The industrial revolution saw a lot of musicians and craftsmen move to cities in search of work. The result was that many new towns, like Manchester, grew up around mills or factories. With so many people living together in one place, it was inevitable that they would start to form bands and orchestras.
There have been several different types of brass band formed in the area throughout the years, all with their own unique style and sound. This article will explore some of them, their history and why you should check them out if you’re ever in the area...
The Manchester Volunteers (19th century)
The Manchester Volunteers Brass Band was formed in 1858 by the employees of the Manchester Gas Company. They played at local events and parades, and won many competitions over the next 25 years. They were one of the most popular bands in the region, and were well known for their style of playing; they were one of the first bands to play with the ‘brass’ sound, so they are often credited with starting the brass band genre.
The band was disbanded in 1883 due to a reduction in the amount of musical performances being held. However, they were later reformed in 1887 and continued to play at various events and competitions, re-establishing their reputation as one of the best and most popular bands in the city. The band finally folded in 1907, and the majority of the members went on to form the Manchester Co-operative band.
The M.E.F. Band (19th century)
The M.E.F. (or simply ‘Meef’) Band was formed in 1879 in Manchester by a group of dockers from the Manchester docks. The ‘M.E.F.’ stood for ‘Manchester and Salford Eccentric Fusiliers’, and was a marching band for the Territorial Army. The band quickly grew in reputation, and after only a year had won the prize for best band at the West Kirby Musical Festival. The band won further competitions for the next few years, becoming one of the most popular bands in the region.
The Meef Band stopped performing around 1884, either because of a decline in popularity or simply a change of focus for the group. The name may have been revived in the 20th century, as there are a number of mentions of a band called ‘The M.E.F. Band’ in the city between 1906 and 1910, but it seems likely that these were a different band.
Besses o’ the Barn Band (20th century)
The Besses o’ the Barn Band was formed in 1896, and is still active today. It is the only band to have continuously existed in the city since the 19th century. The Besses have performed at many high-profile events and competitions over the years, including the Coronation Concert in 1953, and the Royal Tournament in 1961. They were also the first brass band to appear on the cover of a pop record, appearing on the cover of The Beatles’ ‘With The Beatles’ album in 1963.
Besses o’ the Barn are currently one of the most well-known and best-regarded brass bands in the world. They are currently ranked as the best brass band in the country, and have been ranked among the best in the world since the 1990s. Besses o’ the Barn are one of four ‘Premier’ bands in the UK, the others being Black Dyke, The Grimethorpe, and Brighouse and Rastrick.
The City of Manchester Brass and Light orchestras (20th Century)
The first of the city’s orchestras was formed in 1901. It was a light orchestra that played a mixture of classical and popular music. They played at all the major events in the city, and were hugely popular, with audiences often consisting of over 20,000 people.
The light orchestra was supplemented by a second in 1922, which was a brass band of around 100 members. This orchestra was based at the Central Hall, and played a mix of classical and popular music, with some of the pieces written specifically for them by famous composers. In 1937, the two orchestras were combined into one, and played both classical and popular music. However, in 1969 they split up again, to form two separate and independent orchestras.
The Manchester Town Hall Band (20th Century)
The Manchester Town Hall Band was formed in 1903, and was initially made up of members of the light orchestra. They played a mix of classical and popular pieces, and gained quite a high reputation for themselves over the next few decades. In 1912 and 1914, the Town Hall Band won the All-British Championships, and in later years they played at several high-profile events, including the American Independence Day celebrations in 1946.
The band stopped performing in the 1960s, but were revived in 2018, with the intention of bringing back a ‘traditional sound’ to the city.
St. Martin’s Youth Band and the Caledonian Society of Manchester (21st Century)
The St Martin’s Youth Band was formed in 2005 and is currently the only youth band in the city. Their repertoire is mostly made up of modern brass band music, although they also play some classical pieces. St Martin’s have performed at several events, including the International Brass Band Championships in both 2011 and 2018, and have competed in several competitions. They have won several pieces of silverware in their short career, and are currently the Northern Regional Intermediate Youth Champions.
The Caledonian Society of Manchester was formed in 1863. They play a mix of classical, Scottish and Irish music, and are one of only five remaining Scottish bands in the UK. They are based in the Northern Brass Band Hall, which is the only purpose-built band hall in the country.