Brass Bandsman

03/05/2026

One of the biggest soloistic influences over me in the past decade has been to acknowledge the extended value Gordon Ward places on the 8th note (particularly the 2nd) as seen here at 3:03. For those referencing the lyric, it generates additional encouragement of contemplation and reflection.

1K likes, 38 comments. "Shine as the Light ISB NYSB"

26/04/2026

Replace rock with BrassBand and you’ve got what I witness at the EBBC today.

PROG BRASSBAND

Progressive rock (“prog rock”) is a style of rock music that pushes beyond standard pop/rock conventions by expanding complexity in rhythm, harmony, form, and dynamics, often borrowing from classical, jazz, and experimental traditions.

From a technical standpoint:

Rhythm
Prog rock frequently departs from simple, regular meters like 4/4 and instead uses:

* Odd or mixed time signatures (e.g., 5/4, 7/8, alternating 6/8 + 3/4)
* Polymeter and polyrhythm, where different instruments imply different metric groupings simultaneously
* Metric modulation, where the perceived pulse shifts without a full tempo change
This creates a sense of instability or forward momentum that contrasts with groove-centered rock.

Harmony
Harmonically, prog rock tends to be more exploratory than standard rock:

* Use of extended and altered chords (9ths, 11ths, suspended harmonies)
* Modal interchange and non-diatonic chord movement rather than strict I–IV–V progressions
* Occasional tonal ambiguity or shifting tonal centers, sometimes approaching atonality or jazz-influenced harmonic language
* Influence from classical functional harmony (e.g., voice leading, chromatic mediants)

Dynamics
Dynamics in prog rock are highly structured and often tied to form:

* Wide dynamic range, moving from very soft, sparse textures to dense, loud climaxes
* Terraced dynamics (sudden shifts) alongside gradual crescendos/decrescendos
* Dynamic contrast is used to articulate large-scale form, not just local expression

Form and Structure (tying it together)
All of these elements support:

* Through-composed or multi-sectional forms rather than verse–chorus repetition
* Long compositions with episodic development, thematic transformation, and instrumental passages
* Integration of contrasting sections with different rhythmic, harmonic, and dynamic identities

In short, prog rock can be defined as rock music that treats rhythm, harmony, and dynamics as compositional variables, not just stylistic defaults—resulting in structurally ambitious, technically intricate works.

All posted at

24/04/2026

Brass Off! Vocal counterpoint with all emphasis on why the music is necessary and what it can mean to both participant and receiver when presented with excellence. Dont miss this. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Choral #:~:text=The%20Choral%20is%20a%202025,Emms%2C%20and%20Simon%20Russell%20Beale.

The Choral is a 2025 British historical drama film co-produced and directed by Nicholas Hytner and written by Alan Bennett. Set in 1916, during World War I, in the fictional town of Ramsden, Yorkshire, the film follows the members of the local choral society which recruits a disparate group of towns...