Brass Evolution Helen Douthwaite-Teasdale

In this episode I chat to banding icon Ray Farr about his research into the Distin Family and their extraodinary impact on the beginnings of the brass band movement. We discuss the groups origins, tenor horn vs. alto saxhorn, missing testpieces and the wonderful array of instruments being performed at the time.

In this episode I chat to researcher and relative of Cora Youngblood Corson, James P Gregory Jnr about her trailblazing and complex life and his ongoing discoveries into her significance in opening doors for women brass musicians. We discuss her enterprising beginnings in Anardarko, her rise to fame, jewel encrusted Euphoniums and much more.

In this episode I chat to David Hirst about the origins of the probably the most famous brass band in the world - Black Dyke. We discuss the early contests, instrumentation, local rivalries and some of the legends of the Queensbury band in the Victorian era.

In this episode I chat to Band Blasts from the Past blogger and postcard collector Jeremy de Korte about his own collection, Australian banding and how these cards and their messages can help us uncover the banding past.Trove - National Library of Australia and partnersThis episode mentions Aboriginal Mission Bands. This podcast acknowledges First Australian peoples as the Traditional Custodians of Australia and their continued connection to land, sea, and culture. Brass Evolution pays respects to the resilience and strength of Ancestors and Elders past, present, and emerging and extends that respect to all First Australian peoples.Support the show

This episode I chat to founding Director of the Shildon Heritage Alliance CIC and author David Reynolds about the lives and entrepreneurial spirit of two men from a pioneering railway town who went on to create some of the brass band movements most powerful and enduring contest marches - George Allen and Thomas Bulch.The Wizard & The Typhoon websiteSupport the show

This episode I chat to Director of Percussion at the RNCM Simone Rebello about the history of percussion in UK brass bands. We talk about the  journey from solitary timekeeper to incredible virtuoso soloists and vast sections, performing on a wonderful variety of instruments, and the compositions that propelled percussion forward.Simone Rebello websiteIf you like the podcast you can support it by leaving a tip or buying a perk - including asking my next guest a question or getting a shoutout via PodInBoxPodcast music is Mephistopheles performed by the Illinois Brass Band Salute to Youth - Gilbert Vinter performed by the CWS Manchester Band Support the show