Brass band
This article needs additional citations for verification. (July 2007) |
A brass band is a musical ensemble generally consisting primarily of brass instruments, most often with a percussion section. Ensembles that include brass and woodwind instruments can in certain traditions also be termed brass bands (particularly in the context of New Orleans and Japan–style brass bands), but may be more correctly termed military bands, concert bands, or "brass and reed" bands.
Styles
Balkan
Balkan-style Brass Bands (
British-style
A brass band in the British tradition with a full complement of 28 players[1] (including percussion) consists of:
- 1 Soprano cornet in E♭
- 9 Cornets in B♭ (in separate parts for 'solo', 'repiano', 2nd and 3rd cornets; there are 4 players on the 'solo' part, one repiano, two 2nd, and two 3rd)
- 1 Flugel hornin B♭ (notated on the same part as the 'repiano' in some older music)
- 3 Tenor horns in E♭ (called solo, 1st and 2nd)
- 2 Baritone horns in B♭ (each with separate parts)
- 2 Tenor trombones(notated in B♭, playing separate parts)
- 1 Concert Pitch (C) on bass clef)
- 2 Euphoniums in B♭ (usually playing the same part with divisi sections)
- 4 Tubas (2 in E♭ and 2 in B♭, both notated in treble clef; often called Basses)
- 2 or 3 percussion players (with 2 or more timpani, glockenspiel, snare drum, triangle, cymbals, a drum kit and more)
-
Tenor Horn
-
Tenor trombone
With the exception of three trombones, all of the instruments have a conical bore, which gives the British-style brass band its distinctive warm timbre compared to the bright fanfare sound of an ensemble of cylindrical bore instruments (trumpets and trombones). All parts apart from the bass trombone and percussion are notated in treble clef. Despite its musical range, the
Brass bands have a long tradition of competition between bands, often based around local industry and communities. British-style brass bands are widespread throughout Great Britain, former British colonies especially Australia and New Zealand, Norway, parts of continental Europe and North America. Annual competitions are held in these countries to select champion bands at various levels of musical competence.
Low Countries
Fanfare orchestras are a type of brass band mainly found in Belgium and the Netherlands, while several ensembles exist in Germany, France and Luxembourg. Unlike British bands, they also sport saxophones. There are fanfares affiliated to the military and civil fanfare orchestras which are an important element of cultural tradition in some areas.
In the second part of the 20th century, many British-style brass bands have been founded in the Low Countries as well, often as part of a musical association also including a fanfare orchestra or a concert band.
New Orleans
The tradition of brass bands in
The Treme Brass Band, while not as old, has members who have been influential throughout New Orleans Brass Band music, as well as being renowned in its own right.
A well-known use of these bands is for the New Orleans jazz funeral and second line parades.
Hip-hop and funk
In the 1970s and 1980s, the New Orleans brass band tradition experienced a renaissance, with bands breaking away from traditional stylings and adding elements of
The style of the music is often characterized by the use of the
The style has moved beyond New Orleans and can now be found in such places as Japan with the Black Bottom Brass Band; Finland with TIMO Brass Band; Germany with
Although not a brass band by definition, the Chilean band Newen Afrobeat, founded in 2009, also has very strong brass and rhythm sections, but is more rooted in Afrobeat and jazz than hip-hop.
Polynesia
Founded in 1836 by King Kamehameha III, the Royal Hawaiian Band is the second oldest and only full-time municipal band in the United States. In recent generations, unique brass band traditions have also developed in Tonga, Samoa, and other parts of Polynesia, as well as among the Māori of New Zealand. Some recordings are now available and these styles are beginning to be researched and promoted abroad through band tours.
Zanzibar
Deriving from English 'band', Beni is a popular wedding entertainment with a strong focus on rhythm and dance, and audience participation. Beni originated in Zanzibar around the turn of the 20th century as a mockery of colonial style military bands.
In Zanzibar, Beni is performed both as a street parade and stationary as a wedding dance.
