He was introduced to music in a brass band and went on to be a trombone player with major London orchestras and period instruments groups. He has written prolifically on the history of brass ...

Now we know that brass bands emerged from Britain’s wars against Napoleon.” Wartime bands included woodwind instruments such ...

The Napoleonic wars created an unprecedented demand for brass and other musical instruments. As well as tracking down individual musicians and bands, O'Keeffe investigated the circulation of ...

Research reveals that Britain’s earliest brass bands were established by military musicians returning from the Napoleonic Wars in the 1810s, debunking the idea that they were solely civilian and ...

Now we know that brass bands emerged from Britain’s wars against Napoleon.” Wartime bands included woodwind instruments such as clarinets and bassoons, but the 15th Regiment of Foot had ...