BRASS BAND MOVEMENT. By this name is generally known a movement which has had enormous influence in cultivat ing and developing musical tastes and aptitudes among the work ing-classes in England. Originating not far short of Ioo years ago in the rival performances of town and village bands, it has since attained, under the stimulating influence of organized competition for substantial prizes, remarkable dimensions. To-day nearly every village has its band and in the larger towns are often to be found several, the total number in existence being put at over 5,000. Most of the large works and collieries have their own organizations, and many of them are known throughout the length and breadth of the land.
Among such bands, Black Dyke mills, St. Hilda colliery, Fodens' motor works, St. Stephens, Carlisle, Wingates, Irwell Springs, Horwich Railwaymen's Institute, Callenders and Luton Red Cross, have all distinguished themselves within recent years by winning the championship and other important contests, while among famous bands of earlier days may be mentioned Meltham mills, Leeds forge, Wyke, Besses o' th' Barn and Kingston mills.
A large number of contests are held in different parts of the country during the summer months but the two meetings which stand out pre-eminently are those held annually at Belle Vue, Manchester and the Crystal Palace, London, the former having been in existence over 75 years. The Crystal Palace meetings in turn began in 186o, then after a few years existence lapsed until they were re-established in 190o by Mr. J. Henry Iles, who has been prominently identified with the movement for many years. Under the title of the National Band Festival, in which form they constitute for all concerned the most important and exciting event of the musical year, the chief prize is a trophy of I,000 guineas for the champion band. As many as 200 bands often take part in this festival the audiences at which have frequently exceeded 20,000.
As regards the music performed, this necessarily consists for the most part of arrangements and transcriptions of compositions of varying orders of merit. At the same time it is worthy of note that the standard alike of the music chosen and of the perform ances tends steadily to improve; a tendency which has been furthered during recent years by the practice of inviting British composers of standing to write special works for the brass band combination. This consists, in the case of a full band, of 24 players, all the instruments being of the "sax" family, supple mented by three slide trombones; and wonderfully rich and im pressive are the results which can be obtained from such a force.