Brass bands help win wars, says Cambridge University

[iranzi]

from yesterday's Metro (a london newspaper i found discarded)

IMG_1429.jpg

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fair warning, tomfoolery incoming
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Apparently, brass bands are "embedded" everywhere...
We should, as a matter of urgency, form trombone battalions and start chasing warmongers off dry land and into their final resting places at the bottom of the ocean

[iranzi]

Although, a more likely scenario would be some western government likes the idea and starts forming small uniformed brass bands, to be sent to provide moral support for UN peacekeepers in doing whatever it is they do...
Or sent to entertain the troops and boost their morale, in some faraway hellhole newly wrecked by them...
(don't they do that already? i'm completely out of the loop)

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should have said "revives" instead of "starts forming". oh well...
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[BGuttman]

Although, a more likely scenario would be some western government likes the idea and starts forming small uniformed brass band, to be sent to provide moral support for UN peacekeepers in doing whatever it is they do...
Or sent to entertain the troops and boost their morale, in some hellhole newly wrecked by them...
(don't they do that already? i'm completely out of the loop)

The UN dates from 1945, so a band from the 1850s would have nothing to do with UN.

In the 17th Century there were Stadtpfeifer ensembles that included cornettos and sackbuts and could be considered an early brass band. I'm not sure if there were any military versions of these things, but they could have served the purpose you mention.

The saxhorn ensembles of the mid 1800's were indeed used to boost troop morale; particularly in the US Civil War.

English, Scottish, and Irish troops in the 16th and 17th Centuries generally had bagpipe ensembles for the same purpose.

[bwilliams]

Define help.

[iranzi]

Define help.

exactly!

here's definition from my favourite poem:

help.jpg

Screenshot 2024-11-02 at 15.14.37.png

[BGuttman]

Define help.

The musicians in the military bands during the American Civil War doubled as stretcher bearers.

[iranzi]

Define help.

The musicians in the military bands during the American Civil War doubled as stretcher bearers.

On both sides?
***
history is really fascinating.
In the present day, as i understand it, some version of military brass bands do exist as well. Anybody knows how they operate, used on what occasions, whether sent out with the troops abroad, etc, etc
Asking in good faith: not a foreign spy, not trying to poke fun at anything

[Macbone1]

The musicians in the military bands during the American Civil War doubled as stretcher bearers.

both sides?
***
history is really fascinating.
In the present day, as i understand it, some version of military brass bands do exist as well. Anybody knows how they operate, used on what occasions, whether sent out with the troops abroad, etc, etc
Asking in good faith: not a foreign spy, not trying to poke fun at anything

As a military band veteran, I suggest you may want to do a web search on US Army, Navy, Air Force or Marine bands. Use those as keywords and you will get right to what you need.
Their missions are clearly displayed on their home pages. Specifically instrumentated brass bands are not common nowadays, the full concert band being the darling of most band commanders. They also generally march with full woodwind sections (minus double reeds of course). But bands do pride themselves in their "flexibility" to serve any occasion and can form up a brass band easily enough.
The Coast Guard only has one band and it seems to function largely as a touring "public relations" concert band.

[iranzi]

both sides?
***
history is really fascinating.
In the present day, as i understand it, some version of military brass bands do exist as well. Anybody knows how they operate, used on what occasions, whether sent out with the troops abroad, etc, etc
Asking in good faith: not a foreign spy, not trying to poke fun at anything

As a military band veteran, I suggest you may want to do a web search on US Army, Navy, Air Force or Marine bands. Use those as keywords and you will get right to what you need.
Their missions are clearly displayed on their home pages. Specifically instrumentated brass bands are not common nowadays, the full concert band being the darling of most band commanders. They also generally march with full woodwind sections (minus double reeds of course). But bands do pride themselves in their "flexibility" to serve any occasion and can form up a brass band easily enough.
The Coast Guard only has one band and it seems to function largely as a touring "public relations" concert band.

Thank you!!!
But what's with the double reeds? fell out of favor at some point or were never invited in the first place?

[Macbone1]

[Thank you!!!
But what's with the double reeds? fell out of favor at some point or were never invited in the first place?]

Probably were never invited. Double reed instruments are delicate, temperamental, do not hold up well under swings in temperature, and not very loud. It was simpler just to leave them out, have those musicians play glockenspiel or cymbals or some such instead. As a military trombonist I have marched in 100 degree and 10 degree weather. Imagine taking a bassoon out in that!
Also, flutes are usually swapped for piccolos, which are louder as we know.

[iranzi]

[...]As a military trombonist I have marched in 100 degree and 10 degree weather. Imagine taking a bassoon out in that!
[...]

Amazing!

[AtomicClock]

In the 1810s, the valve was just beginning to be invented. So those "brass bands" would have looked pretty different from today. Just bugles and drums, maybe.

[BGuttman]

I know a bassoonist in the Air Force Band of New England who played sax on the march -- until they promoted him to Drum Major. He is 6 feet 6 (around 2 meters) and very thin. Looks very impressive in a Shako.

