Brass Band Podcast

A Musical Americana

Brass Band Columbus formed in 1984 by Paul Droste are considered by many to be the fathers of the brass band culture in America. They feature in a classic Sousa March, in this, a programme of music from, or about, the USA. The Brass Band of Central Florida were always hot favourites for the US Open title with their bright and innovative programming, that was until a new band was formed in Kansas when Fountain City Brass Band proved to be real rivals. Music from Hollywood, all the energy and excitement of Broadway and of course, a little jazz, all play their important part in this slice of musical Americana.

The skill of the arranger is being able to adapt to any circumstance. With music by composers such as William Walton, Ravel or Zoltan Kodaly, the problem is to fit everything they wrote onto a 25-piece brass band.  When working from original music for piano, the arranger has to much more inventive.  In this episode we celebrate some of the most successful adaptations of glorious music from the opera house, the ballet and the concert hall plus we hear the occasional original masterpiece written for brass band.

With Oscars in the air, this is an episode full of classic movie music. Frank includes several Award winners, a few near misses plus he has underrated music by John Williams and the magic of Vangelis.

Frank has important news about a change to the line up of our Young Brass Award,  Processes with The Nobles, marks the 40th anniversary of a great player and plays a track from the latest CD By Brighouse and Rastrick.

How about music from 3 geniuses starting in 1786, moving on to one of the most innovative brass band voices of the last century, and ending with just about the most famous composer in American musical theatre. Frank also has some personal memories of a master musician whose death in 2007 robbed the band world of one of its most inspirational leaders.

8 have become 4 in this hour long special revealing and featuring the Finalists for the first BrassPass.tv Young Brass Award.  They were selected at the Semi-Final held on January 13th in the Carole Nash Hall in Manchester.  Plus, there’s music from one of our greatest arrangers, a well loved hymn tune gets deconstructed and Frank goes and ‘Tells it on the Mountain’.

We hear a brilliant Euphonium star from the other side of the world, celebrate the sound of the brass band of decades ago, and enjoy the truly classic sound of a world beating cornet star.

The Brass Band Podcast brings you news, interviews and analysis from across the banding world. Dave Kinross and Martyn Ramsay also look to challenge thinking and stimulate respectful debate so that new ideas can come forward for the good of the movement.

Frank Renton has the names of our BrassPass.tv Young Brass Award Semi Finalists who will trying to impress judges Katy Jones, Principal Trombone of the Halle Orchestra and conductor and cornet virtuoso Russell Gray on January 13th in Manchester’s Stoller Hall. Dear to his heart is Grimethorpe and they are his feature band. Foden’s have teamed up with star trumpet player Mike Lovatt and Frank has possibly the only solo recording from Euphonium legend Harry Mather

The Brass Band Podcast brings you news, interviews and analysis from across the banding world. Dave Kinross and Martyn Ramsay also look to challenge thinking and stimulate respectful debate so that new ideas can come forward for the good of the movement.