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Brass Bands

Tom Service explores the world of brass bands with composer Gavin Higgins and musical director of the Elland Silver Youth Band, Samantha Harrison.

What’s the difference between a cornet and a trumpet? How did Czech music and a hill in Dorset sell a million loaves? What happened at Manchester’s Belle Vue Zoological Gardens in 1853? Tom Service answers these questions and many more as he explores the world of brass bands: our witnesses are the music director of the Elland Silver Youth Band, Samantha Harrison, who’s immersed in today’s competitive banding world, and composer Gavin Higgins, who’s written a ballet for brass band.

Producer: Ruth Thomson

Available now

30 minutes

Last on

Fri 29 Mar 2024 16:30
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Robert Browne Hall

    Death or glory - march for brass band

    Performer: Grimethorpe Colliery Band. Conductor: John Anderson.
    • RCA VICTOR.
    • 09026 687572.

  • John Marcangelo

    Clog Dance

    Performer: Grimethorpe Colliery Band. Conductor: Trevor Jones.
    • RCA VICTOR.
    • RCA 68757.

  • Gustav Holst

    A Moorside suite for brass band

    Performer: Grimethorpe Colliery Band. Conductor: Garry Cutt.
    • CHANDOS.
    • CHAN-4553.

  • Christopher Bond

    Neverland

    Performer: Cory Band.
    • DOY.
    • CD-396.

  • Traditional Traditional

    El Sinaloense

    Performer: Banda Sinaloense Del Recuerdo.
    • Instituto Social de Arte y Cultura.
    • unknown.

  • Charles Crozat Converse

    What a friend we have in Jesus Tune: What a friend

    Performer: Excelsior Brass Band.
    • GBB.
    • BCD 290.

  • Henry Purcell

    March and canzona [from 'Queen Mary's funeral music'] Z.860 for trumpets & trombones

    Performer: Baroque Brass of London. Conductor: Timothy Brown.
    • BRILLIANT CLASSICS.
    • 93981.

  • Boban Marković

    Balkan Fest

    Performer: Boban Markovic Orchestra.
    • PIRANHA.
    • PIR1790.

  • Peter Skellern

    YOU'RE A LADY

    Performer: Peter Skellern. Performer: Hanwell Brass Band.
    • DECCA.
    • 250 4944.

  • Hannah Peel

    Mary Casio: Journey to Cassiopeia

    Performer: Tubular Brass.
    • My Own Pleasure.
    • unknown.

  • Harrison Birtwistle

    Grimethorpe aria for brass band

    Performer: Grimethorpe Colliery Band. Conductor: Elgar Howarth.
    • DECCA.
    • unknown.

  • Gavin Higgins

    Dark Arteries Brass Band music

    Performer: Tredegar Band.
    • SKU: 22126.
    • TIC003.

  • John Williams

    Star wars - music for the film

    Performer: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: John (Towner) Williams (1932).
    • Sony Classical.
    • S2K92950.

  • Christopher Bond

    Neverland

    Performer: Cory Band.
    • DOY.
    • CD-396.

Broadcasts

  • Sun 16 May 2021 17:00
    BBC Radio 3
  • Fri 21 May 2021 16:30
    BBC Radio 3
  • Fri 29 Mar 2024 16:30
    BBC Radio 3

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