BRASS ENSEMBLES WITHIN THE UNITED STATES MILITARY: HOW THE DEVELOPMENT OF BRASS CHAMBER MUSIC CONTRIBUTED TO MILITARY BANDS AND HOW IT RELATES TO WHAT IS EXPECTED OF THE PROFESSIONAL TUBIST

Abstract

When hearing the term “military band,” most would think of a full concert band featuring 50+ instrumentalists to include brass, woodwinds, percussion, and occasionally vocalists; however, within the past 60 years, many variations of brass ensembles have emerged from the full military concert band for various reasons. These brass ensembles include brass octets, quintets, quartets, trios, tuba quartets, and have drastically grown in popularity within the military for multiple reasons to include ease of use, practicality, financial reasons, and others. As a result, the tuba has become a necessity not only larger military band ensembles, but multiple brass chamber groups which in turn requires the tubist to become more versatile in order to successfully audition and win one of these band jobs. When compared to other academic research conducted on or how to win an orchestral audition, discussions on military bands are often overlooked. The United States Department of Defense is the single largest employer of musicians in the country, and it is important for students and young professionals to have access to relevant information. Having won my Regional Air Force Band job in 2019 while in college, and a Premier Air Force Band job in 2023, I have a personal connection to this subject matter and understand the details of these jobs. This final project aims to show the early developments of the brass chamber movement starting in the civilian world, and how it began to bleed over to the military bands for its many military- specific benefits, as well as show how various brass ensembles continue to be a necessity for military bands. Lastly, this paper will show how the recent popularity and necessity of military chamber music relates to what is expected of the modern professional tubist in order to successful win an audition within one of the bands.