Routledge Brass Bands of the World - Routledge Music Studies Book

Explore the global reach of brass ensembles with Brass Bands of the World: Militarism, Colonial Legacies, and Local Music Making. Part of the SOAS Studies in Music series, this volume examines how bands structured around Western wind instruments have become a worldwide phenomenon. While these ensembles originated from European military traditions spread through colonialism and missionary work, they have undergone significant transformations. This book details how local musicians have adapted the brass band prototype to fit their specific cultural settings. You will find information on how these ensembles function in diverse contexts, from religious processions and funerals to military maneuvers and parades. The text also covers their presence in various popular music genres across the globe. Through a combination of ethnographic and archival research, the contributors provide a deep look into the evolution and modern reality of brass band music making in a post-colonial world.