Articles /2021
4BR Hall of Fame — No.18: Teddy Gray
July 27, 2021
Tim Mutum looks back on the life and career of a principal cornet who defined his own spotlight of excellence.
4BR Talking Point — A change of musical prescription
July 25, 2021
Sandy Smith argues that a re-evaluation of the importance of classical music arrangements could have a lasting benefit to a post Covid brass band movement.
Brass Bands England — An open reply to Brighouse & Rastrick Band
July 8, 2021
Brass Bands England provide a robust defence of their work, responsibilities and ambitions as they reply to the questions posed by Brighouse & Rastrick Band.
Best of Brass Festival — A Risk Assessment needed to connect to wider audience relevance
July 6, 2021
Much to admire on the day at Halifax, but persistence, tenacity and sheer bloody-mindedness are not the characteristics banding needs in abundance if it is to make a lasting mark with the wider public on its post Covid return.
Denis Wick at 90 — The musician with the golden touch
June 26, 2021
One of the greatest influences on the sound of the modern brass player and the modern brass band has just celebrated his 90th birthday.
Take 5 — A quintet of iconic middle movements
June 21, 2021
4BR Editor Iwan Fox picks a quintet of iconic test-piece middle movements that bands as well as conductors with musical aspirations of greatness should understand and master.
4BR Hall of Fame — No.17: Jack Mackintosh
June 9, 2021
Tim Mutum looks back on the life and career of one of the greatest cornet players of any era - and a man always full of comparisons.
4BR Interview — Mathilde Roh - an unconventional cornet star
June 8, 2021
4BR meets Mathilde Roh - the remarkable young Treize Etoiles cornet player who recently claimed the Swiss National Solo Championship title for the third year in a row.
The cherry on the top — National Youth Band returns for Easter
June 5, 2021
The National Youth Band of Great Britain makes a three day return to live action after the challenges of Covid19.
Are we there yet? — After the Covid journey, have we reached the destination we hoped for?
May 22, 2021
As we approach our return to banding, are we about to reach a destination that offers future hope for prosperity or have we simply failed to grasp the opportunity for change.
Take 5 — May the Force be with you...
April 29, 2021
4BR Editor Iwan Fox picks a quintet of memorable brass band recordings of the great Verdi overture La Forza Del Destino to add to your collection.
Prestige performances — Why on-line magic must be rooted in reality
April 28, 2021
4BR Editor Iwan Fox argues that despite the success, brass bands must maintain the prestige of on-line contesting reality rather than relying on aural illusion to keep everyone entertained.
4BR Hall of Fame — No.16: James Scott
April 25, 2021
Tim Mutum looks back on the life and musical career of one of the most respected figures of the banding movement.
Bums on seats — Understanding the new entertainment normality
March 5, 2021
When brass bands return to live performance how do they prise the bums of an audience from the sofas in front of smart television screens to hear them play - or can they also offer another button to press...
4BR Hall of Fame — No.15: Willie Lang
February 16, 2021
Tim Mutum looks back at the remarkable life of the great cornet and trumpet player Willie Lang.
Score Exchange — Three unusual places to find great brass band scores
February 15, 2021
How do you find high quality sheet music? Score Exchange may be just the right place to find out...
Take 5 — A quintet of the best Journey into Freedom recordings
February 12, 2021
4BR Editor Iwan Fox picks five of the best recordings of Eric Ball's classic test-piece to add to your collection.
It's coming home — Has Brass Bands England set out a new contesting future?
February 10, 2021
The European Championships will return to Birmingham in 2022, but can it provide the right stimulus both EBBA and British contesting needs to proposer in the years to come?
Getting the right message across — Have we finally convinced the media?
January 18, 2021
Brass banding is starting to be portrayed in a more informed light in the national media - thanks to finally realising we can influence some control over the message to report on...
4BR Hall of Fame — No.14: George Thompson MBE
January 4, 2021
Tim Mutum looks back on the life of one of the truly unique musical talents of the banding movement.
