A history of the University of Illinois British Brass Band, 1981 to the present

On November 15, 1981, the University of Illinois British Brass Band performed its first concert, conducted by University of Illinois Assistant Director of Bands James Curnow. The ensemble’s antecedents lay in the brass bands established in Victorian England that were populated by members of the working classes, while its 1980s founding occurred in the national context of an increase in British-style brass band activity in the United States that included the formation of the North American Brass Band Association, dedicated to fostering the British-style brass band movement in the US and Canada. Several key factors contributed to the success and longevity of the University of Illinois British Brass Band, including certain characteristics of the University of Illinois Bands program and the institutional support given to the ensemble. Through analysis and synthesis of personal interviews and archival research, this dissertation reveals the identity of the ensemble as modeled on the traditional British brass band and its typical sound and repertoire, modified by the University of Illinois British Brass Band’s own solutions for particular musical and logistical demands. Providing a significant educational experience for its players (as well as its conductors) and filling an important role in the ensemble offerings of the University of Illinois Bands program, the University of Illinois British Brass Band also represented the University of Illinois statewide by way of its periodic tours and propagated the British-style brass band performance idiom through its more than 90 known performances before its hiatus began in 2011.

Name thesis:degree_name

A.Mus.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Music

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2019

Author dc:creator

• Reagan, Maureen V.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Bashford, Christina
• Moore, Mark
• Lund, Erik
• Magee, Jeffrey

• brass band
• British brass band
• James Curnow
• Peter J. Griffin
• John Cody Birdwell
• James Hile
• University of Illinois
• North American Brass Band Association
• J. Perry Watson
• University of Illinois Bands
• University of Illinois School of Music
• Harry Begian
• euphonium
• Paul Droste
• David Bilger
• Kevin Stees
• American brass band

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2019 Maureen Reagan

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/104743

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/104743