The Brass Band
The British Style Brass Band consists of a very specific instrumentation:
1 x Soprano [Cornet] in E flat
4 x Solo Cornets in B flat
1 x Repiano [Cornet] in B flat
2 x 2nd Cornets in B flat
2 x 3rd Cornets in B flat
1 x Flugel [Horn] in B flat
1 x Solo [Tenor] Horn in E flat
1 x 1st [Tenor] Horn in E flat
1 x 2nd [Tenor] Horn in E flat
1 x 1st Baritone [Horn] in B flat
1 x 2nd Baritone [Horn] in B flat
1 x 1st Tenor Trombone in B flat
1 x 2nd Tenor Trombone in B flat
1 x Bass Trombone in C (Concert Pitch)
2 x Euphoniums in B flat
2 x E flat Basses
2 x BB flat Basses
Percussion (tuned, kit and timpani)
The history of Brass Bands is a much debated subject, but most people will agree that the first true all-brass band was formed in the early- to mid-1830s, soon after the invention of the piston valve. Many bands had been in existence since the beginning of the 19th Century with woodwind instruments. With the invention of saxhorns in the middle of the 1840s, bands adopted a new instrumentation and contesting began.
Modern bands are divided into sections much like football leagues: from Championship, through First and down to Fourth section with Youth, Training and Junior Bands and those who choose not to compete as well. Every competing band aims to enter the Regional Brass Band Championships in February or March with the hope of an invitation to the National Finals in September or October.
1 x Soprano [Cornet] in E flat
4 x Solo Cornets in B flat
1 x Repiano [Cornet] in B flat
2 x 2nd Cornets in B flat
2 x 3rd Cornets in B flat
1 x Flugel [Horn] in B flat
1 x Solo [Tenor] Horn in E flat
1 x 1st [Tenor] Horn in E flat
1 x 2nd [Tenor] Horn in E flat
1 x 1st Baritone [Horn] in B flat
1 x 2nd Baritone [Horn] in B flat
1 x 1st Tenor Trombone in B flat
1 x 2nd Tenor Trombone in B flat
1 x Bass Trombone in C (Concert Pitch)
2 x Euphoniums in B flat
2 x E flat Basses
2 x BB flat Basses
Percussion (tuned, kit and timpani)
The history of Brass Bands is a much debated subject, but most people will agree that the first true all-brass band was formed in the early- to mid-1830s, soon after the invention of the piston valve. Many bands had been in existence since the beginning of the 19th Century with woodwind instruments. With the invention of saxhorns in the middle of the 1840s, bands adopted a new instrumentation and contesting began.
Modern bands are divided into sections much like football leagues: from Championship, through First and down to Fourth section with Youth, Training and Junior Bands and those who choose not to compete as well. Every competing band aims to enter the Regional Brass Band Championships in February or March with the hope of an invitation to the National Finals in September or October.