Lancaster British Brass Band Presents: The Beatles Go Brass

Lancaster British Brass Band presents Beatles Go Brass Sunday, May 1 at 3:00 PM & Friday, May 6 at 7:30 PM at Ware Center, Lancaster .

The Beatles were involved with brass bands since using one in 'Yellow Submarine' (Revolver) and Paul McCartney's 'Thing-u-my-bob' (released on Apple in 1968). Now you will get to hear them completely clothed in brass as the Lancaster British Brass Band brings you the latest terrific arrangements of your favorite Beatles songs. In the words of Sgt. Pepper "A Splendid Time is Guaranteed for All" - so don't miss Sgt. Allen and his Amazing Lancaster British Brass Band during their US Tour in 2016. This concert is made possible in part by a generous donation from Kathy Ashby. Reserved seating: $15 Adult | $12 Senior | $5 Student TICKETS

The Lancaster British Brass Band follows the path first laid down in the smoky mill and mining towns of mid-19th century Britain. Gradually evolving into a fixed instrumentation of 28 players (and one conductor), the brass band flourished under the sponsorship of mill and mine owners bent on "morale and spiritual uplift," thus laying the groundwork for a later time when the Salvation Army began capitalizing on the success of the bands by establishing brass bands as part of their musical outreach. The unique sound quality of the Lancaster British Brass Band is because it is composed entirely of brass winds and percussion instruments. The sound of Lancaster British Brass Band has been compared to "one big, magnificent pipe organ."

To many, the link between the legendary British rock quartet and a brass band may not be obvious. Lancaster British Brass Band music director Stephen Arthur Allen says that the connection is broader and deeper than it first appears. Allen, who teaches a course on the Beatles in Rider University's bachelor's program in popular music, ties the Beatles' brass band connection to the Beatles' bassist Paul McCartney, and cites details of McCartney's biography: "Paul McCartney's grandfather played the E-flat bass-a type of tuba," he says. "Paul's dad played trumpet. Paul's first instrument was the trumpet. He listened to brass bands."

Along with John Lennon, the multi-musically gifted McCartney composed the pieces that made the Beatles a world sensation. In 1963 the music critic of The Times of London called Lennon and McCartney "the outstanding English composers of [the year]." "You can hear the brass band influence in songs that sound like marches and waltzes-especially in marches," Allen says. With its emphasis on movement and beat, "Rock and roll has its roots in marches, especially [John Phillip] Sousa marches."

He points out that on the cover for the "Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club" album, the Beatles appear in brass bands' dress. "They are acknowledging their brass band background," Allen says. "The brass band is part of the Beatles sound."

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