"This volume includes the story of the transformation of the twelve-member Hautboisten bands into the remarkable Harmoniemusik repertoire of the Classical period. This is the climax of the history of the small band with the greatest composers, including Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven and Schubert, composing for an ensemble associated with the highest society. At the same time occurs the beginning of the preference for the modern large ensemble, created for an integral role in the political celebrations of the historic French Revolution."--Page 4 of cover.

Of the many brass bands that have flourished in Britain and Ireland over the last 200 years very few have documented records covering their history. This directory is an attempt to collect together information about such bands and make it available to all. Over 19,600 bands are recorded here, with some 10,600 additional cross references for alternative or previous names. This volume supersedes the earlier “British Brass Bands – a Historical Directory” (2016) and includes some 1,400 bands from the island of Ireland. A separate work is in preparation covering brass bands beyond the British Isles. A separate appendix lists the brass bands in each county