Ep 13. Steve Hughes - Besses o' th' Barn Entente Cordial Tour

Ep 13. Steve Hughes - Besses o' th' Barn Entente Cordial Tour

Author: Helen Douthwaite-Teasdale September 13, 2024 Duration: 31:56
In this episode I chat to Besses player and researcher Steve Hughes about the band performing to Princes and Presidents on their groundbreaking French tour of 1905.

Hosted by Helen Douthwaite-Teasdale, Brass Evolution is a deep and engaging conversation about the world of brass bands, seen through the lens of its vibrant past. This isn't just a dry historical account; it's an exploration of the culture, the characters, and the unexpected stories that have shaped this unique musical community. In each episode, Helen is joined by a guest to delve into a specific facet of brass band heritage, which could be anything from the fierce rivalry of historic contests and the legendary conductors who shaped entire movements, to the more personal and often overlooked details like the evolution of uniforms and performance attire. You'll hear about the traditions, the controversies, and the everyday realities that have driven the brass band scene forward. The Brass Evolution podcast offers a warm, insightful look at how this distinct musical form has developed, celebrating its resilience and its ongoing story. It's for anyone curious about the social history woven into the fabric of musical performance, providing a fresh perspective on a tradition that is far more than just the sum of its parts.
Author: Language: en-gb Episodes: 14

Brass Evolution
Podcast Episodes
Ep 14. Gavin Holman - The First Brass Band Contests [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:50
In this episode I chat to returning guest Gavin Holman about his research into the first recorded brass band contests and the most well documented event - Burton Constable. We talk instrumentation, perverse serpents, cut…
Ep 12. Ray Farr - The Distin Family [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:37
In this episode I chat to banding icon Ray Farr about his research into the Distin Family and their extraodinary impact on the beginnings of the brass band movement. We discuss the groups origins, tenor horn vs. alto sax…
Ep 11. James P Gregory Jnr - Cora Youngblood Corson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:12
In this episode I chat to researcher and relative of Cora Youngblood Corson, James P Gregory Jnr about her trailblazing and complex life and his ongoing discoveries into her significance in opening doors for women brass…
Ep 10. David Hirst - The ’Celebrated’ Black Dyke Mills Band [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:56
In this episode I chat to David Hirst about the origins of the probably the most famous brass band in the world - Black Dyke. We discuss the early contests, instrumentation, local rivalries and some of the legends of the…
Ep9. Jeremy de Korte - Postcard Perspectives [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:01
In this episode I chat to Band Blasts from the Past blogger and postcard collector Jeremy de Korte about his own collection, Australian banding and how these cards and their messages can help us uncover the banding past.…
Ep8. David Reynolds - The Wizard & The Typhoon [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:39
This episode I chat to founding Director of the Shildon Heritage Alliance CIC and author David Reynolds about the lives and entrepreneurial spirit of two men from a pioneering railway town who went on to create some of t…
Ep7. Simone Rebello - The Evolution of Brass Band Percussion [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:17
This episode I chat to Director of Percussion at the RNCM Simone Rebello about the history of percussion in UK brass bands. We talk about the journey from solitary timekeeper to incredible virtuoso soloists and vast sect…
Ep6. Alex Parker and Eleanor McKenzie - The Brass Band Archive [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:57
This episode I chat to Dr Alex Parker and Eleanor McKenzie from Brass Bands England and Heritage Quay about all things Brass Band Archive. We talk about moving 6 transit vans worth of history, problematic silverware, bra…
Ep5. Joanna Ross Hersey - Pioneering American Women Brass Musicians [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:05
In this episode I chat to to the incredible Dr. Joanna Ross Hersey about her research into women brass musicians in American music, routes into the profession, the changing political and social settings, all female bands…
Ep4. Gavin Dixon - The Kidshifter [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:47
In this episode I'm chatting with Gavin Dixon about his research into the G Trombone, discussing its origins, instrument manufacture in the UK and beyond aswell traditionalists and revivalists.Gavin Dixon websiteThe Horn…