Opening Pandora’s box

American composer, Stephen Bulla, has enjoyed a long career at the highest level, providing music for over 30 years for the President’s Own United States Marine Band and Chamber Orchestra in Washington DC. In June’s BBW, he offers a composer’s perspective on the pallet that percussion has gradually introduced to the brass band

Over many decades, the sound of the brass band has evolved. There have been endless changes to instrument design as technology and new companies have come into play. Who can remember the sleeves that were added to tuning slides, bringing the instruments down to A=440 pitch? The small-bore instruments are gone and modern designs have worked wonders assisting with the challenges of intonation…

Read this article, featured in June 2017’s BBW, by subscribing to BBW Digital. Alternatively, subscribe to the printed magazine delivered by post: £40 (UK); £68 (Europe); £81 (Rest of the World)

Photo: Stephen Bulla with John Williams