Military band v brass band

[LMcD]

Vaughan Williams's English Folk Song Suite was composed for military band. Gordon Jacob later produced a version for brass band. What differences would one expect to hear? (Presumably there might have been a drum or two in the first but not the second).

[burning dog]

Not sure how the original was arranged but military bands usually have woodwind instruments.

[BBMmk2]

Quite honestly the original is by far the better than Jacob’s orchestration. It just doesn’t have the je ne sais pas. Like others. It’s like others, for instance in John Ireland’s works, A Downland Suite, and his London Overture(A Comedy Overture,in its original brass band format), all do not he the raison dêtre. Strangely enough, there’s a a few classical music composers that do not sound great on a brass band do in military/wind/concert bands.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Personally I'm not too keen on military bands. The squealing woodwinds can become tiresome. I just don't think it's a particularly good combination of sounds, whereas a brass band sounds blended and beautiful.

[BBMmk2]

Personally I'm not too keen on military bands. The squealing woodwinds can become tiresome. I just don't think it's a particularly good combination of sounds, whereas a brass band sounds blended and beautiful.

If you heard HM Royal Marines, they’re a different kettle of fish. Or the RAF guys.

[Old Grumpy]

If you heard HM Royal Marines, they’re a different kettle of fish. Or the RAF guys.

Crack units, crack musicians, perhaps?

OG

[Padraig]

I'm a big fan of military bands when they play Sousa marches. Not so keen otherwise.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgABUZ4i9co

[rauschwerk]

Frederick Fennell has done wonderful work in the military band medium. His Mercury recordings sound a bit dated now (though Imogen Holst loved his recording of Holst's strange piece Hammersmith), but the three Telarc LPs he made in the late 1970s with the Cleveland Symphonic Winds (terrific digital sound when all the pundits said it would never be any good) are classics. I have also been enjoying the works for wind orchestra in Volume 4 of Chandos's Grainger series, especially The Lads of Wamphray. The players there are RNCM students.

The Gordon Jacob arrangement of the RVW Folksong suite is for full orchestra. I certainly prefer the original. The brass band arrangement is by Frank Wright.

[Serial_Apologist]

Quite honestly the original is by far the better than Jacob’s orchestration. It just doesn’t have the je ne sais pas. Like others. It’s like others, for instance in John Ireland’s works, A Downland Suite, and his London Overture(A Comedy Overture,in its original brass band format), all do not he the raison dêtre. Strangely enough, there’s a a few classical music composers that do not sound great on a brass band do in military/wind/concert bands.

To me the brass band setting of Holst's wonderful "Hammersmith" is more vivid than the orchestral, however.

[BBMmk2]

To me the brass band setting of Holst's wonderful "Hammersmith" is more vivid than the orchestral, however.

Quite true! There are exceptions!

[BBMmk2]

Crack units, crack musicians, perhaps?

OG

The best!

[Old Grumpy]

The best!

If you say so, maestro

We have seen (and heard) the RAF guys a couple of times at Sage Gateshead and they were superb!

OG

[LMcD]

Frederick Fennell has done wonderful work in the military band medium. His Mercury recordings sound a bit dated now (though Imogen Holst loved his recording of Holst's strange piece Hammersmith), but the three Telarc LPs he made in the late 1970s with the Cleveland Symphonic Winds (terrific digital sound when all the pundits said it would never be any good) are classics. I have also been enjoying the works for wind orchestra in Volume 4 of Chandos's Grainger series, especially The Lads of Wamphray. The players there are RNCM students.

The Gordon Jacob arrangement of the RVW Folksong suite is for full orchestra. I certainly prefer the original. The brass band arrangement is by Frank Wright.

In that case, perhaps I should have to have a word with George Hall, the author of the liner notes accompanying my 2-CD Decca set (460 357-2).

[Pulcinella]

In that case, perhaps I should have to have a word with George Hall, the author of the liner notes accompanying my 2-CD Decca set (460 357-2).

Michael Kennedy (The works of RVW) says: Transcribed by Gordon Jacob in 1924 for brass band (pub 1956) and for full orchestra (pub 1942). Arranged for piano by M Mullinar, 1949.

[BBMmk2]

If you say so, maestro

We have seen (and heard) the RAF guys a couple of times at Sage Gateshead and they were superb!

OG

Yes, those too!