The somewhat clichéd view of the Brass Band is that it is a northern phenomenon. But the existence of Torbay Brass Band, Sabrina Brass in Shrewsbury , Brass Fusion in Henfield , Milton Keynes Brass and many others gives the lie to that idea; and the Helston Town Band and its famous Furry Dance is a perfect example of such an ensemble’s significance to its locality.
It is, somewhat paradoxically, in the North of England however that the Brass Band is a National Institution. Those Brits able to name a Brass Band would almost certainly cite one from these famous four: Black Dyke from Queensbury; Brighouse and Rastrick; Foden from Sandbach ; or Grimethorpe Colliery.
The stories of three of those four are illustrative of the enduring power of the band in the face of economic change, symbols of community spirit: the mills that once provided support and players for the Black Dyke have closed; likewise the colliery in Grimethorpe; and the last Foden-branded truck was made in 2006. This theme was explored movingly in the 90s Pete Postlethwaite/ Ewan McGregor film Brassed Off, set in the fictional town of Grimley.
Such bands and others provide a focal point and a source of pride for their communities. But we should look beyond the social importance and consider first and the beauty of the sound they make, and the marvellous musicianship they engender. It can be a deeply moving sound, its frequency affecting us physically, vibrating through our bones as well as playing on our emotions: if you can resist the Salvation Army Band collection tin at Christmas, consider therapy.
More British Institutions
Afternoon Tea
Allotments
April Fools Day
Big Ben
Binge Drinking
Black Cabs
Bonfire Night
British Sense of Humour
Brown Windsor Soup
Burns Night
Cadburys
Castles
Changing the Guard
City of London
Coronation Street
Cowes Week
Cricket
Crufts
Dad’s Army
E-Type Jag
Eccentricity
English Country Garden
Fish and Chips
Fish Fingers
Fox Hunting
Full English Breakfast
Gin and Tonic
Glastonbury
Glorious Goodwood
Grand National
Grouse Shooting
Harrods
Highland Games
Hogmanay
James Bond
John Bull
King Arthur
Land Rover
Lloyds of London
London to Brighton Veteran Car Rally
Marks and Spencer
Monty Python
Morecambe and Wise
Old School Tie
Oxbridge
Panto
Picnics
Pimms
Point-to-Point
Punch and Judy
Queueing
Real Ale
Red Arrows
Red Telephone Boxes
Remembrance Poppies
Robin Hood
Rolls Royce
Royal Ascot
Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo
Savile Row Suits
School Discos
School Sports Day
Seaside Piers
Speakers’ Corner
Stag Nights
Stiff Upper Lip
Strawberries and Cream
Street Markets
Summer Festivals
Sunday Roasts
The Archers
The BBC
The Beano
The Boat Race
The Brass Band
The British Bobby
The Bulldog
The Church of England
The Cup Final
The Curry House
The English Rose
The Garden Shed
The Honours System
The Kilt
The Last Night at the Proms
The London Bus
The Mini
The National Trust
The NHS
The Oak
The Pub
The Queen’s Speech
The Rolling Stones
The Royal Christmas Message
The Spitfire
The V Sign
The Village Fete
The Weather
Travelling Fairs
Trooping the Colour
Village Greens
Wedgwood
Wellington Boots
Wimbledon
Wine Gums
Yeomen of the Guard
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