|
Instruments and Their Brass Band Roles |
| Solo
Cornets (4): Carries
the upper register lead melodic voice and solo lines. The first chair solo cornet
is often featured on both lyrical and technical solo phrases. |
| Eb
Soprano Cornet (1):
High register parts often playing orchestral flute and piccolo parts, the crown
jewel of the band adding sparkle to the overall sound. |
| Repiano
Cornet (1): Covers
parts not assigned to other high voices, acting as a "rover" playing
important melodic lines and phrases. |
| Second
Cornets (2): Given
important harmony parts complementing the solo cornettists. |
| Third
Cornets (2): Plays
the third note of harmony triads and fills the gap between cornets and the middle
voices of the band. |
| Flugelhorn
(1): Adds a mellow
quality to upper melody lines and serves as the upper voice for the middle register
instruments. Often aligns with parts assigned to the tenor horns. |
 | Eb
Tenor Horns (3): Represents
the middle register and tonality of the band, similar to violas in orchestras.
The first chair tenor horn (solo tenor horn) is often given important solos. |
| Baritones
(2): With a smaller
bore than the euphoniums, the baritones play a distinctive part between the tenors
and the low brasses. |
| Tenor
Trombones (2): The
tenor trombones or slide trombones are used to provide "punch" to the
band's low brass sound and for their special slide effects. Their sound, which
is more brassy and bright than their baritone and euphonium cousins, is produced
by the spherical bore of the instrument. |
| Bass
Trombones (1): The
bass trombone's additional tubing allows it to reach notes that tubas can play,
but with a brighter quality. It often doubles the tuba parts. |
| Euphoniums
(2): The euphoniums
are the low register solo instrument of the brass band, often playing an octive
below the cornet line and used on technically challenging passages. The euphonium
soloist often is featured in solos or duets with other instruments. |
| Eb
Tubas (2): Along
with the BBb Tuba, represents the band's foundation. Usually given same part as
the BBb Tuba, but also is frequently assigned the upper note of the bass chord
structure. Often has difficult technical passages akin to euphonium parts. |
| BBb
Tubas (2): The band's
foundation, keeping the beat moving forward and providing the overall cornerstone
for the tone and color of the band. |
Percussion
instruments | Percussion:
Usually only three
players, but often includes the full family of percussion instruments including
bass drum, snare, cymbals, triangle, tympani, wood blocks, xylophones, bells,
chimes, and other instruments providing special effects. |
