The stylistic evolution of the English brass ensemble

Abstract

The threefold problem was to determine (1) the characteristics of style of English brass ensemble music, (2) the significant stages of the developmental of the brass instruments, and (3) the contribution made by the medium to English musical culture. The methods of historical inquiry were employed for the first part of the study which traces the development of the English brass instruments and ensemble practices. The methodology used for the second half of the dissertation which is devoted to the stylistic analysis of selected English brass compositions, was as follows: The brass music selected was examined on the basis of three aspects of musical style: overall form, internal structure and sonority [TRUNCATED]