Search - The Band of The Corps of Royal Engineers;The Minden Band of the Queen's Division;The Band of the Royal Air Force College;and many more :: Bandstand: a Musical Walk in the Park

Strolling along on a Sunday afternoon, we can hear the band in the bandstand, playing favourite melodies and musical highlights from the world of stage and screen. Superb musicians create a sparkling evocation of the world of the brass band.One of the joys of summer is listening to a band in the park. Seated on the bandstand, bedecked in their smart uniforms and led by a commanding, straight-backed conductor, they regale us with familiar musical fare that invariably ranges from gentle nostalgic favourites to rousing marches. From civic duties that included playing at town fairs and garden parties, as well as the more formal opening ceremonies and commemorative events, bands would also play at local parks where the public could listen to them at their leisure. They would receive payment either through the park owner (which would usually mean the civic authorities) employing them over a season for a number of public performances for a set fee, or from collections at the venue itself from the members of the public listening. These two traditions still apply today, despite the inclement weather of a typical British summer.We hope that our programme will recreate the atmosphere and enjoyment of those concerts in the park that have delighted us over the years.