The history of brass band music the modern era 1970 2000. Since the release of hackney colliery bands eponymous debut album in 2011, the east london collective have blown their way into the public consciousness with their genrebending combination of brass, reeds, percussion and electronics, firmly establishing themselves as one of the most exciting live bands in the uk. Brassed off colliery band in danger of closing over money woes a brass band that played at the olympics opening ceremony and was the inspiration for the hit film brassed off is in danger of. The history books show many bands were started by colliery owners keen to develop a settled community in villages and encourage sports and music. A workingclass tradition on the wane in the 19th and 20th centuries, nearly every coal mine in the u.
My professional specialization lies in brass performance and pedagogy, but i have a pretty rigorous background in musicology. Listen free to grimethorpe colliery band brass band classics for all the saints, the old rugged cross and more. It was originally known as rigside brass band, and as douglas colliery brass band. Colliery bands play on long after the pits closed bbc. The band relocated to trimdon in the early 1990s, a move that brought the band closer to its player base and has resulted in strong links being forged throughout the wider east durham area. Grimethorpe colliery uk coal band very best of the. One of the most widely respected cornet players around, she is best known for her recent stint as principal cornet of the fairey band. Brass band munchen abide with me geoff richards youtube. Project to build a comprehensive database of contest results.
Kirkby colliery band is a traditional british brass band, which as our name implies originated from a coal mining heritage. Grimethorpe band of the year 1985 winning performance. Printed publications include books, chapters within books, articles in. This cd, the early years, gives a fascinating insight into the origins of the brass band that we know and love today. Backworth colliery band play dear lord and father of mankind. Since the release of hackney colliery band s eponymous debut album in 2011, the east london collective have blown their way into the public consciousness with their genrebending combination of brass, reeds, percussion and electronics, firmly establishing themselves as one of the most exciting live bands. It was formed in 1917, as a leisure activity for the workers at the colliery, by members of the disbanded cudworth colliery band. Follow the grimethorpe colliery band was formed in 1917 as a leisure activity for the workmen at the colliery. Colliery bands sign new album deal to mark end of miners strike.
This is the third release in a series of 6 cds charting the history of brass band music. The band hails from a small mining town called coalville in the heart of the midlands uk. The south elmsall village brass band can be traced back to 1884. The history of brass band music the early years 1850. In 1905, the band was adopted by the local frickley colliery, which in turn was to become owned by the carlton main coal company, and by 1923 the band became known by its present name. Friendly championship section brass band based in the north east of england. Grimethorpe colliery band music, videos, stats, and photos. Researching the history of brass bands a guide to the resources available. It reformed in 1993 when a handful of brass band musicians met at the bache public house in highley. Bbc colliery bands play on long after the pits closed. It was the scene of a major incident in 1907 when seven miners died. Best wishes from everyone at kirkby colliery welfare band our band has a proud history and our heritage stems from the former local coal mine see our history page. The album, that contains pop and classical tunes, from colliery brass bands, some of whom played in the loyalty parade as miners returned to work as the infamous strike ended in.
Movie brass by grimethorpe colliery rjb band on amazon music. Some 1,260 bands are recorded here 90 currently active, with some 582 additional cross references for alternative or previous names. For the present volume, the original chapters have been heavily revised and an additional three chapters added, together with new and extensive appendices, numerous. Here in the north east the pits have long since disappeared but the coalfield music tradition continues and is being celebrated with the release of a new cd next month. Easington colliery band sponsored by michael watt of. Trimdon concert brass began life as the thornley colliery band in 1870 and under this guise were founder members of the durham brass band league. Charting the history of the regions brass bands as point of ayr features. International fame came to the band with the making of the 1995 film brassed off. Grimthorpe colliery band, featured in the 1995 movie brassed off. Colliery, grimethorpe uk coal band brass band classics. Especially moving is the rendition of the barbarian horde from gladiator the last track.
