Are we a Brass Band ?

There can be some pretty sniffy reactions by brass ensembles when some punter calls them a brass band. And to the casual listener the distinction can be somewhat academic. But to answer to the question, no we’re not a Brass Band. Here are some reasons:

• We’re too small. An up to strength band will have 24 or 25 players plus percussion. We do however take up much much more room. Even as a quintet we sometimes struggle to fit onto a stage you’d have no trouble getting a band on.
• We use “orchestral” brass instruments. The trombone and tuba of course are used by bands and orchestras, and we also use flugel horns regularly and sometimes one euphonium in our large ensemble repertoire. This really is not such a big deal. The modern trumpet has become very cornet-like in its internal dimensions and the more lyrical qualities of the cornet are as much the result of playing style as physical differences.
  
• We don’t play in contests. As a side benefit we don't have to listen to them either.
  
• We don’t wear a uniform. Well I suppose a DJ is a kind of uniform and when we dress down we wear black or coloured shirts. We also don't do deportment and sometimes wander around the stage looking lost or for music (see remarks in last post on our unique GMS).
  
• We can’t get anybody to turn up to rehearsals once a bloody month let alone twice a week.
• The best bands have a fabulous technical facility and tremendous stamina and range. Now, we have some pretty good players, but see the previous point.
• Brass bands provide a tremendous and often well structured and organised training ground for young players. Many of the principal players in (probably) the majority of British orchestras started their musical life in banding. We also (as our web site says) seek to encourage and develop new talent but they must be old enough to buy a round in licenced premises.

Many of us in Bristol Brass of course (apart from the horn players who sometimes mix it with the woodwind) have played in a brass band at on time or another. There is a less than flattering picture of me here from my time at Tadley Band in Hampshire. (Yeah, that’s me on Flugel, second one in on the far left).
Seeing this picture after quite a few years reminded me that there's nothing quite like wearing a second hand uniform.