Black Dyke Band
Black Dyke Band, formerly John Foster & Son Black Dyke Mills Band, is one of the oldest and most well-known brass bands in the world. It originated as multiple community bands founded by John Foster at his family's textile mill in Queensbury, Bradford, West Yorkshire, England, in the mid-19th century. The ensemble has become prominent in competitive band championships and through recordings for film and television.
The band is well-known for recording the soundtrack to the
History
The band was formerly the band of the Black Dyke Mills in Queensbury, Bradford, West Yorkshire, England, a company owned by John Foster. Foster, a French horn player, joined with others in a small brass and reed band in Queensbury in 1816.[4] This band faltered, and another band formed – called the Queenshead Band – which consisted of 18 musicians around 1843. This second band also faltered, but in 1855, Foster and other musicians established the new mill band, and outfitted it with uniforms made from the mill's own cloth. Most of the musicians in the band also worked at the mill, and a close bond was fostered with the local community. The band has remained active since that time, and still rehearses in its original rooms.
Black Dyke was the first band to achieve the "Grand Slam" in 1985 by winning the Yorkshire regional, European, British Open and National Championship contests.[5] They were also voted BBC Band of the Year.[6]
They appeared in an episode of Victoria Wood's dinnerladies sitcom in 1999.[7]
European Championships
Year | City | Conductor |
---|---|---|
1978 | London, England | Major Peter Parkes |
1979 | London, England | Major Peter Parkes |
1982 | London, England | Major Peter Parkes |
1983 | Kerkrade, Netherlands | Major Peter Parkes |
1984 | Edinburgh, Scotland | Major Peter Parkes |
1985 | Copenhagen, Denmark | Major Peter Parkes |
1987 | Nottingham, England | Major Peter Parkes |
1990 | Falkirk, Scotland | David King |
1991 | Rotterdam, Netherlands | David King |
1995 | Luxembourg, Luxembourg | James Watson |
2005 | Groningen, Netherlands | Dr Nicholas Childs |
2012 | Rotterdam, Netherlands | Dr Nicholas Childs |
2015 | Freiburg, Germany | Prof Nicholas Childs |
Recordings
Black Dyke Band has made over 350 recordings, including one of the first brass band recordings in 1904 and
In September 1968, the band released a single on
In August 2009, the band undertook a tour of Australia with multi-instrumentalist
Members
As of 2020, the principals of the band's line up included:[10]
- Soprano cornet: Connor Lennon
- Principal cornet: Richard Marshall[11]
- Flugelhorn: Zoe Hancock[12]
- Solo horn: Siobhan Bates[13]
- Solo baritone: Katrina Marzella[14]
- Solo trombone: Brett Baker[15]
- Bass trombone: Adam Reed
- Solo euphonium: Daniel Thomas[16]
- Solo E♭ bass: Gavin Saynor
- Solo B♭ bass: Matthew Routley
- Drums and Percussion: Logan Thompson
The band's current[when?] principal conductor and director of music is the Welsh euphonium virtuoso Prof. Nicholas Childs. His predecessor was trumpet player James Watson.[17]
Paul Lovatt-Cooper was the band's 'composer in association' and former principal percussionist. He retired from playing in early 2011 in order to concentrate on his teaching, conducting and composition.[18]
Black Dyke Band is the brass band in residence at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, and Childs also conducts the RNCM Brass Band.[19]
Former members
- John Maines, principal trombone
- Maurice Murphy, principal cornet
- James Shepherd, principal cornet
References
- ^ "Report & Results: 2014 National Championships of Great Britain". 4barsrest.com. 11 October 2014. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
- ^ "Report & Results: 2014 British Open Championship". 4barsrest.com. 7 September 2014. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
- ^ "Report & Results: 2015 European Championship". 4barsrest.com. 2 May 2015. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
- ^ "Black Dyke Band – A Brief History". Blackdykeband.co.uk. Retrieved 25 December 2017.
- ^ Hutchinson, Charles (15 March 2016). "Black Dyke Band to play Pocklington for first time, but hurry, tickets are selling fast for April 3 concert". York Press. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
- ^ "Classic LPs – the 1980s". 4barsrest.com. 10 April 2008. Archived from the original on 10 February 2010. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
- ^ "Black Dyke Band". IMDb.com. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
- ^ "Thingumybob". Jpgr.co.uk. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
- ^ "Acoustic Treatment for the Black Dyke Band". Amadeus-equipment.co.uk. 23 September 2010. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
- ^ "Band Members | Black Dyke Band". Blackdykeband.co.uk. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
- ^ "Marshall takes over at Dyke". Archived from the original on 17 October 2014. Retrieved 17 October 2014.
- ^ "Major changes at Black Dyke". 4barsrest.com. 2 November 2010. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
- ^ "Bates confirmed as new Black Dyke solo horn". 4barsrest.com. 21 June 2016. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
- ^ "Marzella heads to Black Dyke". 4barsrest.com. 7 December 2011. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
- ^ "Baker returns to Queensbury". 4barsrest.com. 2 December 2016. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
- ^ "Thomas takes Black Dyke euphonium role". 4barsrest.com. 6 December 2016. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
- ^ Wainwright, Martin (3 July 2000). "A black day at Black Dyke as bandmaster quits". The Guardian.co.
- ^ "PLC takes early retirement". 4barsrest.com. 18 February 2011. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
- ^ "Dr Nicholas Childs". Archived from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 6 April 2011.