The Origin of the Species - Virtuoso Victorian Brass Music

The repertoire of the Cyfarthfa Band is unique among all known sources for brass music. It is an eclectic collection of original works and transcriptions, demanding from the performers a level of virtuosity and lyricism that is not matched in nineteenth-century brass writing. The music was discovered at Cyfarthfa Castle in Wales, where for more than half a century, this great ensemble was the private band of one of the wealthiest Victorian families. For the first time, these recordings unveil a lost performance tradition that helps explain the origins of the species that became known as a brass band.