Gavin Holman

From the middle of the 19th century, children's orphanages, poor homes and reformatories spread across the country, thanks to various charitable and philanthropic organisations. One particular type of institution was the 'training ship' - usually old naval sailing vessels that had been taken out of service and then anchored at or near the shore.  The boys sent to these ships received an education and training in seamanship and other skills. Many of the ships established musical bands for the boys, usually brass bands and, more rarely, drum and fife bands. This paper documents known musical activities of these training ship boys' bands.

The town of Forres lies in the old county of Morayshire between Nairn and Elgin. The first brass band in the town was established in the early 1840s, and it was certainly performing by 1844. The following notes present an outline of the known bands in the town over the next seventy years until the outbreak of WW1.

Although the 1845 Burton Constable brass band contest has long been regarded as the first significant documented event of its type in Britain, there are several others over the preceding couple of decades that are worthy of mention. In particular a series involving the Totnes Brass Band, and a look at the possible contribution of French concours de musique.

An example of the brass bands established by various children's homes, orphanages and similar institutions, around the world in the early 20th century. This French orphanage fanfare band was founded on charitable principles, to give the children musical training and discipline, and to help raise funds for the home.

This band, the first such to be organised in Australia, existed for a mere six months. Consisting of students, many of whom had never played a brass instrument before, it reached a good standard in time to perform at the five-week exhibition, which was held to celebrate the art and work of women in Australia.

A brass band was formed among the workers at the Broadwood piano factory in 1860, which originally supported to the local rifle volunteer company based at the works and, over the years, converted to an orchestra, before returning to brass instrumentation in 1893.

Thomas Raistrick became the principal cornet player of the Shipley Brass Band at the age of 13 in 1905 and established himself as an accomplished soloist in his own right. He went on to direct the Band of the 6th West Yorkshire Regiment during WW1.

Joseph Tyler, an accomplished clarinettist, had thirteen children with his two wives, and formed two Family Bands which toured the British Isles and France over a period of nearly half a century. In addition to performing in their own concerts, they took part in pantomimes and other music hall revues, were engaged as the 'town band' in Aberystwyth in 1873, 1874, and 1885; had six seasons at Harrogate, in 1845, 1846, 1872, 1877, 1880, and 1885; and also had the privilege of being the first known instance in the UK of a band's performance being transmitted remotely to an audience, during a concert at the Bradford Technical School's Fine Art and Industrial Exhibition, in July 1882.

In the picture postcards of the early 1900's. which were printed to send New Year's greetings to friends and family, it was not unusual to find depictions of brass instrumentalists, playing or 'heralding' the New Year. This document shows over 100 such images.