Modern brass band: its components and activities

Abstract

The article covers the modern composition of a brass band, the main musical instruments that make up performing groups; the features of sound, range, tessitura of traditional musical instruments. Attention is also paid to the peculiarities of brass band leadership and professional skills of the conductor. One of the main differences of a brass band is the possibility of its use outdoors. Its powerful and loud sound does not need to be amplified by various technical devices – microphones, etc. Therefore, this type of performance of wind music is used mainly to accompany the solemn processions of various kinds, as well as to perform dance music. The highest type of brass band is the "large mixed brass band", which has the ability to perform works of considerable complexity. The composition of the "large mixed brass band" has been characterised, first of all, by the introduction of three or four trombones, three parts of trumpets, four parts of horns. In addition, the "large mixed brass band" has a much more complete group of wooden wind instruments, consisting of three flutes (piccolo flute and two large flutes), two oboes, the English horn, a large group of clarinets with their varieties, two bassoons, contraphagot and saxophones. To provide low-register sounds, helicons are introduced into the "large mixed brass band" – a low-sounding brass instrument arranged in a circle. In the modern composition of the orchestra helicons are replaced by tubes. The effective functioning of the brass band and its management is a historically established process of a special kind of musical and creative activity, which includes constructive and technical inventions of musical instruments, skills and abilities of performance, effective management of the orchestra through professional, communicative and personal qualities of the orchestra leader (conductor).