Not so brassed off
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As the mills and mines of northern England went into decline in the latter half of the 20th century, it was feared that the traditional brass band would follow suit. But Yorkshire's Black Dyke Band diversified its repertoire, found new fans and has since been going from strength to strength.
Though still firmly rooted in its industrial northern past, the Black Dyke Brass Band has kept up with times. As well as the standard brass canon, they also cover a range of styles from contemporary classical music to pop hits. Anything goes, says conductor Nicholas Childs, as long as the audience has a good time.
The band, established in the West Yorkshire mill town of Queensbury over 150 years ago, has a pedigree to be proud of. It is still a matter of debate whether the Beatles song Yellow Submarine owes its success to the band's brass intermezzo, but the group's claim to fame does not end there.
In 1985 they were voted BBC Band of the Year, while last year they set a record by winning the National Brass Band Championship for the 22nd time in a row.
Although the brass band is a quintissentially British phenomenon, Black Dyke Band have found the passion for sound is slowly spreading across borders.
"It has a great following in Europe, particularly in Norway and Switzerland, but it is spreading to Germany and also to France," says cornet player John O'Brien. This international appeal is reflected in the band's list of upcoming concerts, which as well as the traditional UK brass band contests also includes festivals in the Netherlands, Germany and Switzerland.
