Where there's music there's brass...

Music evokes fond memories of places and people. The development of brass bands, generally, was prompted largely through industrialisation and the arrival of the working class population.

Their presence became a symbol of solidarity in the communities where they were formed and, before long, banks and factories were among the firms establishing their own band of musicians.

Organisations such as the Salvation Army, the Scout and Guide movement; boys brigades and military associations developed their own bands too.

The popularity of brass bands began to grow - their presence is particularly poignant around Christmastime when many perform carols in the local community setting the scene for the festivities.

While many bands were happy to continue performing locally, others found their profile and prominence raised through their participation in prestigious brass band competitions which saw them performing all over the world.

Bradford, and surrounding district, boasts many well-known brass bands whose competition success is well-documented; the likes of stalwart bands such as Queensbury-based Black Dyke and Brighouse and Rastrick.

Formed more than 130 years ago, Brighouse and Rastrick is regarded as one of the best and most consistent ‘public subscription band’ in the world.

Probably its most famous and certainly most high profile recording was ‘The Floral Dance’ which attracted Terry Wogan’s attention and became a chart-topping tune.

Black Dyke, the current Yorkshire champions, is recognised as ‘one of the finest bands in the world.’ Its history dates back more than 150 years.

The band has made more than 350 recordings, and worked with artists such as Sir Paul McCartney.

Garnering global attention is helping to raise the bands’ popularity and, ultimately, helping to keep the legacy of brass bands alive.

Taking a look back in the T&A’s archives we discover the brass band scene was at one time thriving here with the city hosting, for the first time in the competition’s then three year history, a heat in the prestigious brass band competition.

‘Brass bands hitting the high note’ - appearing in the December 13 edition of the T&A in 1971 - reports the local success in one of the northern heats of the W. D and H. O Wills National Brass Band Championships.

The competition, held in Bradford’s concert venue - St George’s Hall - was - it reports - the first time in its then three year history that a heat had been held in Bradford.

Those bands which scored 180 or more points from a possible 200 qualified for a place in the national final at the Royal Albert Hall, London, in April the following year.

At the time, a spokesman for W. D and H. O Wills commented about the standard of entry rising in response to the organisers setting harder test pieces.

Interestingly, takings from the contest, it said, would be pooled and shared among the competing bands.

The Bradford heat cost Wills about £500 and the whole competition will probably cost about £7,500.

All seven bands in the third section scored the necessary 180 points or more to qualify for the final; among them was Haworth.

In 1996 brass bands once again found themselves under the spotlight with the launch of the film ‘Brassed Off.’

Based against the impact pit closures had on communities, the film, starring Pete Postlethwaite, Tara Fitzgerald, Ewan McGregor, Stephen Tompkinson and Jim Carter, takes up the tale a decade after the year-long National Union of Mineworkers strike in Britain.

Focusing on the fictional South Yorkshire village of Grimley, the film, whose soundtrack was performed by the Grimethorpe Colliery Band, profiles the grit and determination of pit communities and was a fine example of the community spirit and camarderie which drove many forward.

For anyone involved in a brass band, it provides a platform to express an appreciation of music with others.

It’s about being part of something special, and brings social benefits too as well as the opportunity to play for pleasure and for the enjoyment of others.

But, perhaps most importantly, is the pleasure it brings to those who appreciate music either playing or listening.

Here our photo gallery shows a range of community bands formed in schools and organisations performing at locations around the district.

The Hammonds Sauce Works Junior Band are pictured playing at the former Batley Variety Club in 1971 where singer Frank Ifield was appearing.

The band consisted of players aged nine to 14 and they won three major awards.

Drum major Vicki Riley holds the Blackpool Tower trophy in February 1971 which was won by the Girls’ Brigade Bradford District Band in the North of England Youth and Girls Organisations championships.

Other successes include members of the Bradford Victoria Brass Band, which won the second section regional award at the Wills Brass Band Championships Northern Area contest at St George’s Hall in December 1971, and in May 1977 the Bradford and District battalion band of the Boys’ Brigade won five trophies at the Yorkshire and Humberside district Band competition.

The RAF Central Band are pictured entertaining shoppers in the Arndale Mall, Bradford in November 1976.

Other bands featured are the Belle Vue boys school Military band, pictured in 1974, and the 29th Bradford South Scout Guide Band in February 1977.

These early memories and photos demonstrating the camaraderie and unity of these local bands, and of local musicians entertaining for the enjoyment of others, are a lasting legacy of the city and district’s musical heritage.