Some of the contents of the pages on this site are Copyright © 2016 NJH Music | [Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index] Re: Concert Bands
------=_NextPart_000_000B_01C725BB.B15F66C0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Richard, here is a paper I supplied on student request, I hope it helps. British Military Band I think that it was in 1924 that the home of military music, Kneller = Hall, put together a standard instrumentation for the British Miltary = Band. 1 Flute (doubling piccolo) 1 Oboe 1 Eb Clarinet 2 Solo Bb Clarinets 1 Repiano/1st Bb Clarinet 2 2nd Bb Clarinets 2 3rd Bb Clarinets 1 Bassoon 1 Eb Alto Sax 1 Bb Tenor Sax 2 Horns in F 2 Solo/1st Bb Cornets 1 2nd Bb Cornet 1st & 2nd Tenor Trombone Bass Trombone Euphonium 1 Eb Bass 1 Bb Bass 1 Drums & percussion This was known as the 25 piece military band, and everything was written = so that it could be played by this combination. From the beginning, = score and parts always included optional parts for 2 Bb Trumpets, and = usually String Bass. Bigger bands were also able to accomodate extra = parts, which were later added, like 2nd bassoon, 3rd & 4th Horns in F = etc. Concert Band This name was later adopted by some civilian bands. Also, bands of the = armed forces sometimes used the term concert band or marching band. Wind Band This is a term that was used later, and had a lot to do with the = influence of the larger American High School Symphonic Wind Bands. A = typical instrumentation for a symphonic band is as followes. 1st & 2nd Flute - sometimes Piccolo as well 1st & 2nd Oboe - one doubling Cor Anglais Eb Clarinet 1st, 2nd & 3rd Bb Clarinets - usually 3 on a part Eb Alto Clarinet Bb Bass Clarinet 1st & 2nd Bassoon 1st & 2nd Eb Alto Sax Bb Tenor Sax Eb Baritone Sax 4 Horns in F 1st, 2nd & 3rd Bb Trumpet/Cornet - usually 2 on a part 1st & 2nd Tenor Trombones Bass Trombone Euphonium or Baritone - (Baritone being the American name for the = Euphonium) Tubas String Bass Timpani Drums & Percusiion - usually 2 parts Wind Ensemble This name usually applies to an attempt to get back to the smaller = combination, including using the original instrumentation of earlier = pieces. Frederick Fennel was a champion of this in the USA with the = Eastman Wind Ensemble, with the reputaion of only 1 instrument per part. = On the subject of original instrumentation, much early British military = band music was scored for the "25 piece", but later editions added extra = parts, such as Alto and Bass Clarinet, Baritone Sax etc. It is interesting to note that the pre 1st world war band did not have = saxes, they had alto and bass clarinet. I believe it was the band of the = Royal Artillery in Woolwich who first replaced the Eb Alto Clar and Bb = Bass Clar with Eb Alto Sax and Bb Tenor Sax, as they could be heard = better, especially out of doors. I think this was in 1906. Wind Orchestra A renaming of the ensemble to get away from the idea of military or = school bands, and to credit it as a serious musical ensemble. Also to = dispel the myth that an orchestra contains stringed instruments. Here are a few interesting notes about Holst and Vaughan Williams wind = music. Gustav Holst had a soft spot for the military band, as he played = trombone for a season or two with the professional civilian band on the = North Pier in Blackpool. In 1909, he wrote the Suite in Eb for a = composing competition being run by the Worshipful Company of Musicaians = for an original composition for military band. Suite in Eb came 3rd!!! = Spirit of Pageantry by Percy Fletcher came 2nd, a fine piece but not = heard much now. A piece by Walton O'Donnel came 1st, I don't think it = was played much, and it is certainly forgotten now, (Walton O'Donnel was = the conductor of the BBC Wireless Military Band based in Manchester, = made up of players from the Halle Orchestra and the Liverpool = Philharmonic). Of course, the Holst piece which won third prize is still = being played, and was even transcribed for symphony orchestra by Gordon = Jacob. One final note, Suite in Eb contains 2 Eb Clarinet parts. As far as I remember, Ralph Vaughan Williams was commisioned in 1925 by = the Royal Military School of Music (Kneller Hall) to compose a piece for = the now firmly established British Military Band. Army music was = attempting to be recognised as something more than just marching bands = on the parade ground. This is how we got English Folk Song Suite Finally, besides the Suite in Eb and Suite in F by Holst, there is a = beautiful, more contemporary piece he wrote whilst teaching at St Pauls = in London, the prelude "Hammersmith". It is not heard much, but was = recorded by Frederick Fennel and the Eastman Wind Ensemble. I hope this information helps in your studies. Obviously, you need to = check up on some of the facts I have given, especially dates, but = overall, I think it is pretty accurate. Tim Paton -- - - NJH Sheet Music, bandsman.co.uk/music.htm, id xpress, www.idxpress.co.uk, brass band insignia and uniform products, Just Brass, the on-line resource for the world of brass music www.justbrass.co.uk, Prima Arts, quality music for quality bands, www.prima-arts.co.uk, wax-recording.com, simply the best, most cost-effective and least stressful route to recording an album and eBay, the world's largest on-line market place, www.ebay.co.uk Free e-mail address with spam and virus removal, bandsman.co.uk/mail.htm
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