This selection is something very specific to English music - even more specifically to the North of England. I don't know when I first heard a brass band; probably as a child, even though the part of the North of England where I grew up was not a strong band playing area.Even so, I can't hear a brass band without getting shivers down my spine. There is something about the instrumentation I think, that creates such wonderful overtones.
Outside the UK, many people will have come across this music via the movie 'Brassed Off'. This clip shows the band from the film playing outside a hospital, where the conductor is terminally ill. It is a wonderful scene, played by the real-life Grimethorpe Colliery Band - and yes, that is a real place.
Brass band music is very varied. It includes transcriptions of classical and popular music, specially written pieces, hymns and religious music. This one is the Brighouse and Rastrick Brass Band playing 'Autumn Leaves'.
Here is the same band with the tune 'Horsley', one that you will probably recognize when you hear it.
Many of the bands were associated with industrial firms. This is the Leyland Band (a car company) playing the march 'Army of the Nile'.
Another factory band - the Foden Band (Foden was a lorry firm) playing a transcription of 'Suite Gothique' by Boellman. Originally for organ this was transcribed for Brass Band by Eric Ball.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suite_Gothique
Finally we have the Grimethorpe Colliery Band again playing 'Gresford', popularly known as the Miners' Hymn.
Gresford was written about a mining disaster. This film tells more about the event.
