Brass Band (British Style) - Instrumentation

Instrumentation

British Brass Bands are limited to specific instruments, which does not include, for instance trumpets or french horns, which are found in orchestras and concert bands.

The standard instrumentation is as follows:

• 1 Soprano Cornet (E♭)
• 9 Cornets (B♭) –
  • Front row: 1 Principal Cornet, 3 Solo Cornets
  • Back row: 1 Repiano Cornet, 2 2nd Cornets, 2 3rd Cornets
• 1 Flugelhorn (B♭)
• 3 Tenor Horns (E♭), sometimes called Alto Horns in the United States and Germany – Solo, 1st, 2nd
• 2 Baritones (B♭) – 1st, 2nd
• 2 Tenor Trombones (B♭) – 1st, 2nd
• 1 Bass Trombone
• 2 Euphoniums (B♭)
• 2 E♭ Basses, also known as E♭ tubas
• 2 B♭ Basses, also known as B♭ tubas
• 2 to 4 Percussion

The above totals 27–29 players, although in practice a band often has fewer than this. Spare seats may be filled for concerts and contests by players brought in from other bands, commonly known as deputising players or deps.

With the exception of percussion, bass trombone and some tenor trombone music, all parts are transposing and written in the treble clef. This means that for every instrument, from the big basses right up to the soprano cornet, the fingering is similar and players can switch more easily between instruments. This system, which is unique to UK-style brass bands, ensures most parts can be covered when there is less than a full complement of players.

Bass Trombone music is written in Bass Clef, and Tenor Trombone music is in Tenor Clef on older scores.