The original cast recording to an award winning musical based on the moving story of First World War ammunition workers who learn to play brass band instruments as a means of giving moral support to those who left to join a Pals Battalion, is to be released this week.

Pals Battalion

Set in Leeds in 1915, 'BRASS', written by Benjamin Till, focuses on the fictional Hyde Park Brass Band after bandsmen join up as part of the Leeds Pals battalion and are deployed to Picardy in France, leaving their instruments behind.

Members of the National Youth Music Theatre started a production run of the musical in August last year to great critical acclaim, and in October 'BRASS' won the UK Theatre Award for 'Best Musical Production 2014'.

The influential 'The Stage' publication said: 'Brass (tells) a serious story with feeling and ambition'.

The company have since made the original cast recording and filmed music videos to accompany two of the tracks, and following a recent launch party, the recording will be released on June 3rd.

Brass band members

Many of the company are brass band players with a number currently studying at the RNCM and Birmingham Conservatoire.

Two Conservatoire students are Josef Doughty and Harrison Williams, who also play for Foresters Brass, who told 4BR: "Having several brass band players within the company helped create a feeling of community and authenticity."

Emotional storyline

Harrison also told 4BR a little more about the emotional storyline: "The sisters and sweethearts of the Pals work at the infamous Barnbow Munitions Factory.

As they begin to hear of losses from France, they decide to learn to play on their instruments, reform the band and eventually welcome the men on their return from France.

Through adversity and grief the men and women try to find solace through music."

Throughout the story, the men and women are brought together by an astonishing sense of community, which mirrors that which has been felt by all brass band players at some point in their livesJosef Doughty

Mirrors

Josef added: "Having been with BRASS since the beginning, we feel that this musical is a homage to the brass band players of old.

Throughout the story, the men and women are brought together by an astonishing sense of community, which mirrors that which has been felt by all brass band players at some point in their lives."

Trailer clip

A trailer clip can be found at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lwQRgPi1Go