Festivals and contests
One festival featuring brass bands is the Tarragona International Dixieland Festival, in Catalonia, Spain. The organisation programs not only dixieland brass bands but also ethnic or world music brass bands from over the world, including the Dirty Dozen Brass Band from the US, Boban Marković Orkestar from Serbia, the Jaipur Kawa Brass Band from India and Taraf Goulamas from Occitania France.
In the United States the Great American Brass Band Festival has been held annually in Danville, Kentucky for the past 30 years and is free for all. This event attracts brass band lovers from the U.S., Canada, and Europe. The Vintage Band Festival occurs in Northfield, Minnesota every three years.[3][4]
The North American Brass Band Association[5] sponsors an annual convention that provides member bands with the opportunity to compete in a contest format similar to those conducted in the United Kingdom and Europe. The contest is typically late March to early April every year.
In
Lists
Brass bands
- Algiers Brass Band
- Besses o' th' Barn Band
- Bestwood Welfare Black Diamonds Brass Band
- Black Dyke Band
- Brass Band Buizingen
- Brighouse and Rastrick Brass Band
- Carlton Main Frickley Colliery Band
- Central Park Brass
- Chalk Farm Bandof the Salvation Army
- City of Oxford Silver Band
- Cory Band
- Dublin Silver Band[6]
- Eastern Iowa Brass Band
- Foden's Band[7]
- Grimethorpe Colliery Band[8]
- Helston Town Band[9]
- Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass
- Hot 8 Brass Band
- Hungry March Band
- Hypnotic Brass Ensemble[10]
- International Staff Band of the Salvation Army
- LaBrassBanda
- Lanner and District Silver Band
- Leyland Band
- Maidenhead Citadel Band of the Salvation Army
- Mama Digdown's Brass Band[11]
- Meute
- Moop Mama
- Querbeat
- Rebirth Brass Band[12]
- Reg Vardy Band
- River City Brass Band
- Rockville Brass Band
- Rode Hall Silver Band
- Soul Rebels Brass Band[13]
- Stooges Brass Band[14]
- Tapton Youth Brass Band
- The Dirty Dozen Brass Band[15]
- The Harrogate Band
- The Ohio State University Marching Band[16]
- The Original Pinettes Brass Band[17]
- To Be Continued Brass Band[18]
- Treme Brass Band
- Vernon Building Society (Poynton) Brass Band
- Virtuosi GUS Band
- Wellington Brass Band
- Worcester Concert Brass
- Yorkshire Imperial Band
- Youngblood Brass Band
Brass band composers
References
- ^ "Writing For Brass Bands". Bandsman.co.uk. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
- ^ "Welcome! - The International Staff Band". www.theisb.com. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
- ^ "Vintage Band Festival". Vintage Band Festival. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
- ^ "Great American Brass Band Festival - Great American Brass Band Festival". Great American Brass Band Festival. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
- ^ "NABBA". www.nabba.org. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
- ^ "Dublin Silver Band - Dublin Community Bands". Archived from the original on 23 November 2016. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
- ^ "Welcome to Foden's Band Website". www.fodensband.co.uk. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
- ^ "Grimethorpe Band – The World's Most Famous Colliery Band". www.grimethorpeband.com. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
- ^ "Helston Town Band". www.helstontownband.co.uk. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
- ^ "hypnoticbrassensemble.com". www.hypnoticbrassensemble.com. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
- ^ "Mama Digdown's Brass Band". www.mamadigdown.com/. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
- ^ "Rebirth Brass Band - New Orleans Brass Bands". 20 November 2012. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
- ^ "The Soul Rebels". thesoulrebels.com. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
- ^ "Stooges Brass Band". stoogesbrassband.com/. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
- ^ "The Dirty Dozen Brass Band". www.dirtydozenbrass.com/. Archived from the original on 15 June 2017. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
- ^ "The Ohio State University Marching and Athletic Bands". The Ohio State University Marching and Athletic Bands. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
- ^ "The Original Pinettes Brass Band - Home". www.originalpinettes.com. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
- ^ "To Be Continued Brass Band". www.tbcbrass.com. Archived from the original on 29 May 2017. Retrieved 16 June 2017.