IBEW - Brass Band Historians and Researchers

Brass Band Historians and Researchers

Brass Band Historians and Researchers

This page gives details of those individuals who are engaged in researching the history of brass bands and brass music in the UK or overseas in whatever form it may take. Academic research, researching for books and articles, collectors, archivists, curators, local historians, hobbyists, musicologists and more! If you would like to provide your details, with an indication of the particular areas of interest, if any, then please send an email with the relevant information to

gavin@ibew.co.uk

See also the

for a resource to seek and share information.

Name	Research details / areas of interest
Gavin Holman 07864 874593 gavin@ibew.co.uk www.ibew.co.uk	All brass bands Any information about vintage brass bands, their formation, histories, pictures, contesting, memorabilia, recordings, publications etc. All material is made available for all to access via the IBEW website: www.ibew.co.uk. Any contributions of information, pictures or suggestions for further research are very welcome.
Kim Baston K.Baston@latrobe.edu.au	Circus Bands I am researching into circus bands and am interested in any links between brass band personnel and circus bands. I am particularly interested in the bands who performed with Bostock and Wombwell's menagerie/circus in the 19th century.
Alan Brookes 01543 502125 alan@merault.co.uk	Cannock Chase Colliery Brass Band I am a former member of this now extinct brass band. I have already written and published a book entitled 'The History of the Cannock Chase Colliery Brass Band' in 2004. I would be interested in hearing from anyone who has and information and/or photographs relating to the band please.
Carol Brooks carolbrooks25@gmail.com	Australian bands - particularly Malvern Municipal Band I am seeking former players/families and any information/memorabilia on the following Victorian band from Australia - Malvern Municipal Band (formerly the Malvern Tramways Band). This band is now under the name of Stonnington City Brass which will be celebrating 100 years in 2011. Also seeking any memorabilia on the following bands; Collingwood Citizen Band, South Caulfield Model Band and the Nhill Salvation Army Band. My grandfather Harold Henstridge played with the Nhill band around the early 1900's, then later became player/secretary with the Oakleigh City Band in the late 1920's to mid 30's.
John Brush 01726 850729 ja.brush@virgin.net Cornish Bands	Cornish bands Cornish Bands, particularly from 1839 to 1939. Currently John has uncovered details of some 230 bands in Cornwall in that period, of which less than a third survived the Second World War. Further details are sought, and anyone with any information about old Cornish bands is requested to contact John. See the Cornish Bands section of the IBEW, which is hosting his work.
David Cawdell d.cawdell@btinternet.com	East Anglian bands I have been involved in brass bands for nearly sixty years both as a player (ex Band of the Irish Guards) and conductor and writer. The brass band movement in the late 19th century was the greatest example of amateur mass music-making in the country and is a very important part of our social history. The histories of now defunct bands should not be allowed to fade from our memories. I am researching the old bands of East Anglia and collect old band photographs, uniforms, instruments, old band books, anecdotes and all other band memorabilia and am currently writing books and articles on the lost bands of our region. I also give illustrated talks on the subject as 'fund raisers' for local bands. All information would be gratefully received and acknowledged.
Roland Clark 01202 730723 firsteuph@yahoo.co.uk	Bournemouth and Poole bands I am currently researching and writing the history of the Brass and Military Bands of Poole and Bournemouth (The BH Post code Area). I have established that the oldest band was Poole Town Band with a mention pre-1849. Wareham Town Band 1850 and the oldest Salvation Army Band appeared as Poole Christian Mission Band before becoming the salvation Army in 1878. I have records of over 80 current and extinct bands. I am appealing for information and photographs however insignificant. Information before the second world war is the most scarce and anything from this period would be much appreciated.
Steven Craig 01383 511919 stevengcraig@hotmail.com	Fife Brass Bands Currently researching the history of all brass bands who are still or were at some point active in Fife with the view to publishing a history booklet. Any information or memorabilia especially photographs would be greatly appreciated especially on bands that no longer exist. Also looking for relevant and informative stories about local Fife bands characters and contests.
Gavin Dixon Curator of Musical Instruments - Horniman Museum 07946 734480 GDixon@horniman.ac.uk	The G Bass Trombone I am researching the G bass trombone and the story of its demise. Any documentary information about G trombones in the second half of the 20th century would be greatly appreciated. I would also be interested to speak to anybody who once played the instrument, is related to anyone who played it, or who remembers any details of its passing.
Stephen Etheridge MA, GD( Mus) Leeds a0675857@hud.ac.uk	South Pennines Brass Bands 1840- 1928 I am a Social History and Musicology PhD research student at Huddersfield University. I am interested in accessing any archives held by brass bands in the southern Pennines, from around 1840- 1928. Of particular interest would be minute books and financial records. Repertoire lists and concert programmes would also be very useful. I would also like to study any bands that used any kind of group tutoring method in this period.
Ray Farr 07717 433613 ray.farr@durham.ac.uk	St Hilda Band and Distin family I'm researching brass band history for a PhD. My focus is on the Distin family and the St Hilda Band. I am also collecting antique brass instruments with the intention of performing early brass music. I am based at Durham University.
Andrew Hayden 01493 700258 doubleopen32@uwclub.net	Birkenhead Brass Bands I'm researching a chap called Robert Hope-Jones, generally known as the father of the cinema organ. This instrument was a deliberate attempt to emulate a light orchestra, and perhaps more to the point relied heavily on organ 'brass' and 'woodwind' tone for its effects - it was the one-man equivalent of a dance band with many sounds which echoed what you'd expect to hear in such a combination. Hope-Jones started out at Lairds and it's a long shot, but I wondered if he had any connections with a works band there? Much of the biographical material about him is patchy until you get to the formation of the 'Hope-Jones Electric Organ Co.' in the 1890's, but I'm interested in formative influences ie at about age 17, which coincides with the year 1866.
