Brass band music has played an important role in Preston’s history and culture. There are records of brass bands in the city dating back to the 19th century. During the Industrial Revolution, working men across the country formed their own brass bands as a social outlet and a way to pass the time when work was slow. In almost every case, these bands were started by members of Christian churches.
These groups became known as “Christian” or “purposive” bands because their primary purpose was to spread Christianity through music. That being said, not all of these bands were led by churchgoers; many members joined solely for leisure and friendship, regardless of their religious beliefs.
Brass bands in Victorian Preston
Brass bands first appeared in Preston in the mid-19th century with the formation of "Select" and "Permanent" bands. These early bands were primarily made up of the upper-middle class and the clergy. The first recorded use of the phrase “Christian” band came in 1875 when a group of young men formed a band made up of members of different churches in the city to raise money for St. Mary’s Church in Sharoe Green, a suburb of Preston.
The members of this band were practicing Christians (or Christians-in-training), and they likely chose to call their band a “Christian” band because of the religious nature of their fundraising efforts. Over the next few decades, more and more bands formed in Preston with Christian members and affiliations, and by the start of the 20th century, Preston was known as the “Christian Band” capital of England.
Preston's 'Christian' Brass Bands
In Victorian Preston, many of the city’s brass bands were associated with a particular church. These bands were known as "Christian" bands because their members were either members of that church or were actively involved in Christian activities.
Some of the most popular and well-known Christian bands in Victorian Preston included the Albert Place Church Band, the Church of England Temperance Band, the Church of England Young People’s Band, the Ebenezer Church Band, the Farr End Church Band, the George Church Band, the Higher Free Church Band, the James Street Church Band, the Jesmond Church Band, the Jesmond Temperance Band, the John Wesley Church Band, the Knowsley Road Church Band, the Kirkdale Church Band, the Liverpool Road Church Band, the Mere Church Band, the St. George’s Church Band, the St. John’s Church Band, the St. John’s Temperance Band, the St. Mary’s Church Band, the St. Mary’s Temperance Band, the St. Philip’s Church Band, the St. Stephen’s Church Band, the St. Thomas’ Church Band, the St. Thomas’ Temperance Band, and the Stonyhurst College Band.
How did brass bands contribute to the culture of Victorian Preston?
There were many activities that Christians could participate in during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In addition to attending church services, they could sing hymns, participate in Christian adventure and outreach programmes, and join a Christian society. Participating in a Christian band was one way for Christians to engage in Christian activities, even if they weren’t able to actively participate in the rest of the church’s programmes.
Brass bands in Victorian Preston were an extremely popular pastime, and they brought people together from all different walks of life. Although some bands were made up of exclusively church members, many bands were primarily made up of men from the working class. The brass band became a sort of social club for men, and many members were able to form lifelong friendships through the band.
These bands played at a variety of events, including church services, temperance meetings, political meetings, and sporting events. They also participated in competitions known as “band-offs,” which were held throughout the country. These competitions often raised money for charitable causes, and they helped to make the bands more popular and well-known.
The decline of the purposive band movement: 1861-1914
In 1861, the British government passed an act which stated that any group of 10 people or more who were making money from playing music were required to obtain a license for the performance. The government’s decision was spurred by the rise of commercial orchestras in the late 19th century; they were typically made up of musicians who were paid to play at social events.
The government’s decision was controversial among brass bands; many purposive band members resented the legislation because their performances were intended to be a form of evangelism. The law had an extremely negative effect on the Christian band movement in Preston. A significant number of bands were forced to disband because of the new legislation.
The rise and fall of the commercial band movement: 1914-1969
The commercial band movement rose to prominence during World War I, when many of the purposive bands were forced to disband. This was largely due to funding problems; the middle and upper class philanthropists who had funded the bands before the war were now too busy to give money to bands. The war also forced many manual workers to leave their jobs and join the military. Without these workers, the bands often couldn’t perform.
In response to this problem, commercial bands rose in popularity. These bands were funded by ticket sales and merchandising. They were more likely to play pieces that would sell tickets and were less likely to include middle and upper class members. They were also more likely to play traditional brass band music, such as marches, rather than operas and oratorios. This ensured that the bands would be successful financially.
The interwar years were, in general, a time of great prosperity for commercial bands. Many bands were successful, and patrons often bought large shares in them. Unfortunately, the economic depression that began in the 1930s led to the collapse of many commercial bands. Fewer people were willing to spend money on live entertainment, and many bands were forced to disband or to scale back their operations.
Conclusion
Brass bands were an important part of Preston’s culture during the 19th century. They played a wide variety of music and were a source of entertainment for many people, including both rich and poor. While the bands were originally purposive organizations, many eventually became commercial ventures. This shift had significant effects on the bands, including the rise and fall of individual bands throughout the century.
Though the commercial band movement fell out of favor in the 20th century, there are still a number of brass bands in Preston.