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I don't know much about the band as I'm a fairly new fan, however I do know they have a long tradition of being a top band and they often win prestigious contests and awards.




I think I read an Andycat post somewhere that the BBb players have Yamaha Neo BBb tubas. Whatever they are, the sound is marvelous here.

Here is Black Dyke Band playing the same piece "Knight Templar" in 2009 on a dark and rainy night! with tooba player pants falling down, and possibly an Eb player with a VB24AW


Two top notch bands. Although we do have brass bands in the U.S. this makes me wish there were more of them!

Both those videos are at the Whit Friday marches which will take place in a couple weeks this year. An incredible event where bands tour around the villages east of Manchester marching through and then playing contest march at each one. Over 70 bands can be heard at some villages.

The sound those top players get out of those compensated BBb tubas is incredible!

I am looking forward to playing at the Whit Friday's myself this year playing with Wantage Silver Band. I am pleased to be on EEb bass this year (the Wessex of course) as last year I was really knackered carrying a Miraphone comp BBb which weighed even more than my Neptune!

Great, I hope to see some clips posted of the upcoming events.

Wouldn't a lot of BBb players be tempted to march with a 3/4 size instrument with possibly only 3 valves in order to cut down on weight? I know I would be. I suppose it's totally unheard of to arrive and march with a sousaphone or some other marching instrument on Whit Friday?

fairweathertuba wrote:Great, I hope to see some clips posted of the upcoming events.

Wouldn't a lot of BBb players be tempted to march with a 3/4 size instrument with possibly only 3 valves in order to cut down on weight? I know I would be. I suppose it's totally unheard of to arrive and march with a sousaphone or some other marching instrument on Whit Friday?

Using small 3/4 BBb does not seem to happen much. I did see one front valve small BBb last year and another band with just EEb tubas.

Only visiting bands from overseas might be seen with sousaphones. Never seen in British brass band.

Myself after last year i swore to only play this year if on EEb bass.

I am sure there will be videos of this year. My wife is coming, so I will see if she can get some video - but not of me marching I hope - I am not too good at that

fairweathertuba wrote:Great, I hope to see some clips posted of the upcoming events.

Wouldn't a lot of BBb players be tempted to march with a 3/4 size instrument with possibly only 3 valves in order to cut down on weight? I know I would be. I suppose it's totally unheard of to arrive and march with a sousaphone or some other marching instrument on Whit Friday?

Sousas are rare, usually appearing in only one or two bands across the entire event.
I'm playing this year in a 'Stag Band' for a friend who's getting married. We'll be wearing large ginger wigs and silly T-shirts and playing slightly louder than we ought. A sousa would be great for this scratch band but alas, I don't have one...

There are two parts to each contest venue; the march down, and the contest march. Bands stand still to play the contest march (as shown in the above videos) and this is why bands use full-size tubas - to obtain the optimum brass band sound.
There's actually not a huge amount of marching going on so it's not so bad, uh, unless it rains (common) or is unusually warm (less common but not unheard of).

M

I must say I am very impressed with the amount and quality of sound these low brass players are producing, so lugging around a few extra pounds for the marching part is apparently worth the effort for improved sound during the test piece. (especially if you are just spectating)

Peach, your scratch band adventure sounds like a ton of fun, be careful with the hops and barley though, we'd hate to see your horn get wrecked.. if you're playing in a dry band then you're in the clear.

About 10 years ago my wife and I timed a long-planned trip to England (from the left coast of the USA) to allow us to take in the Whit Friday contests. It was truly a unique and enjoyable event. We spent most of the evening in one location where the organizers allowed me to introduce some of the bands to the assembled crowd in my obvious New Jersey-tempered-by-California accent. I got some strange looks from the Lydgate crowd but we had a great time. I would recommend adding this to your bucket list if you have an interest in brass bands.

van