Chris Helme 01422 205763 cdhelme3539.brighouse@zen.co.uk www.chrishelme-brighouse.org.uk	All brass bands and oral history My interest is in collating UK brass band nostalgia - researching the almost forgotten players and bands of the past - writing about them and the stories involving them and then having the stories published. Listening to the tales of former players it is their memories that fascinate me and many others - these stories should not be forgotten or lost in the mists of time. I have written my stories for the Brass Review, 4barsrest and the British Bandsman.
Dr Richard Jones BMus(hons), MA, Phd in Ethnomusicology jonesrichard@hotmail.com	Brass Band Performance Research interests:- A doctoral thesis on the behaviour, attitudes and taken for granted processes that are defined by performance practice and performance rituals. Performance contexts as spheres of influence, displaying varying degrees of prestige, status and identity on both bands and individuals. Analysis of brass band adjudication as a means of developing better performance practice. The development of literature and knowledge of world wind and brass band traditions, specifically the position and influence of bands within their own communities. Future research interests:- Village band traditions in south East Italy and mediterranean and the performance practice rituals and social significance of the brass festival or competition in the Balkans.
Richard Marchant richardatcfc@optusnet.com.au	Cairo Red Shield Band I am seeking any history of the Cairo Red Shield Band, any former members, their family who might have programmes, letters, photographs, but most of all anyone who has the record which was recorded on May 17th 1944, on the Radio Services label.
Cathleen O'Connell 978-430-9469 desertpenguinpictures@comcast.net Desert Penguin Pictures	US Native American bands Seeking information on US Native American brass/concert/marching bands. I am an independent documentary producer researching film about Native American bands 1890-present day. Looking for photos, ephemera, oral histories, musicians & their relatives. Here is a brief description of the film - scheduled for completion in 2009. When most people hear the phrase Native American music they don't think of tubas, costumed baton twirlers and Sousa marches. Yet this rich musical tradition has been a part of Native American life for over one hundred years. Combining profiles of contemporary bands with fresh historical research, "Native American Marching Bands" (w.t.) offers viewers a surprising and engaging picture of this little-known Native music scene. The documentary challenges viewers to expand their definition of Native American music and broadens their understanding of contemporary Indian life.
Bob Pickles 01274 607214 32 Worthing Head Road, Wyke, Bradford, BD12 9NP	Wyke Brass Bands Bob is writing a book on the brass bands of Wyke. Wyke Old Brass Band and Wyke Temperance Band. Any information or material about these bands, their players, conductors or related details are more than welcome.
Sandra Pope sandra.pope@optusnet.com.au	Brass Bands in Victoria (Australia) I am researching brass bands in Victoria (Australia) from the 19th century to the present day. Any information or memorabilia, especially photographs, would be greatly appreciated particularly on bands that no longer exist. Also seeking information on the South Street Brass Band contests from 1900 to the present.
Brian Stride bstride@shaw.ca Brass Bands in British Columbia	British Columbian bands Researching the history of brass bands in British Columbia, Canada - see the website: www.vabbs.org/hist_bb_bc.php. Brass Bands in the Province of British Columbia were a common form of musical expression in the colonial to pre-World War 1 years. In general, the bands were comprised of two groups: those developed by the European colonists, which were primarily community bands, and those developed amongst the First Nations peoples, often in association with a religious organization. This is a research project that continues to develop as new photographs and information are discovered. Anyone with information, corrections, additions, or photos concerning brass bands in British Columbia is invited to contact Brian.
Dennis Taylor 0191 528 4365 freden@ntlworld.com	Brass Band Music 1860-1920s I am preparing a catalogue of music used between 1860 - 1920s. Obviously this will only be a selection taken from one or two archives in the area. I am going to research into the social history of the time between those years mentioned, which will include Victorian, Edwardian, and the influence of the Romantic era of music upon the brass band movement. A chapter about the printing of the music at that time. Mention of the unpublished music, if any is found in this area. A chapter which records music played at concerts and contests during the period. Finally, a chapter concerning Salvation Army Music, and I will be preparing a catalogue of their music. That is a fairly comprehensive area of research. So any help would be appreciated. [Dennis is the author of The Heritage of the North East Brass Band Movement - a new book in 2008. Available, at �12.50 including p&p, from himself.]
Matthew Walker 01204 465321 Matthew.walker@uuplc.co.uk	Greater Manchester bands I am currently researching the brass bands of Greater Manchester, collating a brief history and major achievements of every past and present band and a photograph where available. Currently I've completed the Bolton area, this book can be found at www.lulu.com under the title of Farnworth and Walkden Band. I've now started on the Bury and Rossendale areas, Bury is particularly very lacking in information and anything would be a great help. But I would be grateful for information on the others areas, as I will be tackling these in the future e.g. Stockport, Trafford, Manchester, Salford, Rochdale, Tameside and Wigan.
Craig Wood woodies_6@bigpond.com Barrier Industrial Unions' Band	Broken Hill / Barrier ranges (NSW Australia) bands and bandsmen Any details about the following bands: Barrier Industrial Unions' Band; Broken Hill City Band; Barrier Citizen's Band; Silver City Ladies Band; Silverton Tramways Band; Broken Hill Salvation Army Bands; Amalgamated Miner's Association Band; Broken Hill Band; Silverton Brass band; Wilcannia Town Band; Bermingham's Band; Bartley's Barrier band; Police Boys Band and Broken Hill Marist Brothers' Bugle Band. Also information on the Newcastle steelworks band with information about Tom Bollen or Tom Nankivell. Any information would be much appreciated and acknowledged if planned publication in book form eventuate