The musicians in the military bands during the American Civil War doubled as stretcher bearers.

On both sides?

Yes, on both sides.

[Macbone1]

Bruce l think l know that guy

[BGuttman]

Bruce l think l know that guy

I know you know that guy. And his girlfriend (who also plays bassoon). Name not revealed to protect the guilty.

[Macbone1]

Lol Bruce

[2bobone]

I spent several of my "formative" years playing euphonium in the "Hazleton Liberty Band". The band has an amazing history. It joined the Union Army as a unit ! they were then known as "Gleim's Band" and later became the HLB. They played celebration music at the Confederate surrender at Appomattox Court House and performed a dirge at Lincoln's funeral. In the band hall, on one wall, there was a set of "Over The Shoulder" Saxhorns hanging for many decades. When Frederick Fennell decided to produce a recording of Civil War music with his Eastman Wind Ensemble, many of the instruments were overhauled by Robert Sheldon at the Eastman School of Music and used in that effort. Bob Sheldon later became a music technician at The Smithsonian Institution where he saved many instruments of the period.
My favorite activity with the band was the annual Washington's Birthday Parade ! The band would march through town playing marches and stopping at every firehouse where free beer was the main attraction. Then, upon return to the band hall, the party really began. Tradition had it that the band leader would prepare a huge kettle of Navy bean soup and tap a keg of beer. Laid out on the tables in the main dressing room were loaves of pumpernickel bread, baskets of Bermuda onions and blocks of Mohawk Valley Limberger Cheese. There was nothing like a Limberger and onion sandwich washed down by copious amounts of beer and bean soup ! A poker game started almost immediately and most players smoked cheap cheroot cigars. Within the span of an hour, you could cut the air with a knife ! Definitely a fond memory !

[iranzi]

I spent several of my "formative" years playing euphonium in the "Hazleton Liberty Band". The band has an amazing history. It joined the Union Army as a unit ! they were then known as "Gleim's Band" and later became the HLB. They played celebration music at the Confederate surrender at Appomattox Court House and performed a dirge at Lincoln's funeral. In the band hall, on one wall, there was a set of "Over The Shoulder" Saxhorns hanging for many decades. When Frederick Fennell decided to produce a recording of Civil War music with his Eastman Wind Ensemble, many of the instruments were overhauled by Robert Sheldon at the Eastman School of Music and used in that effort. Bob Sheldon later became a music technician at The Smithsonian Institution where he saved many instruments of the period.
My favorite activity with the band was the annual Washington's Birthday Parade ! The band would march through town playing marches and stopping at every firehouse where free beer was the main attraction. Then, upon return to the band hall, the party really began. Tradition had it that the band leader would prepare a huge kettle of Navy bean soup and tap a keg of beer. Laid out on the tables in the main dressing room were loaves of pumpernickel bread, baskets of Bermuda onions and blocks of Mohawk Valley Limberger Cheese. There was nothing like a Limberger and onion sandwich washed down by copious amounts of beer and bean soup ! A poker game started almost immediately and most players smoked cheap cheroot cigars. Within the span of an hour, you could cut the air with a knife ! Definitely a fond memory !

stuff to dream about!
especially liked firehouses and beer; i've never put these two togethere before

[Vegasbound]

As your in the UK

https://www.army.mod.uk/learn-and-explo ... rmy-music/

[mgladdish]

I've started depping in the local brass band. It's tons of fun. Marches and hymns being their staple, and played beautifully. It's a real challenge to play quietly enough to blend in - I'm not used to that sort of playing in the slightest.
But every now and then they'll attempt jazz and it's a rumpy-pumpy cringe-fest all round.

[iranzi]

I've started depping in the local brass band. It's tons of fun. Marches and hymns being their staple, and played beautifully. It's a real challenge to play quietly enough to blend in - I'm not used to that sort of playing in the slightest.
But every now and then they'll attempt jazz and it's a rumpy-pumpy cringe-fest all round.

i want to do this too! can you recommend any particular band or bands please?

as for cringe fests —that's is my specialty, word class level here

[mgladdish]

I've started depping in the local brass band. It's tons of fun. Marches and hymns being their staple, and played beautifully. It's a real challenge to play quietly enough to blend in - I'm not used to that sort of playing in the slightest.
But every now and then they'll attempt jazz and it's a rumpy-pumpy cringe-fest all round.

i want to do this too! can you recommend any particular band or bands please?

as for cringe fests —that's is my specialty, word class level here

I can't help with a specific recommendation I'm afraid, but this list looks pretty comprehensive - http://ibew.org.uk/link01g.html There should be one pretty close to you, wherever you are

[jonathanharker]

But what's with the double reeds? fell out of favor at some point or were never invited in the first place?

I was told when I was in a military marching band that tripping or stumbling while playing a double reed instrument can result in having the reed shoved into the back of your throat, which as you might imagine can be a pretty nasty and potentially fatal injury. I'd like to think that someone in the 18th century thought of that in advance and decreed that double reed instruments be banned from use in marching bands, but I suspect it was bitter experience.