Definition

Noun: A musical ensemble consisting exclusively of players of brass instruments and percussion instruments.

Usage

A brass band performs music written or arranged specifically for its instrumentation. It is distinct from other bands (like concert bands or orchestras) by its lack of woodwind instruments.

Examples

• The town's performs in the park every Sunday afternoon.
• She plays the trumpet in a championship-winning .
• The parade was led by a loud and cheerful .

Advanced Usage

• "British-style brass band": A specific tradition, particularly in the UK, featuring a standard instrumentation of cornets, flugelhorns, tenor horns, baritones, euphoniums, trombones, and basses (tubas), along with percussion.
• "Salvation Army brass band": Bands associated with the Salvation Army, often used for ministry and playing hymns.

Variants and Related Words

• Band (n): A general term for a group of musicians.
• Brass (n): The family of musical instruments made of metal and played by blowing, such as the trumpet, trombone, and tuba.
• Percussion (n): Instruments played by striking, such as drums and cymbals, which accompany the brass in a brass band.

Synonyms

• Brass ensemble: A more formal term, though it may imply a smaller group.
• Brass and percussion band: A descriptive synonym.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• "To blow one's own trumpet/horn": To boast about one's own achievements. (This idiom references brass instruments but is not specific to a brass band.)
• "Band together": To unite for a common purpose. (This uses "band" in a general sense, not specifically a brass band.)

Noun

1. a group of musicians playing only brass and percussion instruments