Jeff Miller, bass trombone player with The Prince Regent's Band, introduces the bass trombone used in PRB's recent recording Russian Revolutionaries - music by Victor Ewald and Oskar Böhme.
Anneke Scott, horn player with The Prince Regent's Band, introduces the Finke Rotary horn used in PRBs recent recording Russian Revolutionaries - music by Victor Ewald and Oskar Böhme.
Anneke Scott, althorn player with The Prince Regent's Band, introduces the althorn used in PRBs recent recording Russian Revolutionaries - music by Victor Ewald and Oskar Böhme.
Phil Dale, tenorhorn and baritone player with The Prince Regent's Band, introduces the tenorhorn and baritone he used in PRBs recent recording Russian Revolutionaries - music by Victor Ewald and Oskar Böhme.
Phil Dale from the Prince Regent's Band introduces the Zankl valve trombone he used for the recent PRB recording "Russian Revolutionaries: Victor Ewald and Oskar Böhme".
Phil Dale, trombonist with The Prince Regent's Band, introduces the Alexander tenor trombone used in PRBs recent recording Russian Revolutionaries - music by Victor Ewald and Oskar Böhme.
Richard Thomas, cornet player with The Prince Regent's Band, introduces the French cornets used in PRBs recent recording Russian Revolutionaries - music by Victor Ewald and Oskar Böhme.
Richard Thomas, trumpet player with The Prince Regent's Band, introduces the German rotary trumpet used in PRBs recent recording Russian Revolutionaries - music by Victor Ewald and Oskar Böhme.
Jeff Miller of the The Prince Regent's Band introduces his contrabass saxhorn in E flat. Made by E. Daniel in Marseille, c.1850 this instrument can be heard on PRB's new disc "The Celebrated Distin Family".
Richard Thomas from the Prince Regent's Band talks about the Couesnon cornet which he used for PRB's Resonus Classics disc "The Celebrated Distin Family"
Anneke Scott from the Prince Regent's Band talks about the Henry Distin Ventil Horn that she used for PRB's Resonus Classics disc "The Celebrated Distin Family"
Richard Thomas from the Prince Regent's Band talks about the Distin cornets which he used for PRB's Resonus Classics disc "The Celebrated Distin Family"
Richard Thomas from the Prince Regent's Band talks about the compensating tenor saxhorn in E flat by Boosey and Hawkes, which he used for PRB's Resonus Classics disc "The Celebrated Distin Family"
Anneke Scott from the Prince Regent's Band talks about the Courtois Tenor (or Alto) Saxhorn that she used for PRB's Resonus Classics disc "The Celebrated Distin Family"
Richard Thomas from the Prince Regent's Band talks about the original 19th century alto saxhorns, one by Gras and another by Adolphe Sax, which he used for PRB's Resonus Classics disc "The Celebrated Distin Family"
Phil Dale of the The Prince Regent's Band introduces his baritone saxhorns. Made by Couesnon (Paris, c. 1900) and Couturier (Lyon, c.1865) these instruments can be heard on PRB's new disc "The Celebrated Distin Family".
The Bate Collection, Oxford, is especially noted for its fine collection of woodwind and brass instruments. The Prince Regent's Band has a long standing relationship with the Bate Collection and very much values the unique research opportunites that the collection is able to provide the ensemble.
Richard Thomas, from the Prince Regent's Band, talks about influential English slide trumpet players John Distin, Thomas Harper senior, Thomas Harper junior and John Solomon.
An introduction to the influential Distin Family - the musicians at the centre of the new disc by The Prince Regent's Band entitled "The Celebrated Distin Family". Out 2nd of December, 2016 on Resonus Classics.
In 1844 the Distin Family travelled to Paris where they had an engagement to perform for a month. Whilst there they heard a performance and a particular new design of instruments. This new instrument, the saxhorn, was to change the course of their career.
The Distin Family were one the most active ensembles of the 19th century - performing throughout Europe and North America. Discover more about their repertoire in this short video.
In 1844 Hector Berlioz arranged his Chante Sacré for a sextet of instruments, all designed or improved by Adolphe Sax. For their disc, "The Celebrated Distin Family", The Prince Regent's Band arranged this work for a quintet of historic saxhorns.
A lot of the Distin programmes would include patriot music popular at the time. None more so than Rule Britannia from Arne's opera Alfred. Hear heard in a version based on Henry Leslie's 1880 arrangement, this time for five upward facing belled saxhorns.
One of the earliest pieces in the Distin Family repertoire was a setting of James Kent's Anthem "Blessed Be Thou, O God". A popular piece in 19th century England, The Prince Regent's Band have set it for an ensemble of five saxhorns from the period.
Adolphe Sax's arrangment of the theme of Benoit Constant Fauconier's Sextet for two violins, cello, flute and contrabass comes from Sax's 1847 Méthod Complète pour Saxhorn. In his method Sax includes a number of ensemble pieces for saxhorns, which The Prince Regent's Band present here as part of their "Celebrated Distin Family" project.
Taken from Adolphe Sax's 1847 Méthode Complète pour Saxhorn, this trio is a setting by Sax of the duet "Ah! O sole, più ratto" from "Lucia di Lammermoor" by Gaetano Donizetti. Here performed by The Prince Regent's Band as part of their "Celebrated Distin Family" programme on two tenors and one contrabass saxhorn all from the nineteenth century.
In 1844 the Distin Family heard the young cornet virtuoso Jean-Baptiste Arban perform on the newly invented contralto saxhorn. Inspired by this event, Richard Thomas, member of The Prince Regent's Band has arranged this three movement work for cornet and saxhorn ensemble.
This set of four dances, written by John Distin and "performed by Mr. Distin and his four sons on the saxhorns" survives today in a version for solo piano. Richard Fomison, of The Prince Regent's Band, has reconstructed a new version of this work for ventil horn and three saxhorns.
Henry Distin built up the Distin and Sons family firm, manufacturing a wide range of instruments, publishing music and doing much to support the growing British brass band movement. The final track in The Prince Regent's Band disc, "The Celebrated Distin Family", reflects this with a brass band classic, the Sinfonia to Verdi's Nabucco arranged by Phil Dale for saxhorns and cornets.
A quick glimpse into the background of the Meyerbeer Coronation March, the first track on the new Prince Regent's Band disc "The Celebrated Distin Family",
Theodore DIstin's 1880s song for mixed voices is here rescored for an ensemble of four historic saxhorns and cornet and offstage cornet obligato.
Another of Adolphe Sax's arrangements from his 1847 Méthode Complète pour Saxhorn. This trio is a setting of the duet "Une Fièvre Brûlant" from André Grétry's opera "Richard Cœur de Lion", here heard on two tenor and a contrabass saxhorn.
Henry Distin was still to be heard playing the traditional Irish tune "The Last Rose of Summer" aged 70. Hear it in a version for five saxhorns here performed by The Prince Regent's Band.
An example of some of the DIstin "dance music" from the mid 19th century.
John Distin was famed for his trumpet obligato performances of Handel's aria 'Let the Bright Seraphim' from the oratorio 'Samson'. PRB do away with the need for a soprano in their transcription of this work for two cornets accompanied by three saxhorns.
Happy New Year from the Prince Regent's Band! To help you celebrate we have a version of the Welsh New Years' Carol "Nos Galan" (more commonly known as "Deck the Halls"). A popular carol in the 19th century - hear it here on 19th century instruments!
The Prince Regent's Band, specialists in period brass chamber music, perform a version of "Auld Lang Syne" from Schatzman's Sax-Horn Instructor (c.1866)