Besses o' th' Barn Band

[1] The costs associated with operating a brass band in the 19th century included providing and maintaining instruments, uniforms and rehearsal facilities, as well as purchasing sheet music and paying conductors for their services.

While a few bands were able to obtain patronage from wealthy sponsors, most relied on membership subscriptions, public appeals and concerts for their income.

The latter was particularly significant but noteworthy institutions such as Besses and the Black Dyke Band earned large sums from participating in contests.

Entrants to contests were expected not to be professional musicians, but participants for bands such as Besses supplemented their income with payments received for playing.

[citation needed] By the 1870s, the roster of instruments permitted for use in contests had been codified and the number of members in a competing band was generally set at 24.

With Alexander Owen as its conductor, the band visited Australia, Canada, Fiji, Hawaii, New Zealand, South Africa and the US.

[10] Besses Boys' Band was formed in October 1943, having been preceded from 1940 by classes that taught musical theory and practice.