• Contents: Foreword, Peter Wilson; Preface. Part 1 Bands and Banding to 1945: Introductory overview; Bands and personalities; Engagements, broadcasts and recordings. Part 2 Times of Change, 1945-1980: Introductory overview; Contest developments; Composers and repertoire; Personalities and bands; Engagements, broadcasts, television and recordings. Part 3 The Years of Maturity, 1981-2000: Introductory overview; Contest developments and repertoire; Bands and their activities, and band personalities. Part 4 Overseas Developments: Brass bands outside mainland Britain. Finale: A personal view; Glossary of brass bands; Personalia; Appendices; Select bibliography; Indexes.

'It is a long overdue work, extensively researched, very well produced and written in an open and enjoyable narrative style that retains warmth and affection for the subject matter yet maintains a detachment of purpose that allows for well balanced critical analysis... Dr Roy Newsome should wholeheartedly be congratulated, for he has produced quite a wonderful, insightful book that should form the backbone of any brass music students reading list and deserves to be seen on the bookshelf of anyone who has more than a passing regard to the brass band movement, its history and its future.' 4barsrest.com ’.The book is engagingly written and generously illustrated throughout...Highly recommended.’ Choice

• Contents: Foreword, Peter Wilson; Preface. Part 1 Bands and Banding to 1945: Introductory overview; Bands and personalities; Engagements, broadcasts and recordings. Part 2 Times of Change, 1945-1980: Introductory overview; Contest developments; Composers and repertoire; Personalities and bands; Engagements, broadcasts, television and recordings. Part 3 The Years of Maturity, 1981-2000: Introductory overview; Contest developments and repertoire; Bands and their activities, and band personalities. Part 4 Overseas Developments: Brass bands outside mainland Britain. Finale: A personal view; Glossary of brass bands; Personalia; Appendices; Select bibliography; Indexes.

'It is a long overdue work, extensively researched, very well produced and written in an open and enjoyable narrative style that retains warmth and affection for the subject matter yet maintains a detachment of purpose that allows for well balanced critical analysis... Dr Roy Newsome should wholeheartedly be congratulated, for he has produced quite a wonderful, insightful book that should form the backbone of any brass music students reading list and deserves to be seen on the bookshelf of anyone who has more than a passing regard to the brass band movement, its history and its future.' 4barsrest.com ’.The book is engagingly written and generously illustrated throughout...Highly recommended.’ Choice

• Contents: Foreword, Peter Wilson; Preface. Part 1 Bands and Banding to 1945: Introductory overview; Bands and personalities; Engagements, broadcasts and recordings. Part 2 Times of Change, 1945-1980: Introductory overview; Contest developments; Composers and repertoire; Personalities and bands; Engagements, broadcasts, television and recordings. Part 3 The Years of Maturity, 1981-2000: Introductory overview; Contest developments and repertoire; Bands and their activities, and band personalities. Part 4 Overseas Developments: Brass bands outside mainland Britain. Finale: A personal view; Glossary of brass bands; Personalia; Appendices; Select bibliography; Indexes.

'It is a long overdue work, extensively researched, very well produced and written in an open and enjoyable narrative style that retains warmth and affection for the subject matter yet maintains a detachment of purpose that allows for well balanced critical analysis... Dr Roy Newsome should wholeheartedly be congratulated, for he has produced quite a wonderful, insightful book that should form the backbone of any brass music students reading list and deserves to be seen on the bookshelf of anyone who has more than a passing regard to the brass band movement, its history and its future.' 4barsrest.com ’.The book is engagingly written and generously illustrated throughout...Highly recommended.’ Choice