Brassed Off

Just watched this excelent film on TV, If you havn't seen it make sure you do, I think this film more than any other I've seen conjurs up the working backdrop to the brass band movement. These days bands are made up of people from all walks of life, gone now are the days of the pit band, or the works band where the employer, encouraged, and sponsored a Brass Band as a benifit for the workers. Maybe this is because the coal mines and factories are also gone. There are a few odd moments, like the band being in uniform for rehearsals, and instruments being cariied through teh streets without there cases, and the tenor trombone, instead of a bass, but I still think that somehow this film captures something special about teh brass band, as well as that rather sad moment in our history. Mind you if I threw myself around like the "conducter" of the band at the RAH my band would think I had either gone crazy, or was having a fit.