The Fine Arts: Boys' Set Band Costumes


Figure 1.--The boys in this children's accordian band wear similar outfits, although the image is not clear enough to make much out. Most of the boys appear to be wearing dark colored short pants, although without suit jackets.

There are also many kinds of set bands. Often these bands have a specialized group of instruments or event restricted to one single instrument. Some set bands sprcialize in specific types of music, such as polka or rock bands. Uniforms or at least coordinated dress is also worn by these groups' although less elaborate uniforms than marching bands. The one exception are rock bands. While early rock bands, like the Beatles, did wear matching outfits--modern rock bands as part of their ethos eskew any type of coordianted outfit which suggests regimentation or discipline.

Specialized Instrumentation

Often these bands had a specialized group of instruments or event restricted to one single instrument. A specialized group of instruments might, for example, be a brass band with all brass instruments. Examples of a single instrument band might be an all-accordian band. These are usually not elaborately uniformed groups, although the band members might wear similar suits or other coordinated outfits. Bands are different from other musucal groups, like ensembles, primarily by the size of the group.

Specialized Music

Some set bands specialize in specific types of music, such as Dixieland, jazz, polka, mariachi, rythem and blues, rock, and many other types of bands. Some of these bands, like the Big Bands of the 1930s and 40s and the rock bands since the 1960s have been focal points of modern music. Large numbers of boys while still in school form bands as a recreational activity. For some reason most of the children involved are boys. Uniforms or at least coordinated dress is also worn by these groups' although less elaborate uniforms than marching bands. The one exception are rock bands. While early rock bands, like the Beatles, did wear matching outfits. Modern rock bands as part of their ethos eskew any type of coordianted outfit which suggests regimentation or discipline. Interestingly some of the boys forming bands in countries like Australia and England while still in school have been photographed in their school uniforms.

Orchestra

the term bands and instruments are often used interchangably, but there are important differences. An orchestra is of course a type of a band. An orchestra basically varies from a band primarily on the basis of the rane of the instruments. Orchestras are generally larger than bands, but there are some very large bands. Orchestras always have a wide range of instruments, especially a good assortment of percussion, string, and wind instruments. Bands generaly have a more narrow selection of instruments. Even a large marching ban is likely to have few string instruments and be composed largely of wind instruments, especially the brass instruments.

Small Concert Bands

Generally forming a full boys' orchestra was difficult. Many communiies did not have the ability to form orchestras in gneral, let along boys' orcestra. More common was a boys' band. These wee often, but not always marching bands. But there were also cpnsert bands as well. We do not have a lot of information on these bands. They appeared in many European countries. We now a little about America. These concerts in America might be given from the gazebo in the parks that many small towns had. They were particularly popular in the late-19th and early 20th century. They seem to have often had basic uniforms. At this time mothers became increasingly interested in having their children learn musical instruments. These community bands began to become less common after World War I.






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Created: April 7, 2000
Last updated: 7:14 AM 12/5/2007