BRATTON Silver Band is celebrating their 160th anniversary this year with a series of events. This Saturday, 25th May, the band will host a 160th anniversary coffee morning. This will be followed by a picnic in the park concert in July and an exhibition of Bratton Silver Band’s 160 Years.
As part of the celebrations, Bratton Silver Band has commissioned composer, Christopher Bond, to write a piece of music with the theme of the lost village of Imber.
The band was formed originally of part-time musicians who played for the hymn singing in St James Church in Bratton. The village band was started in 1859 as a result of a new organ being installed, which meant that the musicians’ services were no longer required.
Records show that, at first, the band consisted of 10 members, with Mr. Arthur Smith as its first bandmaster. The Smith family were to provide all bandmasters up until 2003.
Ten years ago, the band commissioned a piece of music, from composer Rodney Newton, to mark its 150th Anniversary. He composed “The Bratton Silver March”, which received its first public performance at the concert with The Cory Band on Sunday 1st February 2009.
The band said, “The band is now 160 years old and we look to the future. We are planning a 160th Anniversary Project.
“Every year Bratton Silver Band performs for the festival of carols at St Giles church and to mark our landmark anniversary, we are commissioning composer Christopher Bond, who is composer in residence for the European brass band champions, Cory Band, and who has written the music for Land’s End firework displays, to write a piece of music with the theme of Imber.
“We envisage this to be an outstanding work uniting an acclaimed composer with a theme of great historical interest. Within the tradition of brass band music, historic stories and events are kept alive through performance and it is anticipated that this commission will become a key work in brass band concert programmes, broadcasts and recordings.
“We hope this will be a legacy for brass bands and audiences to enjoy for many years to come.
“We would like to invite members of the local community to our 160th anniversary coffee morning. This is to be held on Saturday 25th May at Bratton Church Institute, BA13 4RR from 10am to 12noon.
“We will also be holding a picnic in the park concert in Bratton on Saturday 6th July at 6.30pm; proceeds are to go to the charities CLIC and Jacob’s Ladder.
“An exhibition of Bratton Silver Band’s 160 Years will be displayed in the pavilion in the park and there will be an opportunity to participate in a community engagement activity ‘Imber:Then and Now’ which is open to everyone and aims to generate ideas for the 160th Anniversary piece of music.
“We would be delighted to see members of the community at these events and to answer any questions people may have about the project. For further information about these events or the project please contact Lucy Scott, Bratton Silver Band president via secretary @brattonsilverband.com or Bratton Silver Band’s Facebook page.”
