INSTRUMENTS
This page is provided for your information and contains a little insight into how the unique sound of brass is derived.
cornet
The cornets are the instruments that usually carry the tune in brass bands. Cornets come in various sizes. Pitch depends on the length of tubing in the instrument. The smaller the instrument, the higher its pitch. The pitch of a cornet is determined by the note it plays when no valves are pressed down. Valves allow the player to change the pitch. A B-flat pitched cornet contains 4 1/2 feet of tubing, which is wound up until the instrument measures a little over a foot in length. Most cornets in a brass band are pitched B-flat, but there is also one E-flat (soprano) cornet.
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flugel horn
One flugel horn to a brass band is the rule. The flugel horn is in the same family as a trumpet and cornet. However, the tubing on a flugel horn expands in size more rapidly than a cornet's and the resulting tone is considered a bridge between the cornets and the lower pitched instruments in the band. A Flugel horn is of a similar size to a tenor horn but is played with the bell facing forwards like that of a cornet.
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tenor horn
The tenor horn is among the several upright horns or 'raincatchers' used in a brass band. It has a soft mellow sound to it like the Flugel and usually plays either its own solo or the chord structure of the band. The tenor horn is the smallest of all the horns in a brass band but is close in size to the Baritone.
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Baritone horn
The baritone usually has its own counter melody and plays a lot of runs and scale structured notes. It has a more defined sound to it than that of a tenor horn thus making it stand out in a band.
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euphonium
Euphoniums frequently play solos and counter melodies that a cello might play in an orchestra. If played to a standard that is required for solo Euphonium, its sound is breathtaking and is a very powerful, dominating instrument. It has the ability to play pedal (bass notes) but can still get as high as a baritone, making it have a scale of 4 octaves!
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tromBone
Because the pitch of a trombone is changed by a slide rather than valves, the tubing is the same diameter, in contrast to other instruments in the brass band that have conical tubing that gradually enlarges from the mouthpiece to the flared bell. The tubing on the trombone gives it a different tone from the mellow one produced by conical instruments.
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tuba/Bass
The tuba is the largest and lowest pitched brass instrument in the band. The E-flat tuba is the smaller of the two models used in brass bands. Typically, a brass band has two E-flat tubas and two double B-flat tubas. The double B-flat tuba requires 18 feet of tubing to bring forth its deep bass notes.
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percussion
Percussion includes not only the full drum kit as shown, but such things as kettle drums (hugely dynamic in sound), the xylophone, glockenspiel, triangle, whistles, bells, woodblock and tambourine. Able to produce notes that are higher than the cornets and as deep as the tubas, percussion adds variety and spice to the brass band's performance.
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