BRASS bands, pipe bands, scout bands, marching bands, concert bands and military bands.

Down through the centuries, there has been a variety of musical bands, providing entertainment and melody, on an an assortment of instruments, which were originally stringed and woodwind.

Today, Bygones takes a look at some of the bands which have been formed in East Lancashire down through the years.

The modern form of the brass band dates back 200 years, when they were based around local industry and communities.

Brass bands were a response to industrialisation and nowhere was this more evident than in East Lancashire as the textile industry and all its ancillary industry mushroomed.

Villages and towns throughout the area were soon launching their own bands and it wasn’t long before brass band competitions burst on to the scene.

Many of our local bands took part in the first British open championship which was held at the Belle Vue Zoological Gardens in Manchester, in 1853 and attracted a crowd of over 16,000. The last one was in 1981.

In the surge of patriotism observed during the first days of WWI, many of the reservists, volunteers and officers who left their homes to answer the call to fight, were often led to the railway stations – and often their deaths – on their way to the front by the local brass band, playing a medley of stirring sounds.

Salvation Army brass bands have run parallel to the main brass band movement since the 1870s and they range from small church bands to staff bands composed of the best Salvation Army bands men in the area.

Then there is the pipe band, which comprises a number of pipers and drummers, who follow the direction of the pipe major.

East Lancashire has witnessed numerous parades and carnivals which have been led by a pipe band, themselves led by the drum major, who directs them with a mace.

Go back through time and the harpsichord, recorder, lute and mandolin were among the first instruments produced to make music.These developed into the instruments now seen in an orchestra.

The term orchestra derives from the Greek name for the area in front of an ancient stage that was reserved for the chorus. The first orchestras were made up of small groups of musicians that gathered for festivals, holidays, or funerals.It was not until the 11th century that families of instruments started to appear with differences in tones and octaves.

True modern orchestras started in the late 16th century when composers started writing music for instrumental groups.