About Us

Brass banding is a truly British phenomenon and remains a home for amateur music makers the length and breadth of the country. The brass band movement has it roots in the industrial revolution at the turn of the nineteenth century and is unique in it's amateur status. The first bands that came into existence were principally brass and wind bands, but with the invention of the valve in 1815, the cornet would become a leading melody instrument in the ensemble. Second in importance was the invention of the saxhorn family by instrument maker, Adolphe Sax, in the 1840's. The saxhorn family gave the brass a complete set of instruments from the highest treble to the deepest bass. The Atlantic Brass Band, an authentic British-style brass band lineup and a member of the North American Brass Band Association, is based out of Rowan University in Glassboro, New Jersey and was formed in 1984 by Yorkshire-born Herb Roselle.

 

THE BRASS BAND SOUND

Most brass instruments are conical, as opposed to cylindrical, giving a brass band a "warm" or "sweet" brass sound, as opposed to a "bright" or "brilliant" sound like the standard concert band. The traditional British brass band consists of many diverse brass and percussion instruments. The Soprano Cornet is the piccolo voice and covers high string and flute parts. The Cornets are the lead voices in the ensemble and often simulate the "string section" in transcriptions. The Flugel Horn is a bridge to the horns, and along with the Tenor Horns and Baritones represent the mid range sound like Violas and French Horns. Cellos in the orchestra are the Euphoniums in a brass band - the predominant solo tenor voices. Trombones provide "punch" and drive; the Bass Trombone provides low support and adds additional weight to the basses. There are 2 tuba voices: the Eb Tubas have a light quality and possess the lyricism of the euphoniums while sounding fatter. And, the BBb Tubas have an even more added weight and incredible richness of tone. The percussion consists of bass drum, snare drum, tom toms, high hat, crash & ride cymbals, timpani, glockenspiel, xylophone, and tubular bells.