Brass Bands In and Out of Context – An exploration and critical reflection of my recent creative practice, focussing on atypical works for the traditional brass band

Pankhurst, Lucy (2019) Brass Bands In and Out of Context – An exploration and critical reflection of my recent creative practice, focussing on atypical works for the traditional brass band. Doctoral thesis (PhD), Manchester Metropolitan University.

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Abstract

This critical commentary presents a brief historical context of the traditional brass band and my personal connection to it as a performer and composer, exploring the implications of this upon my own artistic practice. The complementary writing that follows examines a selection of works from my recent creative output that challenge the traditional brass band paradigm, as demonstrated in the accompanying portfolio of original compositions. Each chapter is dedicated to a subdivision within the portfolio, focussing on specific compositional elements that reflect atypical brass band styles, including the application of electronics, the use of advanced idiomatic techniques and writing for multiple layered ensembles, with differentiation. Concluding with reflections on my compositional practice and work within education, the ensuing discourse investigates the impact legacy of the work itself, with anthropological observations.