Brass Roots

This book was originally published in 1998. For most of the nineteenth and the early part of the twentieth century, the brass band was a major feature of musical life in Britain. This book surveys the hundred years from 1836 in which bands flourished, examining their origins in the village bands of the nineteenth century, the culture of banding competitions that developed and the manner in which this fostered the growth and success of bands. Roy Newsome charts the impact of social and economic change on amateur bands during this period. The influence of classical music, in particular opera, on early band music is also examined. The latter part of the book looks in detail at the original music written for brass bands by composers such as Holst, Elgar and Bliss, as well as pieces written by prominent band leaders.

Grad student Jeffrey Bowden wants out of Baxter, Maine, a city gripped in financial and moral decline. As a gifted musician with high ambitions, Jeffrey is reluctantly working as the local colleges assistant band directorall while counting down the days until he can leave Baxter and establish his career someplace with more promise. Then, renowned philanthropist Andrew Quigley comes to town and makes Jeffrey an offer he cannot refuse: a full-time directorship in Hawaii. Jeffrey is soon ushered into a spectacular life in paradise, where he and Quigley begin to develop the symphony Jeffrey is to lead. But when Quigleys wife absconds with the funds bankrolling the venture, Jeffreys dream career suddenly collapses, forcing his return to Baxter to lead the municipal band. Now an employee of the city, Jeffrey gets an insiders look at the corruption underlying Baxters problems. He mounts a grassroots effort against the mayors harmful practices, and in doing so, sparks a revival of hope among his fellow citizens. But as Quigley reappears with an astonishing accusation, Jeffrey realizes that his passion for righting wrongs has put both his reputation and his life at stake. Brass Roots is the inspiring and humorous tale about a natural leader in search of his true destiny.

Brass Roots and Love Poems is a collections of observations and life experiences composed in poetic form. Challenging the reader’s definition of love or what we perceive love to be. Majority of societies first impression of love is always pure, honest and sweet. But how do we appreciate real love without recognizing the struggle, distain, and compromise that must be given to make love real. This book is everything love is...The good, the bad and the real.

The American concealed weapon carry movement, consisting largely of political amateurs, has succeeded in changing the direction of gun control policy in the U.S. in the last two decades, overcoming well-entrenched professional elites in the process. The movement succeeded because overlapping horizontal interpretive communities of a new American gun culture developed their own anti-media of communication, bypassing mainstream media systems, creating a new and politically potent informational sociology that works to their benefit.

Taking up the story of bands and their development from the 1930s to the start of the new millennium, Roy Newsome discusses the contest tradition of brass bands, the Youth banding movement, repertoire, instrumentation and the impact of the media on bands and their music.

9th edition, 2019. A comprehensive list of books, articles, theses and other material covering the brass band movement, its history, instruments and musicology; together with other related topics (originally issued in book form in January 2009)

The Musical Salvationist frames the Salvation Army's contribution to British musical life through the life story of composer, arranger and musical editor Richard Slater (1854-1939), popularly known as the 'Father of SalvationArmy Music', drawing on his detailed hand-written diaries. The Musical Salvationist frames the musical history of the Salvation Army through the life story of Richard Slater, popularly known as the 'Father of Salvation Army Music'. This book focuses upon the significant contribution of the Salvation Army to British musical life from the late Victorian era until the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939. It demonstrates links between the Army's music-making and working class popular culture, education and religion. Richard Slater [1854-1939] worked in the Army's Musical Department from 1883 until his retirement in 1913. His detailed hand-written diaries reveal new information about his background before he became a Salvationist at the age of 28. He then worked as the principal Salvationist composer, arranger and musical editor of the period and had contact with William Booth, the Army's Founder, who rejoiced in 'robbing the devil of his choicetunes'; George Bernard Shaw who wrote a penetrating critique of a band festival in 1905; and Eric Ball who was to become one of the Army's finest composers. The book illuminates rarely explored aspects of a vibrant Britishmusical tradition, and its adaptation to international contexts. GORDON COX is a former Senior Lecturer in Music Education, University of Reading. Foreword by Dr Ray Steadman-Allen.