A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Brass Band

by William H. Stone

BRASS BAND. (Fr. Fanfare.) The smaller variety of the military band, chiefly employed in cavalry regiments, on account of the greater ease with which brass instruments can be played on horseback. It ordinarily consists of an E flat piccolo cornet, two or more cornets in B flat, two tenor saxhorns in E flat, one or more baritones and euphoniums, with one or more bombardons. Besides these, trumpets, and side-, bass-, or kettle-drums are usually present. It is materially improved by the substitution of flutes and E flat clarinets for the piccolo-cornet, and by the addition of trombones. It has not the variety of quality and richness of tone possessed by the full reed band, but is competent to produce very smooth and agreeable harmony. On account of the greater facility with which brass instruments of the saxhorn species are learned, as compared with clarinets and other reeds, a brass band it much more easy to establish and maintain in efficiency than a full military band.

[ W. H. S. ]