to have found myself developing a distinct fondness for brass bands?

[hatwoman]

at the weekend I had the great privelege to sit on my doorstep in the evening sunshine (two days on the trot in fact) with a cup of tea, surveying a lovely view of an old village street (which is actually quite like a sqaure) with a hill rising up in the background, while a brass band played just 20 metres infront of me.

pieces like Danny Boy, Shostakovich' Second Waltz and the lovely, if rather suprisingly provenanced (not sure if that's a verb but never mind), theme to Jurassic Park. It was positively magical.

Today I have been listening to the same stuff on YouTube (the clip of Danny Boy from Brassed Off is plain dangerous if you're a softy like me) and I have admitted to myself that I love this stuff.

Is this middle age?

YANBU. Beautiful.

I also live not far from Wakefield, Barnsley, Holmfirth and Pensitone, Buggerlugs but officially in Huddersfield. Just.

I suspect I am probably not. Do you ever go to meet ups? I havn't yet. Cube eh? get you. Not cycling much at min, as 6 months pg AND full of stinky cold.

Is Stocksbridge quite near there? My dad is from there and he had family in Barnsley.

I think I also know Penistone. Or am I miles away? It's been years since I've been there so may be way off base.

OP YANBU - I love brass bands too.

I love brass music. My Sis plays cornet and was principal cornet of her school band when they won the world school championship 2 years running ( boasting sorry but I'm so proud).

There are so many pieces I love but one I hold a fondness for is Doyen (sp?) by Goff Richards. Holds memories for me.

DD2 is learning the trumpet and is thus part of the school brass band (my hat goes off to that lovely brass teacher, a bunch of the little buggers brass players at 8.30 on a Friday morning. I fancy her as Tara Fitzwotsit

think it must be middle age really, sorry

handsomeharry Yep, stocksbrideg not far away either, close to Penistone.

A brass band playing When The Saints Go Marching in is enough to turn me into a blubbing wreck.....

We used to go to Stocksbridge in the holidays when I was much younger so memories are a bit vague. I do know that there is some amazingly beautiful countryside around there as my uncle used to take me on walks. I am sure he lived on the edge of Stocksbridge and we would walk to a little place called Bolsterstone (?) no idea on spelling.

Nancy66 - you need to listen to Penguin Cafe Orchestra. not a brass band but they do a fab track with the Saints threaded through it

hatwoman I had on vinyl when I was at sixth form college, a fantastic piece of music!

I have to admit (and destroy my cred) that the sound does something strange to me.
I'm from Saddleworth, and it really does take me back. It's like an old childhood patchwork quilt that you wrap yourself up in occasionally.

I'll find clips of the Dobcross Silver Band to annoy southern DP, with the pretense of doing his head in. Inside I'm crying.......I'd never let anyone know I feel this.

Ahem....yeah...anyway, you're weird and unreasonable....ahem.....

I am also from that neck o t'woods... Denby Dale to be precise. No wonder so many of us salivating over brass band music are from here, it's in our blood.

33 you're in the next village to me!

YANDBU. I was born dahn sahf and I love brass bands.

YANBU :)

Oooh, might be interested in that if I ever manage to get back on my bike bugger (was it you I sent a Clearblue digi test to earlier this year, I bought a twin pack and only needed one. the pair coincidentatlly went to someone in Hudds).

Bike, unfortunately I don't live there any more. Grew up there but now live down south. Radio 2 sometimes has great brass band music - once made DH listen to an entire brass contest whilst driving to South Wales (I was driving so my choice of music!).

Brass bands are the best.but maybe I am biased as I play in and conduct one!!!!

I live in the heart of Whit Friday Brass Band Contest country. I am welling up just thinking about it. I used to love riding my horse round the hills at tea time on Whit Friday and hearing all the different contests going on in the different villages. We have Morris Men too, lots and lots of them.