The history and formation of the military band in nineteenth-century Britain.

In the nineteenth century, the military band underwent significant alterations as the British musical system endeavored to take the historical tradition and grand concepts of the bands and place them into a more unified concept for increased public performances. Building on the customs of the past and on the ideas taken from other countries, the British military bands grew into a fully recognized system not only of military functionality but also of musical and public tradition. Throughout the century, changes impacted the instrumentation of the band, the number of musicians included, the skill level of the bandsmen, and the master in charge of the band. In these efforts, the musicians and military leaders hoped to present a more coherent presentation of their national pride and place in the world.