Published book:
‘The Distin Legacy: The Rise of the Brass Band in 19th-Century Britain’
Publisher: Cambridge Scholars Publishing, Newcastle, UK. Date of Publication: January 2013
The rise of the brass band in 19th-century Britain is a historical, social and cultural phenomenon which represents the foundation of the modern international brass band movement. Authors such as Trevor Herbert, Arnold Myers and Roy Newsome mention and acknowledge the relevance of the Distin Family brass ensemble; however, extensive research has produced new information. This book examines the various Distin projects as the main reason why brass bands of today are established in their current form.
Ray Farr (born in Hereford, England, 1948) is an experienced and recognized conductor, arranger and adjudicator. He works with orchestras, wind bands and brass bands on a worldwide freelance basis. His increasing interest in the history of brass bands has triggered research activity, the completion of a Master’s degree in Arts, as well as ongoing studies for a doctorate.
Price Uk Gbp: 54.99 Price Us Usd: 82.99
Available from: Cambridge Scholars Publishing 12 Back Chapman Street Newcastle upon Tyne NE6 2XX
or: http://www.cambridgescholars.com/the-distin-legacy-14
Book reviews:
‘The depth and detail of the research is impressive.’
‘Extensive quotations impart a distinctive period flavour.’
‘Behind the documentation a fascinating story of skill, scandal, opportunism and showmanship that could provide rich pickings for the narrative biographer.’
‘There are ten chapters, each devoted to a different aspect of the wide-ranging life and times of this fascinating family. Those detailing the Distin family as performers, builders of repertoire, pioneering instrument suppliers and their crucial role in developing the brass band sound are the strongest.’
‘The Distin Legacy is well illustrated, and a significant documentation of a pioneering period of brass band history.’ Paul Hindmarsh (British Bandsman Magazine. September 2013)
‘Ray Farr has gathered material from many contemporary sources to bring the picture into focus in fascinating detail.’
‘ He has combed through newspaper reports, tracked down images and scoured the published literature to piece together a very readable account of the Distin family’s activities as musicians, entrepreneurs and manufacturers.’
‘The author has used this account to argue that many characteristics of today’s brass band derive from the Distin legacy.’ Arnold Myers (The Brass Band World Magazine. September 2013)
‘I loved it!’ Professor Stephen Allen (Rider University)
Published music:
| Title | Orchestration | Solo | Composer | Publisher |
| 15 Små Styke | Ensembles | Ensembles | Eide | Norsk Noteservice |
| Adagio | Brass Band | Cornet | Rachmaninov | Wright & Round |
| Adventures | Wind Band | Farr | Obrasso | |
| Adventures in Brass | BB | Farr | Obrasso | |
| Agincourt Song | BB | Anon | Rosehill | |
| Alabamy Bound | BB | Anon | Musikverlag-Frank | |
| Ave Maria | BB | Cornet | Bach/Gounod | Prima Vista |
| Be My Love | WB | Euphonium | Brodszky | Prima Vista |
| Be My Love | BB | Euphonium | Brodszky | Prima Vista |
| Bergenhus March | BB | Aafløy | Musikverlag-Frank | |
| Bergenhus March | WB | Aafløy | Musikverlag-Frank | |
| Blaythorne Suite | BB | Cornet | Nicholas | Studio Music |
| Bowburn March | BB | Farr | Wright & Round | |
| Bryllups Intrada | BB | Ugland, Johan Varen | Nordic Sounds? | |
| Bubbles was a Cheerleader | BB | Soprano Cornet | Williams | Prima Vista |
| Call of the Righteous | WB | Condon | Gobelin? | |
| Can You Read My Mind
(See Love Theme from Superman) |
BB | Williams, John | Kirklees | |
| Cantilena | BB | Farr | Prima Vista | |
| Close to You
(They Long to Be) |
BB | Trombone | Bacharach | Norsk Noteservice |
| Confutatis (from Requiem) | BB | Mozart | Nordic Sounds | |
| Dance Warily
(Dans Varsomt) |
BB | Farr | Norsk Noteservice | |
| English Dances (8) | BB | Arnold | Out of Print | |
| Fanfare & Choral | BB | Hovland, Egil | Norsk Noteservice | |
| Festival Prelude | BB | Nielsen | Obrasso | |
| Firebird | BB | Stravinsky | Kirklees | |
| First Circle | BB | Metheny | Norsk Noteservice | |
| First Shoot, The | WB | Walton, W | Norsk Noteservice | |
| Four Cornish Dances | BB | Arnold | Out of Print | |
| Four Scottish Dances | BB | Arnold | Out of Print | |
| Fugue in D minor | BB | Bach | Norsk Noteservice | |
| Galaxies- An expedition for Band | BB | Davis | Kirklees | |
| Galaxies- An expedition for Band | WB | Davis | Kirklees | |
