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Marching Bands
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Marching Bands, using mostly percussion and wind instruments, originally served the military by providing communication and music in the field as troops marched from one locale to another. Broader instrumentation was eventually added for parades, ceremonies, and review, especially after brass instrument valves were patented in 1818, which allowed a bigger "outdoor" sound to be projected before crowds.
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For parades, bands usually line up in a marching block composed of ranks (rows) and files (columns). Typically, each member tries to stay within his or her given rank and file, and to maintain even spacing with neighboring musicians. It is usually the responsibility of the people at the end of each rank and the front of each file to be in the correct location; this allows other band members to guide to them.
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The two most important attributes of a successful marching band are spirit and system. A system is a way of doing things. It represents the total structure of the band, such as organization, procedures, activities, philosophies, teaching methods, marching and playing style, and policies. Spirit represents how individual band members respond to the system. It includes practice habits, good attitudes, mental discipline, commitment, responsibility, dependability, and hard work. Success is the result of both good spirit and a good system, and it generates its own "by-products" such as pride, enthusiasm, loyalty, discipline, and dedication.
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When certain band members need to change the direction in which they are marching (sometimes called the "line of march") while facing the new direction, a "flank" is used. Flanks have their history in military maneuvers and are executed so that the entire body will face the new direction. This provides a definite sense of change rather than the more fluid slides.
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The Danish marching bands are characterised by their colourful uniforms. The band members are mainly children and young people between 8 and 30, but some bands ... have other age groups represented. The orchestration of the marching bands varies, but they often consist of a brass band or harmony bands and a percussion band, sometimes combined with brasswinds. Their repertoires are wide, spreading from classical to jazz, military to entertainment. Moreover, many bands perform visual routines such as tattoos.
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Formations are a key component of any marching band show. Seen from above, they give the audience a sense of unity and order that creates a pleasing visual effect. Formations can make up letters, symbols or complex geometrical shapes. more »
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Marching Bands