Bands structured around western wind instruments are among the most widespread instrumental ensembles in the world. Although these ensembles draw upon European military traditions that spread globally through colonialism, militarism and missionary work, local musicians have adapted the brass band prototype to their home settings, and today these ensembles are found in religious processions and funerals, military manoeuvres and parades, and popular music genres throughout the world. Based on thei...

Contents: Foreword, Charles Keil; Introduction: the world of brass bands, Katherine Brucher and Suzel Ana Reily; Brass and military bands in Britain - performance domains, the factors that construct them and their influence, Trevor Herbert; Western challenge, Japanese musical response: military bands in modern Japan, Sarah McClimon; Battlefields and the field of music: South Korean military band musicians and the Korean War, Heejin Kim; From processions to encontros: the performance niches of th...