valley in Wales. They were formed in 1884 and originally bore the name ‘Ton Temperance’ a reference to the Temperance movement in...
, a Welsh brass band - Helston Town BandHelston Town BandHelston Town Band is a brass band in the Cornish town of Helston.-History:Helston Town Band has a rich history, which can be traced back to the turn of the century; there are members of the current band whose family connections extend back four generations...
, a renowned Cornish band which plays the famous Floral Dance. - Mount Charles Brass Band, a Cornish senior and youth brass band.
- Gislingham Silver Band, Suffolk Village Band which has been playing for over 125 years.
- Blendworth Brass Band Hampshire Band, well-known in the region.
North America
- Brass Band of Battle Creek, an American brass band.
- Hannaford Street Silver Band, Canada's professional brass band.
- Rockville Brass Band, One of America's oldest British Brass Bands, founded in 1976.
- The Salvation Army North York Temple Band, Canada's premier Salvation Army brass band.
Oceania
- Brisbane Excelsior Band, the national champions of Australia.
- Dalewool Auckland BrassDalewool Auckland BrassThe Dalewool Auckland Brass Band was founded in 1919 as the Auckland Watersiders Silver Band. The Band retained this title until the early 1950's when it became the Auckland Metropolitan Fire Brigade Band...
, New Zealand Band of the Year 2011. - The National Brass Band of New Zealand, an auditioned band based in New Zealand.