*
banner

The Music man dies

John Miles, the man behind the epic 1976 pop ballad 'Music' has died.

Broken
  The man behind the music has died

It has been announced that John Miles, the musician who composed the 1976 pop hit 'Music' has died. He was 72.

The epic ballad with the immortal opening lines of 'Music was my first love/ And it will be my last/Music of the future/And music of the past' reached number 3 in the UK charts and was soon picked by other artists — including brass bands.

Brass band arrangements

Almost immediately they got their hands on a variety of arrangements — some legal (you can get takes on it by Philip Sparke, Alan Fernie and Derek Broadbent) and others a little more dubious in origin.

It has since been performed thousands of times in concerts by bands at all levels across the world.

Record World at the time described the 5-minute work with its inventive 7/4-time signature as: "Another endearing and sophisticated pop opus. An exceptionally well-constructed tune, each segment is held together with lucid production polish. A triumph."

Half an hour

It was in fact written in half an hour by Miles during a break in a recording he was doing in Leeds.

Miles performed regularly at the Last Night of the Proms and also received an outstanding contribution prize at the Progressive Rock awards in 2017.

He was married to his wife, Eileen, for more than 50 years, and had two children and two grandchildren.

Become a supporter and help make our future secure.

4barsrest continues to be a proudly independent voice. There are no paywalls to overcome to be able to enjoy what we do to keep our journalism at the heart of the brass banding world. Support us with a one-off donation or subscribe from just £2.50 per month.

Support us    


BBO

Result: 2025 Austrian National Championship

October 20 • Brass Band Oberosterreich makes it four wins in a row as they secure the Austrian title in Innsbruck and their place at the European Championships in Montreux in 2027.


3BA Concert Brass

Results: 2025 German Open

October 20 • 3BA Concert Brass makes it a hat-trick of entertainment victories at the German Open as Woodshockers Brass and Brass Band Hombeek claim the section honours.


First Old Boys

Results: 2025 NIBA Championship

October 20 • 1st Old Boys Silver retain their title and claim the Euro honours with section victories for CWA and Dungannon Silver.


Brass in Concert

Just 10 and counting for Brass in Concert

October 18 • There are now just 10 tickets left before the sold-out signs are posted for the Brass in Concert Championships.


Regent Hall Concerts - Central Band of the RAF

Friday 24 October • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. WC1 2DJ W1C2DJ


Regent Hall Concerts - Amersham Band

Friday 24 October • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. WC1 2DJ W1C2DJ


Haverhill Silver Band - Concert in Thaxted Church

Saturday 25 October • haxted Parish Church. Watling St, Thaxted CM6 2PE


Petworth Town Band - Petworth Town Band VE & VJ Day Remembrance Concert

Saturday 25 October • St Mary’s Church Petworth GU28 OAD


Regent Hall Concerts - Paddington Brass

Friday 31 October • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. WC1 2DJ W1C2DJ


Hathersage Band

October 17 • BASS TROMBONE. Hathersage Brass Band is a thriving, non-contesting community band. We enjoy our music making, play a wide variety of music and have a good gig schedule. Are you the right person to join our happy band?


Crewe Brass

October 16 • Crewe Brass are looking for PERCUSSION (TUNED and KIT) to join our highly motivated 4th section band. We are a very welcoming and sociable band, with a positive outlook and a reasonably busy calendar of engagements. Other enquiries are welcome.


Crewe Brass

October 16 • Crewe Brass are looking for a BBb BASS player to join our highly motivated 4th section band. We are a very welcoming and sociable band, with a positive outlook and a reasonably busy calendar of engagements. Other enquiries are welcome.


Duncan Wilson

Bmus(hons), LGSMD
Conductor, Adjudicator (member AoBBA)


               

 © 2025 4barsrest.com Ltd