Articles /2022
2022 4BR Band of the Year — The conductors and players
December 29, 2022
These are the conductors and players we've picked to perform in our 2022 Band of the Year line-up - if we were ever lucky enough to get them together for a one off performance.
4BR Christmas Quiz — Test your musical knowledge
December 26, 2022
Now that you have had all the sprouts you can eat, we have a fantastic prize package on offer for the person who gets the right answers in our festive quiz - a Besson Prodige cornet plus goodies worth over £500
Take 5 — A quintet of 2022 highlights
December 22, 2022
The 4BR Editor picks his five brass band highlights in calendar order from the past 12 months...
2022 4BR Awards — Long list nominees
December 13, 2022
The long list of nominees in each category of the 2022 4BR Awards has been announced.
4BR Hall of Fame — No. 23: Henry Geehl
December 8, 2022
Tim Mutum explores the life of composer Henry Geehl - a curious enigma of talent and boastfulness.
No time for schadenfreude — Arts funding is heading towards implosion
November 11, 2022
Brass Bands England and the National Youth Band of Great Britain emerged from the wreckage of the latest Arts funding rounds in better health than many - but there is little reason to feel satisfied with the overall outcome.
2023 RNCM Brass Band Festival — Looking to the future - Celebrating the past
November 2, 2022
A host of world class performers, soloists, premieres and repertoire underpin Paul Hindmarsh's final curation of an unmissable festival of the best of brass banding.
The price of stability — 2022 Brass Bands England Conference
October 26, 2022
Will the progress made by Brass Bands England over the past year lead to the future funding its deserves when the next Arts Council England decision is made?
2022 National Championship of Great Britain — Adjudicator remarks
October 17, 2022
What the judges wrote about the top three performances of 'Hyperlink' from Foden's, Black Dyke and Cory on the weekend.
2022 National Championship of Great Britain — Preview
October 14, 2022
All connections lead to the Royal Albert Hall this weekend, but there is a danger that it is no longer the hub attraction it used to be.
A Force of Destiny — Derek Garside recalls an iconic victory
October 13, 2022
The great principal cornet recalls one of the most memorable National Championship victories in history - almost 60 years ago to the day.
2022 National Championship of Great Britain — Hyperlink test piece review
October 12, 2022
What actually links us is not quite what you might expect from Peter Graham's latest work to be performed at the Royal Albert Hall this weekend.
In appreciation — The British Bandsman magazine: Part 2: 1953 - 2022
October 10, 2022
In the second part of his series, brass band historian Tim Mutum, a reader for over 50 years and a contributor for its last decade, explores the importance of what was for the majority of its life, the leading voice of the brass band movement
2022 Cheltenham National Finals — Sections 1-4 preview
September 15, 2022
Her Majesty never won a 'National' herself, but Cheltenham will come up some winners from bands that will pay their musical tribute to her out of the starting gates this weekend.
2022 British Open Championship — The King of the British Open
September 14, 2022
Prof David King has now won five British Open titles at an event that has been part of his musical life since 1982.
2022 British Open Championship — A different contest focus
September 13, 2022
Lorne Campbell was the roving photographic eye at the 168th British Open Championship at Symphony Hall to capture a flavour of the contest day.
2022 British Open Championship — Adjudicator remarks
September 12, 2022
The adjudications from Stephen Roberts, Martyn Brabbins and Dr Robert Childs for the podium performances of Brighouse & Rastrick, Foden's and Aldbourne.
2022 British Open Championship — Contest preview
September 9, 2022
The 168th British Open Championship was always to have taken place in more reflective circumstances this year, but there is still the opportunity to rejoice in respect and admiration.
2022 British Open Championship — The World Rejoicing test piece review
September 5, 2022
Edward Gregson's mature exploration of a Lutheran chorale remains a joyful herald call in these troubled times...
Eyes right — Promoting performers visual health
August 23, 2022
A collaboration between leading eye care specialists, advocates and manufacturers aims to lead to a better understanding of the visual needs of musicians.
In appreciation — The British Bandsman magazine: Part 1: 1887 - 1952
August 21, 2022
In the first of two articles, brass band historian Tim Mutum, a reader for over 50 years and a contributor for its last decade, explores the importance of what was for the majority of its life, the leading voice of the brass band movement
Future encores? — Can more bands follow Tredegar's success at the Proms?
