Cory Band is one of the oldest and best known brass bands in the world, formed in 1884 in the Rhondda Valley.

History and origins

Cory Band is from the

Rhondda Rhondda , or the Rhondda Valley ( cy, Cwm Rhondda ), is a former coalmining area in South Wales, historically in the county of Glamorgan. It takes its name from the River Rhondda, and embraces two valleys – the larger Rhondda Fawr valley ('' ...

Valley in

Wales Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the Wales–England border, east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the ...

. They were formed in 1884 and originally bore the name ‘Ton Temperance’ a reference to the

Temperance movement The temperance movement is a social movement promoting temperance or complete abstinence from consumption of alcoholic beverages. Participants in the movement typically criticize alcohol intoxication or promote teetotalism, and its leaders emph ...

in the South Wales Valleys of the time. In 1895 Sir Clifford Cory, Chairman of Cory Brothers, heard the band and offered to provide financial assistance for them, resulting in the band's change of name to ‘Cory’. In 1920, the band gained championship status and three years later achieved the distinction of performing what is believed to have been the first radio broadcast by a brass band. A significant honour was bestowed on the band in 1976 when they were chosen to represent Wales and the Brass Band Movement on a tour of the US as part of their bi-centennial celebrations.

Titles and honours

* National Champions - 1974, 1982, 1983, 1984, 2000, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2019 * British Open Champions - 2000, 2002, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2016, 2018, 2019 * European Champions - 1980, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019,2022 * Brass In Concert Champions - 2008, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2019 * World Music Contest Champions 2009 - 2012 * Band Cymru Champions 2014, 2016, 2018

Evolution

Cory Band has developed musically outside of the contest field. In 2001, together with the

BBC National Orchestra of Wales The BBC National Orchestra of Wales (BBC NOW) ( cy, Cerddorfa Genedlaethol Gymreig y BBC) is a Welsh symphony orchestra and one of the BBC's five professional radio orchestras. The BBC NOW is the only professional symphony orchestra organisatio ...

they were appointed as resident ensemble to the

Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama , image_name = Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama.jpg , image_size = , motto = , established = 1949 , type = Public , staff = , vice_chancellor = , students = 779 (2017/18) , undergrad ...

, and in the same year appointed Dr John Pickard as their Composer in Residence. John Pickard's tenure with the band ended in July 2005 when the band made history giving the première performance of his Gaia Symphony at the Cheltenham International Festival. The symphony was broadcast live on

BBC Radio 3 BBC Radio 3 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC. It replaced the BBC Third Programme in 1967 and broadcasts classical music and opera, with jazz, world music, Radio drama, drama, High culture, culture and the arts ...

. Over an hour in duration, it is currently the largest scale original work in the repertory. The band have an active commissioning policy and have performed works by British composers; John McCabe,

Judith Bingham Judith Bingham (born 21 June 1952) is an English composer and mezzo-soprano singer. Life Bingham was born on 21 June 1952, in Nottingham. Her parents are Jack Bingham and Peggy Bingham (née McGowan). She was educated at High Storrs Grammar ...

Elgar Howarth Elgar Howarth (born 4 November 1935), is an English conductor, composer and trumpeter. Biography Howarth was born at Cannock, Staffordshire. He was educated in the 1950s at Manchester University and the Royal Manchester College of Music (the ...

Edward Gregson Edward Gregson (born 23 July 1945) is an English composer of instrumental and choral music, particularly for brass and wind bands and ensembles, as well as music for the theatre, film, and television. He was also principal of the Royal Northern ...

Alun Hoddinott Alun Hoddinott CBE (11 August 1929 – 11 March 2008) was a Welsh composer of classical music, one of the first to receive international recognition. Life and works Hoddinott was born in Bargoed, Glamorganshire, Wales. He was educated at Gowert ...

Karl Jenkins Sir Karl William Pamp Jenkins (born 17 February 1944) is a Welsh multi-instrumentalist and composer. His best known works include the song " Adiemus" and the ''Adiemus'' album series; '' Palladio''; ''The Armed Man''; and his ''Requiem''. J ...

, Gareth Wood,

David Bedford David Vickerman Bedford (4 August 1937 – 1 October 2011) was an English composer and musician. He wrote and played both popular and classical music. He was the brother of the conductor Steuart Bedford, the grandson of the composer, painter ...

, as well as John Pickard. The band's current ''Associate Composer'' is

Christopher Bond Christopher Godfrey Bond (born 1945, Sussex, England, UK) is a British actor, playwright and theatre director whose 1970 retelling of the Victorian tale ''Sweeney Todd'' formed the basis of Stephen Sondheim's musical of the same name, with ...

. In 2002 the band were selected to play for the Queen's Golden Jubilee celebrations and have since performed in concert venues including the

Grieg Hall Grieg Hall ( no, Grieghallen) is a 1,500 seat concert hall located on Edvard Griegs' square in Bergen, Norway. Grieghallen was named in honor of Bergen-born composer Edvard Grieg, who served as music director of the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra ...

, Stravinsky Hall, the Royal Albert Hall and

Symphony Hall, Birmingham Symphony Hall is a 2,262 seat concert venue in Birmingham, England. It was officially opened by Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, Queen Elizabeth II on 12 June 1991, although it had been in use since 15 April 1991. It is home to the City of Bi ...

. In 2003, they performed with the

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) is a British symphony orchestra based in London, that performs and produces primarily classic works. The RPO was established by Thomas Beecham in 1946. In its early days, the orchestra secured profitable ...

at the Last Night of the Welsh Proms and were also featured during the opening celebrations of the new

Wales Millennium Centre Wales Millennium Centre ( cy, Canolfan Mileniwm Cymru) is an arts centre located in the Cardiff Bay area of Cardiff, Wales. The site covers a total area of . Phase 1 of the building was opened during the weekend of the 26–28 November 2004 an ...

. In 2007, following the end of the term of sponsorship from the Buy As You View company, the name of the band reverted to the name under which it has enjoyed most success: Cory Band. In October, 2019, the band became the National Brass Band Champions of Great Britain, for the 9th time.

References

{{Authority control British brass bands

History and origins

Titles and honours

Evolution

See also

References