Brass Roots 2: Early 20th Century

Join the Mill Creek Colliery Band for the next chapter of Brass Roots, our concert series exploring the history and evolution of the brass band. On Saturday, May 9, we continue the journey with music from the early twentieth century, a period when brass band music began to emerge as an art form in its own right.

This program highlights two landmark works written specifically for brass band competition: Labour and Love by Percy Fletcher and Moorside Suite by Gustav Holst. These pioneering compositions helped establish a new repertoire that moved beyond arrangements and into original works crafted for the unique sound and power of the brass band.

Alongside these classics, the program explores music from the Salvation Army band tradition of the same era, reflecting the social and temperance movements closely tied to early brass band culture. The concert will also feature beloved British repertoire such as Sea Songs by Ralph Vaughan Williams and the iconic hymn Jerusalem.

Experience the bold, stirring sounds of a musical tradition coming into its own. With both afternoon and evening performances, this concert continues the story of brass band music and the communities that shaped it.