August 17, 2022
Tredegar's appearances at this year's BBC Proms gained widespread critical acclaim - but now they've blown the doors open can anyone else follow them in?
Personal insight — Driving the ethos of the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain
August 15, 2022
Mark Bromley, CEO of the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain, provides a personal insight into the ethos that is now firmly embedded into the organisation that has just celebrated its 70th anniversary.
IBBSS 2022 — From copper to brass...
August 14, 2022
Around 100 global delegates came to Swansea this year for the International Brass Band Summer School course led by Prof Nicholas Childs - and found a warm welcome to go with the music making...
A legacy of artistry and sincerity — The musical world pays tribute to Bramwell Tovey
July 18, 2022
The death of Bramwell Tovey has been marked by remarkable tributes from across the musical world.
4BR Hall of Fame — No. 22: Alex Mortimer
July 11, 2022
Tim Mutum explores the life of the mercurial Alex Mortimer, the self proclaimed ‘musical navvie’ regarded as a brass band genius.
Live imitating Art — A new performance approach maintains Brassed Off appeal
June 22, 2022
Helen Varley examines the lasting appeal of the film, as a 'Live' approach to performance maintains the emotional connection to a familiar story.
Risen again — The return of the Whit Friday march contests
June 7, 2022
Despite the challenges, the ineffable spirit of the Whit Friday march contests will hopefully be revived into joyful, supportive life as the greatest free show on earth returns.
Brass Band of Battle Creek — A vision of American success
May 30, 2022
Americans are at their best when thinking big - and enjoy it even more in making their vision a worldwide success.
2022 European Championships retrospective — Cradle credit notes
May 13, 2022
4BR Editor Iwan Fox looks back at a European Championship Festival that in the end amounted to much more than just profit and loss...
2022 British Open Spring Festival — Preview to the 100th event
May 6, 2022
The 100th anniversary Spring Festival takes place at Blackpool's Winter Gardens this weekend with some great tests of musical character to challenge the bands.
2022 European Championships — Gala Concert
May 5, 2022
Images from the fantastic Gala Concert featuring the twin forces of Cory and Louis Dowdeswell and his band.
2022 European Championships — Broadcast to the banding world
May 3, 2022
World of Brass broadcast the European Championships to the banding world on the Wobplay.com platform - with players and personalities interviewed on camera with their views and opinion.
2022 European Championships — Outdoor performances
May 3, 2022
Centenary Square hosted performances from bands and ensembles that entertained people visiting the Birmingham city centre.
2022 European Championships — Own Choice Selections
April 28, 2022
Iwan Fox looks at the eleven own choice works that will be performed by the Championship Section bands on Sunday.
2022 European Championships — Preview to Birmingham
April 28, 2022
The European Championships are back - and although its attractions may look familiar, events and ambitions are very different...
A rejuvenated culture — The National Youth Band of Great Britain Easter Course
April 20, 2022
Roy Terry reports from the Easter Course of the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain and finds a new organisational culture being embraced and musically developed.
4BR Hall of Fame — No. 21: Lt Col Cecil H Jaeger
April 13, 2022
Tim Mutum looks back on the life and short but memorable brass band career of the conductor known to all as 'Jiggs'.
Fire up the Quattro — The return of the Regional Championships
February 25, 2022
Regional Championship activity is reawakened this weekend - but banding in the UK cannot base its future survival by thinking it can live in a pre-Covid past.
Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all — Contest Music's hidden tunes: Part 2
February 23, 2022
In the second part of his major appraisal of Wilfred Heaton's masterpiece, Paul Hindmarsh identifies the hidden tunes the composer secreted within his score...
Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all — Contest Music's hidden tunes: Part 1
February 22, 2022
In the first part of his major appraisal of one of the brass band movement's most important works, Wilfred Heaton biographer Paul Hindmarsh goes in search of the hidden tunes to be found in 'Contest Music'.
The Coal Connection — 75 years of brass bands and the NCB
January 5, 2022
The National Coal Board came into existence 75 years ago this month - and with it a connection to brass bands that remains to this day.
