#WB25 – Project and Research
Wonderbrass’s Heritage Lottery funded project #WB25 celebrated 25 years of Wonderbrass (by the end of the project Wonderbrass was 27!). Professional composers (who have engaged with the band in the past) worked with band members to tell the story of the band through collaborative compositions and musical storytelling.
Project summary
Three composers were commissioned to write music for performance and recordings based on forms used in the past by the band so as to build on the experience of playing and improvising within those forms, such as ska, reggae, building on the band’s history to move forward. Performances are documented in videos and the recordings have been released on CD and 12” vinyl (aimed at DJs to further disseminate the work).
Archives consist of historical band recordings and scores, photos, press cuttings, minutes of meetings, promotional material and videos. They are lodged with the People’s Collection Wales.
The videos made by film-maker Laurence Strong intercuts interviews with band members with rehearsal and live footage of the band. There is also material recorded for Radio 4’s ‘The Listening Project’ [8] and archive material that can be referenced.
Research Imperatives
To revisit musical styles and compositions from Wonderbrass’ archives.
To create new music and compositions taking forward these revisited musical experiences through the content, structure and context of live and recorded performance.
To fuse past forms of music played by the band with new digital recordings and performance practices
To share knowledge and experience of past and present members through creative exchanges between participants, composers, music producers and audiences
Impact
Through performance, research and hands-on projects, Wonderbrass has engaged with over 150 participants both past and present and new performers and audiences were drawn into the band through this project. The band has had over 200 members in its 27-year history (by end of project).
Data speaks of benefits of musical participation felt in terms of well-being, identity and personal growth. Music created as part of the project has been heard by several thousand people. Recordings incorporate creative input from many current members of the band and examines how this creative input adds value to their experience of participation.