brass band

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Instrumental ensemble consisting of brass and sometimes percussion instruments. It differs from a military band, which would contain woodwind (although brass bands in Lancashire, England, also contain woodwind). The instruments of a brass band usually include (in descending order of pitch) the cornet, flugelhorn, tenor horn, B flat baritone, euphonium, trombone, and bombardon (bass tuba), as well as drums and other percussion as needed. It developed during the 19th century from the military band, and was particularly linked with the northern English manufacturing towns of Lancashire and Yorkshire. Some classical composers have written for the brass bands, including Edward Elgar in his Severn Suite (1930) and Grimethorpe Aria (1973) by Harrison Birtwistle.

Red and white are the national colours, derived from a 13th-century emblem bearing a white eagle on a red field. Effective date: 23 March 1956. >>