Wind Band Instruments History Essay

The history and progression of wind bands and their instruments has shaped music in American history, helped create the music industry, and reflects pop culture trends we see today. Though many people may believe that music is not a huge part of history, it actually has created many jobs and opportunities for a lot of people. The instrumentation of bands and the creation of new instruments have influenced people to make music more than just a special skill, and into an actual career.

Instruments used in band have not always been the way they are today. Each instrument has evolved and changed overtime to become the way we know them today. Several common instruments in band like the clarinet and snare drum have very different histories and ways they came to be. The clarinet is actually considered a newer instrument compared

to a lot of others. The clarinet was first used in America in 1758. An advertisement went out in 1959 in a newspaper, looking for musicians, including clarinetists, to play in a regimental band. As the clarinet became more well-known, it was common for it to be learned and taught as a special skill, and, if someone knew how to play it, it would be considered a social accomplishment (Association).
Unlike the clarinet, the snare drum, or a version of it, has been around for a long time. Originally it was known as a tabor drum. By the 15th century the size of the drum increased and had a circular shape. Lots of changes were made, and by the 20th century, a drum very close to what we use today was created (Drums). The snare drum was frequently used in the military. For example, snare drums were used to communicate orders to soldiers, and American troops would be woken up by drums.
The clarinet and the snare drum are just two instruments that have evolved over time and made a difference in music and in band. They both changed the sound and size of ensembles. Throughout American history the instrumentation in wind bands has changed immensely. Brass and woodwind instruments took a long time to develop to their present status. In America, from the 19th century through the Civil War, bands were mainly brass and drums (Drums). Once the idea of military bands grew more popular, the instrumentation started to change, and included woodwinds, such as clarinets, flutes, bassoons, etc.
John Philip Sousa, a very well-known person in the band world, created the first professional band in 1892. The instrumentation he used led other future bands to use similar instruments and amounts of people. This especially inspired the University of Illinois Concert Band. Their university band had an addition of double reed instruments, the basset horn, and even the string bass. Already, the instrumentation in the common band in the United States changed a lot since the beginning (PBS). Sousa was so popular during this time, and still is, because his enthusiasm towards band and his creation of the first professional band inspired people to get involved in music and bands, and even eventually pursue a career in music.

American bands during this time tended to favor the trumpet sound, like many bands do. British bands, however, favor the cornet sound. American bands often have a lot of double reed instruments, and it was not common to see many soprano instruments like soprano clarinet and saxophone. Also, in America, the balance between brass and woodwind has always been a little unequal. Naturally, there is a more heavy brass sound in most bands during this time, especially because the high brass sounds like in a trumpet or cornet carry over long distances much easier than the sound of a clarinet or other reed instruments, and having a sound that carries easily was very important in military bands (PBS). Overall the instrumentation over time in wind bands in America has changed a lot since the beginning of band. What you see and hear in a band today is not what you would see during all of America’s history in music.
The change in instrumentation and development in instruments has affected the size, relevance, and importance of bands in American history.

The creation of so many new instruments and the development of wind bands have changed how music is made and seen in history. People started to play in military bands, and it became a career and a job someone could get paid for and make a living off of (PBS). Now there are professional bands and symphonies that professional musicians can play in as their jobs. The music industry has grown so much, and there are so many opportunities for all kinds of musicians in America now, and that would not have happened if from the beginning people like John Philip Sousa wouldn’t have taken a risk and created that first professional band. Things like the creation and development of instruments and the growing amounts of wind bands really made people realize how important music was, and from there it has grown tremendously. Now people have so many opportunities to make a living off of music, and many people get the chance to learn about it throughout their years in school, which ultimately benefits people in so many

ways.
Music and the original wind bands and instruments have had a great impact on American history and where the music industry is today. From the beginning, military bands gave jobs to people, and since then the music industry has grown into what we know today. If it was not for the first military bands, creation of new instruments, and people like John Philip Sousa, music would not be a big part of people’s lives, and there would not be as many opportunities for so many people interested in pursuing a career in music.