Try out the nezzyonbrass quiz with questions on your favourite topic to test your brass band knowledge. The highley colliery brass band is a local brass band which existed from the turn of the 19th century until the closure of the colliery in 1969. In the period 18101830 the groups that were to emerge as brass bands, black dyke then peter whartons band, besses o the barn then cleggs reed band, stalybridge and the like, were brass and reed bands. For those wishing to delve into the history of brass bands there are. The history of brass b grimethorpe colliery uk coal band. The desford colliery band is considered one of the finest exponents of the brass medium. Black dyke mills band plays how great thou art arr. The band started life in 1897 being called the kirkby silver band but sadly the band folded in 1924, however in 1927 the kirkby colliery band was formed, with miners contributing to the upkeep of the band. As of the 31st july murton colliery band is to dissolve after many many years. By a lucky coincidence, our tour bus driver, who ill call george, was a former coal miner and was a trombone player in the original band and had taken part in the movie brassed off, which was loosely based on the story of the grimethorpe colliery band. Discover more music, concerts, videos, and pictures with the largest catalogue online at.
Between 1982 and 1985 the band was sponsored by south yorkshire caravans, and 19871990 by webster mining machinery. Welcome to the website of the world famous desford colliery brass band. Today is a very sad day, it our very last engagement playing as murton colliery band. When this picture was taken at the colliery band members were even paid by the colliery to attend band. Barrow colliery was a coal mine in worsborough, south yorkshire, england. It was first dug in 1873, with the first coal being brought to the surface in january 1876. Both players hail from scotland, marrianne from ayrshire and joe from glasgow. Marrianne studied band musicianship with pete christian, peter graham and david king, before going on to complete a masters in performance. This is the fourth cd in a series of six recordings surveying the development of brass band music from its beginnings to the present time. Their warm and dynamic sound lends a freshness to music that equals and sometimes surpasses the orchestral arrangements we heard in the actual movies. I had never heard of the grimethorpe colliery band until i was in england in 2005 on a tour of anglican cathedrals. The history books show many bands were started by colliery owners.
Players with band experience were encouraged by the management to come from the west of durham to work at the colliery and play in the band. The history of brass band music the early years 18501920. Few sounds are as evocative of a place and time in british life as a colliery brass band. The history of brass band music the modern era 1970.
Brass bands have changed greatly through the years gone are the old fashioned uniforms and instruments supplied by the colliery. The douglas colliery prize silver band north tour july. British brass band news newspapers books scholar jstor october 2019 learn how and when to remove this template message. Jan 03, 20 brassed off colliery band in danger of closing over money woes a brass band that played at the olympics opening ceremony and was the inspiration for the hit film brassed off is in danger of. Grimethorpe colliery bands winning performance on the granada band of the year 1985, conducted by. Colliery bands sign new album deal to mark end of miners.
Colliery brass bands my maiden name was webb married a miner from goldthorpe he was 14 when he went down in 1944 i am interested in finding information on the colliery brass bands as his father william merrill played the trombone all regs brothers were miners. How did the british miningcolliery brass bands come about. It achieved worldwide fame after appearing in the film brassed off, and along with the black dyke mills band, the band. Ifton colliery band are a brass band based in black park, chirk, n wales. The dinnington colliery band consisted of 35 members aged between 7 and 80 from. These archive pages range from the founding of the band in 1917, through war years, the extraordinary musical explorations of the 1970s under elgar howarth, the tragic times of the closure of grimethorpe colliery in 1992, the brassed off years right up to present day. Jan 22, 2010 the album, that contains pop and classical tunes, from colliery brass bands, some of whom played in the loyalty parade as miners returned to work as the infamous strike ended in march 1985. See more ideas about coal mining, durham and north east england.
The band adopted regular rehearsals, meeting every wednesday and sunday. A collection of information about brass bands in wales over the last 200 years. It was hailed as the most detailed and scholarly treatment of its subject. Among those still playing today is the point of ayr band which owes its origins to the colliery from which it takes its name. Oct 29, 2014 the mill creek colliery band is a traditional britishstyle brass band based in edmonton, alberta, canada. Easington colliery is a town in county durham, england, known for a history of coal mining. The british brass band is based on an earlier volume, bands, published by open university press 1991 as part of its popular music in britain series. We value the heritage of creswell colliery brass band and its place in the local community. The mill creek colliery band is a traditional britishstyle brass band based in edmonton, alberta, canada.
