Really enjoyed watching this with family! The cornet player being told off at 15.16 is my dad Gordon Micklethwaite, who played with the Linthwaite Silver Prize Band. A fascinating glimpse into a world that's part of my heritage but that I don't know much about.
Fantastic film ! I could make many comments, but the best bit for me was seeing my first cornet teacher Alf Boothroyd talking at 43.40 minutes . Thanks for sharing .
Wonderful. A snapshot from another era.The shots of rrural and metropolitan northern England of the time contribute as much as the music and the characters.
05:50 the point about sensitive, delicate fingers is fair, but it's also true to say that it's much easier to get started and make progress on a brass band instrument than on "the violin". It's arguably impossible to prove that one instrument is harder to play than another, but empirical evidence suggests that there must be several reasons why amateur brass bands flourished, whereas amateur string orchestras didn't. One ingenious and almost defining characteristic of the brass band set-up is that everyone (except the bass trombonist) reads from treble clef and employs the same fingering sequence. This, surely, renders the brass band medium much more accessible and viable to amateurs - particularly people who've spent their working day doing hard manual graft, and who therefore have limited time and energy for the ridiculous number of hours practise it takes to master ie the violin.
I think it’s also connected to the contexts in which they performed. Brass bands are loud and cheerful enough to play at outside events like village fairs and parades etc. They’re also good for sonorous harmonizing so good for hymns. String instruments lend themselves better to quieter performance venues. Of course, they can be played individually in small folk ensembles, or as string ensembles, but the musical and cultural aesthetics are different. Brass bands lend themselves to regimentation (both the repertoire, and visuals), that makes them attractive to factory and mill bosses, and military institutions alike.
Was so good to see Tom F Atkinson at 14m 22. I was taught by his brother Arthur but did play under Tom's baton in the Bradford Schools Band, held at Carlton Grammar. Also later at Bradford Victoria Band.
A wonderful snapshot of brass banding in the 1960's and some great characters.
Really enjoyed watching this with family! The cornet player being told off at 15.16 is my dad Gordon Micklethwaite, who played with the Linthwaite Silver Prize Band. A fascinating glimpse into a world that's part of my heritage but that I don't know much about.
Fantastic film ! I could make many comments, but the best bit for me was seeing my first cornet teacher Alf Boothroyd talking at 43.40 minutes . Thanks for sharing .
One of my teachers appears too at 38:34 ... 'Gentleman Jim' ... first time I've heard him speak in black and white :-D!!
Every brass bander should watch this ... this is everything I love about brass bands ... Alex, you're right, not much has changed :-D!!
Wonderful. A snapshot from another era.The shots of rrural and metropolitan northern England of the time contribute as much as the music and the characters.
And inspired camerawork and editing for the montages from 16:00 and especially from 20:54 ! Great sequences!
Thank you for posting. Pure gold. And all the better for being in black and white. Where are they now I wonder?
"A full set of brass band instruments for £4000" Holy moses!!
..meanwhile I sit here at home looking over at my £3,000 Cornet.
05:50 the point about sensitive, delicate fingers is fair, but it's also true to say that it's much easier to get started and make progress on a brass band instrument than on "the violin". It's arguably impossible to prove that one instrument is harder to play than another, but empirical evidence suggests that there must be several reasons why amateur brass bands flourished, whereas amateur string orchestras didn't. One ingenious and almost defining characteristic of the brass band set-up is that everyone (except the bass trombonist) reads from treble clef and employs the same fingering sequence. This, surely, renders the brass band medium much more accessible and viable to amateurs - particularly people who've spent their working day doing hard manual graft, and who therefore have limited time and energy for the ridiculous number of hours practise it takes to master ie the violin.
I think it’s also connected to the contexts in which they performed. Brass bands are loud and cheerful enough to play at outside events like village fairs and parades etc. They’re also good for sonorous harmonizing so good for hymns. String instruments lend themselves better to quieter performance venues. Of course, they can be played individually in small folk ensembles, or as string ensembles, but the musical and cultural aesthetics are different. Brass bands lend themselves to regimentation (both the repertoire, and visuals), that makes them attractive to factory and mill bosses, and military institutions alike.
Fantastic :)
What a sound Grimethorpe had.
Great documentary. What’s the piece being played at 22:22 with the bus journey to the competition? I know it’s something obvious but can’t think what!
Fantasia on the Dargasson - Holsts Suite in F, I think…
Was so good to see Tom F Atkinson at 14m 22. I was taught by his brother Arthur but did play under Tom's baton in the Bradford Schools Band, held at Carlton Grammar. Also later at Bradford Victoria Band.
£327 for a Bb bass yeah now there like 4,000 pound
More than DOUBLE that! Now nearer 9K in 2019!
Besson Sov 22,000AUD, around 11,000GBP in 2023