What's a brass band?
"I play in a brass band." - "Ah, then you play jazz!"
Like this many conversations start in Germany about an almost unknown kind of music. However, the German one-to-one translation "Blechkapelle" misleads ones mind as well.
The Brass Band Oberschwaben-Allgäu is one of the few German brass bands in authentic constitition. The homecountry of brass bands is England with some 4,000 bands. There the brass band movement also took its origins during the industrialisation.
Moreover, the brass band constitution has spread in Scandinavia, the Benelux countries and in Switzerland.
Generally a brass band is a huge brass ensemble with drums. Usually the number of musicians is restricted to 25 brass players, 3 drummers and the conductor. All of the instruments are related to each other and thus form a unique sound. A full range of percussion instruments completes the general impression.
Origins of the brass band movement
The brass band movement took its origins among the textile and mine workers during the industrialisation in the North of England.
To contribute to the organization of the workers' leisure time the companies offered musical instruments and practice rooms to their workers, so the workers could take their minds off the hard work and the poor standard of living.
In church as an organ substitute
Due to the use of brass bands as a substitute for organs in church, the British brass band sound was taken out into the world. In Great Britain, Scandinavia, the Benelux countries, in Switzerland, New Zealand, Australia, Asia and especially Japan the brass band movement is still considered extremely eminent.
International competitions encourage the musicians to ever new best performances just as in the outset of the brass band movement.
The repertoire of a brass band
Much of the music originally arranged for brass band is characterised by majestic introductions, rhythmically interesting sequences and uncommon time signatures. The various changes in tempo, greatly contrasted vibrancy, open solo parts, the virtuosity of all voices and registers as well as a powerful lively final intensification make up the sound pattern of a brass band.
The Brass Band Oberschwaben-Allgäu enriches the musical landscape, which is used to traditional norms, with an orginal sound philosophy. Instruments which are traditionally used only in an accompanying role are led into soloistic autonomy. This enables the musicians to create a particular sound kaleidoscope.