Within this section can be found an outline of the extraordinarily rich history of the famous grimethorpe colliery band. John foster, apart from being the founder of black dyke mills, played french horn in this band. Find the latest tracks, albums, and images from grimethorpe colliery band. A brief history in 1816 peter wharton founded a brass and reed band in the yorkshire village of queenshead later to become queensbury. Brass band classics by the grimethorpe colliery band on. Welcome to the home of the ellington colliery brass band, one of the busiest and most successful brass bands in the north east of england. Grimethorpe colliery band nimrod from enigma variations. The grimethorpe colliery band is a brass band, based in grimethorpe, south yorkshire, england. Brassed off colliery band in danger of closing over money. The band consists of an enthusiastic group of local professional and amateur musicians dedicated to promoting excellence in brass banding throughout western canada. The history of brass band music grimethorpe colliery band cds. If you have any information on our history we would love to hear from you. The band was active from 1883 through to the late 1950s.
The modern form of the brass band in the united kingdom dates back to the 19th century, with a vibrant tradition of competition based around communities and local industry, with colliery bands being particularly notable. The history of brass band music the early years 18501920 artist. Easington colliery band sponsored by michael watt of ronnie. A universal history of numbers, by georges ifrah brass bands known as colliery bands were the local entertainment for the coal miners of durham in northern england, where the collieries mining operations are now defunct. Grimethorpe colliery band the worlds most famous colliery band. After 109 years of coaling operations, the mine was closed in may 1985. Colliery brass bands were the musical standardbearers as beaten but unbowed miners trudged back to their pitheads at the end of the yearlong strike in march 1985. The dinnington colliery band is a traditional british brass band from yorkshire, england, founded in 1904 and also known as the dinnington main and middleton prize brass band for some of its history. The stalybridge old band still in existence was formed in. The town suffered a significant mining accident on 29 may 1951, when an explosion in the mine resulted in the deaths of 83 men including 2 rescue workers.
The past and future of brass bands the brass band portal. As to the repertoire, there is some john barry and plenty of john williams to enjoy. Pdf researching the history of brass bands a guide to the. Thank you all for your support over the years it has been much appreciated.
Mill creek colliery band a british style brass band. Brass band classics was the first album by the band that i bought after being incredibly. Short history of the birth and growth of the brass band movement. English brass bands and their music, 18601930 cambridge. We also run a brass roots training band for new players of all ages and backgrounds. Its wide range of styles and flexibility of performance has bought it worldwide fame. Today the band has to raise its own funds and provide its own instruments.
The douglas colliery was sited at rigside on the banks of douglas water in lanarkshire. A catalogue record for this book is available from the british library. Though i failed to look at the list of songs included on the album and i was surprised and pleased to find it was composed of well known anglican church hymns. This ensemble has performed all over the world, recorded award winning albums and continues to be at the forefront of british music making. The scoring range is as follows correct brass band numpty 46 correctaverage bander who just plays and cares little for facts and figures. It is situated to the north of horden, and a short distance to the east of easington village. Audio cd from sonnets to jazz grimethorpe coliery band by grimethorpe colliery uk coal band 19971002 by grimethorpe colliery uk coal band 2000. Prime members enjoy free delivery and exclusive access to music, movies, tv shows, original audio series, and kindle books.
It achieved worldwide fame after appearing in the film brassed off, and, along with the black dyke mills band, the band became the first to perform at the proms. A british brass band is a musical ensemble comprising a standardized range of brass and. Black dyke band plays home of legends brass gala 2016 1. The history of brass band music classical arrangements. A british brass band is a musical ensemble comprising a standardized range of brass and percussion instruments. Details about the brass band backworth colliery band.
Brass and silver bands are still very much a central part of community celebrations but their origins go back to the 1800s. The move to an all brass line up seems mostly to have been one of decision rather than evolution. When grimethorpes colliery closed in 1993, its then owner richard budge of rjb mining agreed to continue sponsoring the band, and later incarnations of his. There follows a brief look at musicians who each made a significant contribution to brass bands throughout the birth and growth of the movement. Old pictures, old recordings, old programmes or p layer information we would like to include them on our web site for others to enjoy. We are a community music organisation based in morpeth, northumberland, with a proud history dating back to 1925. Since brassed off i do have a soft spot for the grimethorpe colliery band.
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