| General Jacksons Schottishe | BB | Tidswell | Norsk Noteservice | |
| Gethsemane | BB | Sop Cornet | Lloyd-Webber, A. | Musikverlag-Frank |
| Good, The Bad, & The Ugly | BB | Morricone | Prima Vista | |
| Good, The Bad, & The Ugly | WB | Morricone | Prima Vista | |
| Goodbye to Love | BB | Horn | Carpenters | Hallamshire |
| Goodbye to Love | 10 Piece | Horn | Carpenters | Hallamshire |
| Hallelujah For Handel | BB | Drefus | Wright & Round | |
| Hjalar-Ljod | BB | Groven | Prima Vista | |
| Holiday for Strings | BB | Rose | Studio Music | |
| Hundred Folk Tunes from Hardanger
1: Velkomne med ære 2: Flyteljod 3: Fagraste Viso pao joræ 4: Langeleiklåt 5: Hastverksbrudlaup 6: Guds godhet og Guds storhet The other movements in the suite are not published |
BB | Tveitt, G | Nordic Sounds | |
| I Say a Little Prayer | BB | Bacharach | W&R | |
| In Paradisum (Requiem) | BB | Faure | Nordic Sounds | |
| Indiana Jones | BB | Williams, John | Studio Music | |
| Intrada – Ein Feste Berg | WB | Farr | Norsk Noteservice | |
| Intrada – Ein Feste Berg | BB | Farr | Wright & Round | |
| It’s Just Talk | BB | Metheny | W&R | |
| Kingdom Triumphant, The | WB | Ball, E | Gobelin? | |
| Kjempeviseslåtten | BB | Sæverud | Musikk-Husets Forlag | |
| Lake Luzern | BB | Farr | Obrasso | |
| Lawson’s Mates | BB | Drefus | Wright & Round | |
| Libertango | BB | Piazzolla | Norsk Noteservice | |
| Like Always | BB | Ramos | Wright & Round | |
| Lite Styke Norge | WB | Eide | Norsk Noteservice | |
| Live & Let Die | BB | Soprano Cornet | McCartney | Norsk Noteservice |
| Live & Let Die | WB | Trumpet/Flugel | McCartney | Norsk Noteservice |
| Lyric Dance | WB | Okkenhaug | Prima Vista | |
| Midnight Sleighride / Troika | BB | Prokovief | Wright & Round | |
| Midnight Sleighride / Troika | WB | Prokovief | Tradewinds | |
| Minuano | BB | Metheny | Prima Vista | |
| No Matter What | BB | Lloyd-Webber | Rosehill | |
| Nocturne | BB | Cornet/Flugel | Lovland | Prima Vista |
| Nocturne | WB | Trumpet/Flugel | Lovland | Prima Vista |
| Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now | BB | Arcadia Music | ||
| O Holy Night (Julesang) | WB | Cornet | Adams | Gobelin |
| O Holy Night (Julesang) | BB | Cornet | Adams | Gobelin |
| On the Town | BB | Bernstein | Norsk Noteservice | |
| On the Town | WB | Bernstein | Norsk Noteservice | |
| On With The Motley | BB | Soprano Cornet | Leoncavallo | Rosehill |
| One Voice | BB | Manilow | Studio Music | |
| Optimist | WB | Vocal | Teigen | none |
| Our Kind of Love | BB | Lloyd-Webber | Rosehill | |
| Over the Rainbow | WB | Trumpet/Flugel | Arlen | Norsk Noteservice |
| Over the Rainbow | BB | Flugel (Eb) | Arlen | Norsk Noteservice |
| Pilgrim of Love | BB | Trombone | Bishop | Norske Noteservice |
| Pilgrim of Love March | BB | Trombone | Bishop | Norske Noteservice |
| Poinciana | BB | Simon/Bernier | Studio Music | |
| Recado Bossa Nova (The Gift) | BB | W&R??? | ||
| River Dance | BB | Whelan | Wright & Round | |
| Roaring Days | BB | Drefus | Wright & Round | |
| Robert the Devil | BB | Meyerbeer | Norsk Noteservice | |
| Rush | BB | Drefus | Wright & Round | |
| Russian Funeral | BB | Britten | Faber | |
| Softly, Softly | WB | Fry | Prima Vista | |
| Softly, Softly | BB | Fry | Wright & Round | |
| Sonata | WB | Clarinet | Brahms | Tradewinds |
| Star Wars | BB | Williams | Norsk Noteservice | |
| Superman | BB | Williams | Kirklees | |
| Superman – Love Theme “Can You Read Mind” | BB | Williams | Hallamshire | |
| Sweet & Low | BB | Euphonium | Barnby | Hallamshire |
| Sweet & Low | 10 Piece | Euphonium | Barnby | Hallamshire |
| Symphony #3 | BB | Khachaturian | Prima Vista | |
| Taste of Honey (A) | BB | Scott Robert | Wright & Round | |
| Toccata | BB | Bach | Studio Music | |
| Toccata | WB | Bach | Studio Music | |
| Torn Erik’s Song | BB | Tuba | Traditional | Norsk Noteservice |
| Vaults of Heaven | BB | Lloyd-Webber | Rosehill | |
| Viking Saga | BB | Farr | Norsk Noteservice | |
| Viking Saga | WB | Farr | Norsk Noteservice | |
| Volunteer Artillery & Rifle Corps March | BB | Jackson | Norsk Noteservice | |
| What Now My Love | BB | Becaud | Norsk Noteservice | |
| Whistle Down the Wind | BB | Lloyd-Webber | Rosehill | |
| Winter Games | BB | Foster | Norsk Noteservice | |
| Why Did I Choose You. | WB | Trombone | Leonard | Norsk Noteservice |
| Why Did I Choose You | BB | Trombone | Leonard | Norsk Noteservice |
| Yorkshire Waltzes | BB small | Jackson | Norsk Noteservice | |
| You Raise Me Up | BB | Lovland | Nordic Sounds | |
| You Raise Me Up | WB | Lovland | Nordic Sounds |