This book was originally published in 1998. For most of the nineteenth and the early part of the twentieth century, the brass band was a major feature of musical life in Britain. This book surveys the hundred years from 1836 in which bands flourished, examining their origins in the village bands of the nineteenth century, the culture of banding competitions that developed and the manner in which this fostered the growth and success of bands. Roy Newsome charts the impact of social and economic change on amateur bands during this period. The influence of classical music, in particular opera, on early band music is also examined. The latter part of the book looks in detail at the original music written for brass bands by composers such as Holst, Elgar and Bliss, as well as pieces written by prominent band leaders.
Taking up the story of bands and their development from the 1930s to the start of the new millennium, Roy Newsome discusses the contest tradition of brass bands, the Youth banding movement, repertoire, instrumentation and the impact of the media on bands and their music.
Illustrated with 50 photographs, this book focusses on conductors and principal players, as well as composers and adjudicators from within the Black Dyke Band world. It also covers: contest successes, concert activities, and connections with radio, television and the recording industry.
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