Why do you like playing in brass bands?

I am probibly unusual on this forum in that I mainly play outside brass bands in orchestras and wind bands . I am therefore interested in what you see as the unique attractions of playing in a brass band rather than other musical groups?

PS Don't get me wrong - I enjoy playing in brass bands too! I am just interested in what motivates you.

 

I only play in brass bands, school wind quintet and orchestra.. would LOVE to play in the jazz band though!

But it's fuun! :biggrin::biggrin:

Band social tomorrow night AND 5-a-side footie.. thats why we do it! :wink::biggrin: Cus the social life is ACE! :biggrin::biggrin:

 

Living in the middle of the North East coalfield I was brought up with brass bands and see them as part of my heritage. (anyone who is in durham next week for the Miners Gala will know exactly what I mean). I learnt to play through the bands in this area so it was automatic that I joined once I could play and I've never looked back since. I just enjoy everything about the culture.

 

I too was introduced to brass bands as the first group I played in. But it's the fact that it is the only place were Brass is treated seriously!

The qualtiy too; it's far harder to play in a brass band technically than in anything else, and it's also the only place you can play and Eb cornet!

 

Why?..... Because there is no bigger thrill, that to be sat in a full brass band playing a great piece of music. Everyone playing their own part which gells together and makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up ! .... Its better than sex ........ well ok then, its nearly better than sex !:clap:

Eflatbassman

 

The advantage of brass bands is that the cornets get to play a lot!
Its a bit like marathon running, compared to orchestral sprinting.
Therefore playing in a brass band does wonders for your chops.

However..... it doesn't do much for your musicality in the long run as everything is horseshoed into "that style".
Just listening to Maurice Andre playing flight of the bumblebee on flugel.
Brings tears to my eyes, and he recorded it at an age when most brass band corent players have been switched to Bb bass.
Now why can't british brass bands just push out a bit at the edges a bit and make things a little more fluid and a bit more fitting to the tunes?

 

Pour moi, it's the feeling of being a detrimental part of a big brass sound. Being able to fill out harmonies and soar up and away with a solo line! So on and so forth! I also play in a wind band, which I enjoy, with the difference in tonal colour being a big thing, but wind bands just don't have the same intensity of sound that a good brass band does for me, possibly because of the variation in timbre?!

 

Having started on euphonium and intending to go on that way, there isn't a huge choice as to the kind of groups I play in. I sing as well, but to me that's a more personal/solo thing; I love the feeling of being really part of a band, something that you don't often get in amateur choirs!

I almost put everything down in the poll, but in the end I left out repetoire because it's something I have a lot of arguments over. I love most of the music I've played with brass bands, but there could be more stuff written specifically for us, and let's face it there's a lot of gorgeous orchestral stuff that just wouldn't sound right in band format.

I think for me, the real reason is the company. There's a certain type of person that you just don't meet in other circles - or at least, they don't act the same. Only another bandie can understand the obsession


xx

ps Jingleram, do you really mean detrimental?

 

See below, this post edited.

 

riiiiiight... see, personally i like feeling that i add sound in a positive way, but that may just be me...

(that would explain certain trombonists...)


xx

 

Have realised the error of my ways. Obviously didn't mean it and you were right to point it out! Meant to say something like 'vital'! In my defence, I have now been nigh on 31 hours without sleep due to staying up last night after school prom playing football from dusk til dawn! My apologies!

 

<-- wordage BOC
xx

 

instrumental?
xx

 

"What he said..." PeterBale expressed my feelings about BB perfectly.

BB playing offers much more "face time" and much less rest counting.

The extreme low range of the tuba is exploited in the BBb Bass parts (even without taking liberties with the octave drops!) much more than in any other genre of music.

 

I just love contests full stop either playing or going to listen.:biggrin: :tup

When playing at contests i do not listen to anyone else but when i go to listen to a contest i HEAR ALL THE BANDS:tup so you can see if its a fair result by the adjuicator or not and its not always the best band that wins!!!!!
To many tales to tell about that.

 

As mny have mentioned the parts are much more challenging than you'd normally get in any other band.

I guess one could always practise solos or small ensembles, but that is not as fun as a full band. Reminds me of a brief conversation in the movie American Pie

Jim's Dad: It's like playing a tennis ball against a brick wall, which can be fun. It can be fun, but it's not a game.
Jim: Right.
Jim's Dad: It's not a game.
Jim: No.
Jim's Dad: What you want is a partner to return the ball.

(I can only assume he meant its more fun to have a full band than to play by yourself)

 

JDH, you need an extra category....

"Because I'm a Band Tart"

^(!)

 

How could you say such a thing Will!!!

I'd take ou to tMP court over remarks like that, but I fear the evidence may be overwhelmingly against me :S