Music band

A music band is a musical group made up of wind or string instruments and percussion. An important factor is that the band is made up of instruments that can be played while the musician marches in parades, battles or religious parades.

Sometimes the term «band» (from the English band) is used to designate musical groups such as rock bands, pop bands and other types of groups that, being also a type of musical group, have nothing to do with the concept of «musical band». The word "band" by its meaning referring to the military sash or insignia could have ended up being definitely related to this type of musical formation because in its origins the bands were closely linked to the military world.

Music bands have a long history, as old as that of music itself since already in Sumerian, Egyptian, Hebrew, Chinese and other ancient civilizations texts we find references to groups of wind and percussion instruments that served to accompany combat or during religious worship.

However, the concept of a band today is more closely linked, due to its more evolved instruments and its structure, to the bands that existed in the 17th century. These bands fulfilled an organizational function in combat, as well as inspiring the troops with hymns or national songs or even encouraging official acts.

The development and improvement of the bands is a story parallel to the development of the instruments that make it up from the evolution of the old sackbut to the modern trombone, or the appearance of new instruments such as the clarinet or the saxophone.

The use of bands became more common when the Romans went to battle, they used instruments such as the bugle, to boost the morale of their troops when going into battle.

Typology of current music bands

There are many types of marching bands, including:

• Symphony bands,
• military gangs,
• bands jazz or Big bands,
• drums and horns or fanfaries,
• procesional bands,
• Marching Bands or show bands.

Symphonic Bands

Its main function is to hold concerts, either indoors or outdoors. In them, in addition to wind, wood, metal and percussion instruments, bowed string instruments such as cellos and double basses are usually added. They may also have a harp and piano, but on rare occasions. They are highly versatile bands that perform all types of music, although they usually perform works written and arranged or orchestrated specifically for bugle and drum bands. These bands usually have a large number of members since they require a large number of instruments. Depending on their dedication, they can be professional or amateur bands. Depending on their funding, they can be public (for example, municipal bands, such as the Valga Municipal Music Band) or private (supported by private associations or companies).

Military Bands

Its main function is to accompany military events: parades, official acts, etc. In these bands there are no string instruments. They are the bands with the most history, sometimes they include bagpipes and other instruments. They are usually professional bands with a high number of members.

Jazz bands or Big Bands

They are bands dedicated to the interpretation of jazz music, their function is purely musical or entertainment. They can be professional or amateur. As a characteristic element of the style of this type of group, the musicians improvise solo within a rhythmic-harmonic base.

Bands of bugles and drums

As their name indicates, they are bands made up of bugles and drums, of military origin and dedicated to accompanying parades. They also accompany religious processions.

Musical Groups

They are the middle ground between the bugle and drum band and the professional band. It has a mix between the military sound of a band of bugles and drums and the musicality of the processional band. It consists of brass and percussion instruments. They accompany religious processions.

Processional bands

Conventional bands made up of woodwinds, brass winds, and percussion. They lack strings and their main function is to accompany religious processions. They are usually private.

Marching Bands or show bands

Conventional bands dedicated to entertaining social events (usually sports). These bands are very abundant in the United States of America. They are usually amateur and private bands (supported by universities, schools, etc.). The most representative are the USC Trojan Marching Band and the Michigan Marching Band of the University of Michigan. Annually American and foreign bands attend the Tournament of Roses Parade where they perform musically at the Rose Bowl Stadium.

Classification

We can make a classification within the bands according to some specific criteria:

• Its musical and social function:
  • Military bands: mainly dedicated to the musical accompaniment of military events.
  • Civil bands: their basic function is to perform concerts and entertainment.
  • Proceeding bands: mainly dedicated to the musical accompaniment of the processions.
  • Taurine bands: their function is to play in bullfighting.
• According to the type of music they perform:
  • Bands jazz or Big Bands.
  • Procedural/religious bands.
  • Marching Bands.
  • Military.
  • Folk.
  • Polyvalents: bands that do not stick to a specific type of music (e.g., symphonic band).
• According to its objective:
  • Professionals.
  • Amateur uses it when referring to an amateur group of the activity or doing it as a hobby and not as a professional career.
• According to the musical purpose:
  • Accompaniment bands: those that are formed to accompany a concrete event and amenize it. Military, procedural bands, marching bands, etc.
  • Musical bands: their purpose is only musical interpretation. Symphony band, Big band, etc.