Wingates Band
Encyclopedia
Wingates Band is a brass band
based in Wingates
, a settlement near the town of Westhoughton
in north-west England
. It is considered one of the country's finest contesting bands and competes in the championship section
(top level) of the British brass band league structure. Its musical director is Andrew Berryman, a trombonist with the Hallé orchestra in nearby Manchester
.
Wingates Band was formed in 1873 by members of the local Independent Methodist church's Bible
class. Reflecting this origin, the band was originally known as the Wingates Temperance Band. Abstinence from alcohol
was a main tenet of church teaching.
Early in the 20th century Wingates rose to become a member of the elite of brass bands. In 1906 it achieved the "double" by winning the British Open brass band championships and the British National championships (the latter staged at the Crystal Palace
in London
) in the same year. The following year, in 1907, the band repeated its success and retained both titles, completing the first "double double" in the British banding world. The feat was not matched for over 70 years. In total Wingates has won the 'Open' seven times and the 'National' on four occasions. The band won the French Open brass band championship in 2004 and 2006.
Wingates is an active performing band and also has a long recording history. One of its recent recordings is Nyman Brass
, containing arrangements of compositions by the British minimalist
composer
Michael Nyman
. The band's latest recording 'Extremes' was launched in 2009.
In May 2008 band member Peter Moore
, a trombonist, won the BBC Young Musician of the Year
competition.
Brass band
A brass band is a musical ensemble generally consisting entirely of brass instruments, most often with a percussion section. Ensembles that include brass and woodwind instruments can in certain traditions also be termed brass bands , but are usually more correctly termed military bands, concert...
based in Wingates
Wingates
Wingates is a small settlement located in the town of Westhoughton, in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester, England.Historically part of Lancashire, it lies mainly along the A6 road between Blackrod and Walkden. It is the home of Wingates Band, one of best-known brass bands in...
, a settlement near the town of Westhoughton
Westhoughton
Westhoughton is a town and civil parish of the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton in Greater Manchester, England. It is southwest of Bolton, east of Wigan and northwest of Manchester....
in north-west England
North West England
North West England, informally known as The North West, is one of the nine official regions of England.North West England had a 2006 estimated population of 6,853,201 the third most populated region after London and the South East...
. It is considered one of the country's finest contesting bands and competes in the championship section
Brass Band Sections in Britain
There are five main brass band sections in the United Kingdom: Championship, First, Second, Third, and Fourth. The top bands are in the Championship section, and the bottom ones are in the Fourth section...
(top level) of the British brass band league structure. Its musical director is Andrew Berryman, a trombonist with the Hallé orchestra in nearby Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
.
Wingates Band was formed in 1873 by members of the local Independent Methodist church's Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
class. Reflecting this origin, the band was originally known as the Wingates Temperance Band. Abstinence from alcohol
Temperance movement
A temperance movement is a social movement urging reduced use of alcoholic beverages. Temperance movements may criticize excessive alcohol use, promote complete abstinence , or pressure the government to enact anti-alcohol legislation or complete prohibition of alcohol.-Temperance movement by...
was a main tenet of church teaching.
Early in the 20th century Wingates rose to become a member of the elite of brass bands. In 1906 it achieved the "double" by winning the British Open brass band championships and the British National championships (the latter staged at the Crystal Palace
The Crystal Palace
The Crystal Palace was a cast-iron and glass building originally erected in Hyde Park, London, England, to house the Great Exhibition of 1851. More than 14,000 exhibitors from around the world gathered in the Palace's of exhibition space to display examples of the latest technology developed in...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
) in the same year. The following year, in 1907, the band repeated its success and retained both titles, completing the first "double double" in the British banding world. The feat was not matched for over 70 years. In total Wingates has won the 'Open' seven times and the 'National' on four occasions. The band won the French Open brass band championship in 2004 and 2006.
Wingates is an active performing band and also has a long recording history. One of its recent recordings is Nyman Brass
Nyman Brass
Nyman Brass is a 2006 album composed and produced by Michael Nyman and performed by Wingates Band. It consists of suites from the films, The Ogre and The Libertine, and two additional shorter works: "In Re Don Giovanni", and "Chasing Sheep Is Best Left to Shepherds" from The Draughtsman's...
, containing arrangements of compositions by the British minimalist
Minimalist music
Minimal music is a style of music associated with the work of American composers La Monte Young, Terry Riley, Steve Reich, and Philip Glass. It originated in the New York Downtown scene of the 1960s and was initially viewed as a form of experimental music called the New York Hypnotic School....
composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
Michael Nyman
Michael Nyman
Michael Laurence Nyman, CBE is an English composer of minimalist music, pianist, librettist and musicologist, known for the many film scores he wrote during his lengthy collaboration with the filmmaker Peter Greenaway, and his multi-platinum soundtrack album to Jane Campion's The Piano...
. The band's latest recording 'Extremes' was launched in 2009.
In May 2008 band member Peter Moore
Peter Moore
Peter Moore may refer to:*Peter Moore , professor at Yale University*Peter Moore , former SOA President, former Microsoft executive, head of EA Sports*Peter Moore , British serial killer...
, a trombonist, won the BBC Young Musician of the Year
BBC Young Musician of the Year
The BBC Young Musician of the Year is a televised national music competition. It is broadcast on BBC Two and BBC Four biennially, despite the name, and hosted by the British Broadcasting Corporation...
competition.