Author Archives: Gavin Holman

Ten years ago, I remarked on two images of the Bolton Borough Prize Band which had a phantom player (see: https://ibewbrass.wordpress.com/2011/05/16/a-bolton-band-mystery/) A similar question arises with the two photographs of the Battersea Borough Prize Band. One contains the image of … Continue reading →

Two photographs of Deanston Works Brass Band in Perthshire. The first c. 1860, the second c. 1910. The band was formed in May 1853. Its first conductor was Mr Watts, the manager of the Adelphi Cotton Mill in Deanston, where … Continue reading →

The city of Sterling in Illinois supported a number of brass bands in the latter half of the 19th century. Some faded in and out of existence, one lasted, in various guises, to the present day. This PDF article, linked … Continue reading →

This photograph is of an unknown band, dated 1881, which consisted of 24 players – 7 cornets, 1 flute, 1 piccolo, 1 clarinet, 2 tenor saxhorns, 1 bass saxhorn, 2 tenor trombones, 2 bass trombones, 1 euphonium, 1 bombardon, 1 … Continue reading →

For all percussionists out there – here is an example of a Victorian Rock Band. This is actually the Till Family Rock Band, who built large xylophone-type instruments with slabs of hornfel rock from the Lake District. These were one … Continue reading →

The Easy Way to Play Brass Instruments was a series of articles that appeared in Brass Band News. They were collected and published a 40 page booklet in 1918, subtitled ‘A scientific method for young and old players’. Jesse Rupert … Continue reading →

Most photographs of bands of the 19th and early 20th centuries show them posed formally in several rows, or perhaps informally in a loose grouping. Occasionally they will be pictured ‘in action’ marching, performing on the street, in a park … Continue reading →

The photograph below is of the Fraserburgh Rifle Volunteers Band, one of several brass and military bands that called this north-east Scotland fishing town home from the 1850’s to WW1. The full story of the bands can be found in … Continue reading →

The Band of the 1st City of London Artillery Volunteer Corps. This photo is dated some time between 1902, when the brigade was attached to the Royal Garrison Artillery, and 1908 when the Artillery Volunteers were disbanded and replaced by … Continue reading →

A correspondent sent me this photo of the drum of the West Creek Cornet Band – from Ocean County, New Jersey. Nothing is known about its history other than it was acquired in an estate sale in the 1970’s. Charles … Continue reading →