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Title edit
Five Rivers Brass - brass and junior band in newcastle, north tyneside
Description edit
The early history of the band is something which is by no means clear. The date of around 1886 for the formation of the band has been deduced from Durham League material. It was set up around the same time as what is now Backworth club was built. It started life as a military band, but the band became wholly brass in 1920. The problems stem from the records of the early minutes of the band being missing, possibly lost when they moved rehearsal rooms, as they originally rehearsed in a drinking establishment which is now just across the road from their present base. The band was definitely formed out of the workforce from the surrounding pits, and sponsorship was won from the National Union of Mineworkers before the nationalisation of the coal companies in 1947. As for any early records of the band's membership or achievements, these too are non existent, but I am told that the band had a very high standing in the community.
The members of the band were all local people employed in the surrounding pits, and were almost exclusively male. In fact, up to twenty years ago the membership had remained dominated by men, a fact which has been rectified to some extent. There are a number of bands in the area of the North East, a fact which is related to the amount of mining industry there was. Many of the bands were colliery bands and some, like Ashington Colliery Band, retain the name to this day like Backworth have done, although this moniker is no longer strictly adhered to in concerts.
The backbone of our work is done in twice-weekly rehearsals in our own band room situated in Into Change, Station Road. These rehearsals are geared towards widening the band's repertoire, and rehearsing specific pieces which are demanded by certain contests. The band plays in many contests throughout the year. This last year has seen the band competing well in contests at a local level, such as at Spennymoor (Durham League Area Contest), Darlington (National Area Contest) Whitehaven (own choice test piece) and Ashington (NBAA Entertainment Contest). The band this year achieved its best ever result - a first place in the 4th section National Area Contest, 2005 - giving the band the justly deserved title of Northern Champions.
