The University of Salford Library is making the world's largest collection of Wright & Round's 'Brass Brand News' available for the first time in a digital format.

The newspaper and was published from 1881 until the 1950s, when brass band music making was still an intrinsic cultural phenomenon in the UK.

Research and enjoyment

The undertaking was launched at the University of Salford Library Brass Band Celebration concert last week, with Trevor Herbert, Emeritus Professor of Music at the Open University and Research Fellow at the Royal College of Music, telling 4BR that he believed that the project will open the door to launch new research as well as enjoyment.

He said: "Wright & Round's various commercial endeavours were fundamentally important to the cultural unification of brass bands in Britain; none more so than its monthly newspaper, which was awaited with enthusiasm across the country."

The collection was initially put together by Dr Roy Newsome, the well known brass band conductor and academic and a former Visiting Fellow at the University of Salford. He referred to his collection of Brass Band News as the 'jewel in the crown' of his personal research material.

Dr Newsome's collection was presented to the University Library following his death in 2011.

It will serve not just the brass band community, but a much broader array of musicologists, cultural historians and creative media practitionersDavid Clay, University Librarian

Resource

David Clay, University Librarian, added: "It's exciting to be bringing this material to a wider audience as a free and open digital resource.

It will serve not just the brass band community, but a much broader array of musicologists, cultural historians and creative media practitioners."