Lancashire’s brass band movement has been a huge part of the county’s musical heritage for more than 150 years. From humble beginnings in backstreet pubs, the local bands have risen to compete at the highest level, recording albums and playing sell-out concerts. They have even performed on stage with rock legends such as Eric Clapton and The Who.
This article takes us on a journey through the history of Lancashire brass band music, tracing its roots back to the mining communities of Victorian England. It reveals how local competitions between collieries led to changes in instrumentation, standardization of scales and formation of new bands.
The Roots of Brass Band Music in Lancashire
Brass bands have existed in one form or another since the late 18th century, when they were used as military instruments to help regulate the beat of marching troops. By the 19th century, brass bands became popular entertainment at sporting events such as football and cricket. Brass bands became hugely popular in the Industrial Revolution, when the influx of workers from rural areas into cities created a demand for leisure activities. The colliery bands were formed when a handful of musicians from one colliery started playing in pubs near the pits to make a few extra shillings. Over the years, the demand for these bands grew, as did their popularity, and a number of different bands became established in each district.
The Brass Band Movement: From Pubs to Stadiums
The brass band movement began in Lancashire in the mid-19th century, with the first known concert played by a brass band taking place in Middleton, near Manchester, in 1846. By the 1860s, a number of local bands had emerged and were competing with each other. While some players wanted to keep to traditional instruments, others wanted to modernize the bands, using cornets and trombones rather than the familiar flutes, clarinets and tubas.
In 1868, the Worsley New Brass Band was formed by a group of colliery bands in the Worsley area. The new band played in a different formation to the other bands in the area, so locals referred to Worsley as a ‘new band’, although it was the same instrumentation as had already been adopted at other collieries.
The Music Of Lancashire Brass Bands
Today’s Lancashire bands play a wide range of brass band music. The repertoire includes classical pieces such as The Blue Danube, famous tunes from the golden age of music-hall, marches, and original compositions. The brass band tradition is a very democratic one: composers, arrangers, and conductors come from all walks of life.
Most Lancashire brass bands are ‘corps-style’ bands, similar to military bands, and play a symphonic style of brass band music. The musical style of the Lancashire bands has its origins in the ‘penny-gaff’ bands of the 19th century. The ‘penny-gaff’ bands were small, often single-instrument bands, that played music for people in pubs and at fairgrounds.
The ‘penny-gaff’ bands evolved into the ‘corps-style’ bands that we know today. A ‘corps-style’ band will normally have between 30 and 40 musicians playing a range of brass instruments, including the cornet, trombone, euphonium, tenor horn, baritone, sousaphone, drums and percussion.
Famous Bands and Musicians in Lancashire
- The Burnley and Oldham Brass bands have been contesting at the British Open Championships since the early 1900s.
- The Blackpool Tower and Central Pier Band has been playing on the famous seaside stages since the 1920s.
- The Liverpool P.B. and District Band has become world famous in the last 50 years. The P.B. stands for ‘Penny Bridge’, the name of the band’s original home venue, which was demolished in the 1960s.
- The Wigan Mining and Technical Band has been contesting at the National Championships since the start of the 20th century.
- The Worsley New Band - The band was formed in 1843 and is the oldest active brass band in the world.
- The Besses o’ th’ Barn Band - A well-known band from Barnoldswick, Besses o’ th’ Barn was formed in 1872 and is the oldest continuous brass band in the world. The band has achieved significant success at the National Brass Band Championships and are credited with creating the first ever brass band recording in 1908.
Conclusion
There are few things as quintessentially 'British' as a brass band performance, and Lancashire has a unique heritage when it comes to the musical form. From humble beginnings in backstreet pubs, local bands have risen to compete at the highest level, recording albums and playing sell-out concerts. They have even performed on stage with rock legends such as Eric Clapton and The Who.
The brass band movement has remained strong in Lancashire. With a rich musical history dating back to the 19th century, the brass bands have given rise to many famous musicians. The music itself has developed significantly over the centuries, with modern brass bands playing a wide range of genres.
This musical culture has become an important part of the lives of many people in the county, and remains an enjoyable hobby for many musicians today.