Beatrice Pettit was one of many accomplished female brass musicians who made a career out of their music in the 19th century and early 20th century. She started to perform at the age of 15, and her first appearance in public was in November 1988. She went on to study at the Guildhall School of Music, and became a soloist on cornet with a number…[Read more]

A compilation of strange and unusual concerts and engagements experienced (or endured) by brass bands.

An anonymous article, posted in the IBEW in the late 1990’s.

Albert Wade, a successful conductor of several British bands in the 1890’s and early 1900’s, including Wyke Temperance, accepted an invitation to adjudicate at the Ballarat contests in Australia, leaving the UK in 1905. He was quickly accepted in Australia, and made his home in Queensland. In 1906 he adjudicated at the Rockhampton contest and gave…[Read more]

Charles Henry Balliette, and his wife Martha, had eight children, four girls followed by four boys. In the mid-1890’s Charles formed a family quintet, with himself and his four daughters, which spent the next eight years performing in and around Carlisle, Pennsylvania. The girls were Hope Amanda (Bb cornet, b. 1879), Vesta Helen (Eb alto horn, b…[Read more]

Richard Taylor was a bandmaster and band trainer in the north-east of England. Having had a successful musical career in the UK he emigrated with his family to Australia in 1926 to establish a further series of musical endeavours. Thanks to his grandson and family members in Australia we have some insight to his life

Originally founded as Wormholt Silver Band in 1927, it went on to become the “official” band of Hammersmith Borough, supported to a small extent by the Borough Council. A term as a Home Guard band during WW2 and its later disbanding and reformation in the early 1960’s, before finally folding in the late 1970’s.

The National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain was founded in 1952, and this paper shows a number of early photographs of the band taken at its residential courses from 1957 to 1962

During the Second World War various civil defence forces were established, in particular the Home Guard. Many of these had brass bands associated with them, with members partially or entirely from local bands. This paper gives details of more than 150 such bands that supported the Home Guard and other forces during parades, various military…[Read more]

Using the Attendance Book for the Hambledon Brass Band (1920-1925) as a starting point, this paper looks at the brass bands in Hambledon, and a surprising link to the “cradle of cricket” and the composer Peter Warlock

An article in Scientific American in 1896 concluded that the playing of brass instruments induced more baldness in players than other instruments – i.e. stringed or wind. This paper looks, a little sideways, at this and subsequent results/reports

A contribution to National Poetry Day 2017. [updated May 2020]
Several brass bands have been immortalised in poetry over the years. From those lauding their heroes to the ones which are critical or even insulting. From the earliest days poets have found something in the music of the bands and the people who play in them to inspire their muse. I…[Read more]

Representations of cats and dogs and their anthropomorphic appearances as brass players in various postcards and similar published material. Here I have selected a number of such “cat” cards and a much small set of “dog” ones – why the difference in popularity/availability I wonder?

Originally known as the Brompton Boys’ Institute Band, from the New Brompton Orphanage in Kent, its proprietor Henry Allen developed the band from its formation in 1896 into a touring set of brass ensembles – the “Lads of Kent” that raised money for the bands and the home. They were very popular in their time, but towards the end of the band’s…[Read more]

In December 1937, James Southern, band manager of the famous St Hilda’s Professional Band, announced it would be disbanding. In an article he outlined the history of the band from its earliest days in South Shields attached to the local colliery to its outstanding successes in the 1920’s, subsequently turning professional and its decline in the…[Read more]

Methil Brass Band was active from 1870 through to WW1. Not much is known about its activities prior to the 1890’s, but the discovery of a tenancy letter from North British Railways, and some poetry written about the band, give a brief insight into its activities during that period.

A collection of books and articles about bandstands and similar performance stages.

A look at the lives of Antonia Gonzales in New Orleans and Marguerite Dufay in Paris

A series of formal photographs of each of the National Brass Band Champions from 1900 to 1951, with brief notes on their achievements