Connections (2014)

The first permanent artwork to be commissioned by Brass: Durham International Festival, Connections presents a traditional brass plaque etched with a railway map of County Durham including branch lines axed on the recommendations of the Beeching Report in the 1960’s. Stations have here been replaced with QR codes plotting the locations of the 22 senior brass bands still active in the county in 2014.

The work aims not to only celebrate the large number of brass bands that still exist, but also their heritage and the direct connections to the railways and local industry. All of the bands were once located on or near a railway line and at one time members were permitted to travel free on the network to play at competitions so as long as they were in band uniform and carrying their instruments. Where the bands played, eager audiences followed, meaning this was a clever economic strategy on the part of the railway companies.

Simply scan one of the QR codes with your smartphone or tablet and you’ll be taken directly to a video of a band performing a piece of music of their choice, wearing their normal clothes (rather than full uniform), filmed in their normal rehearsal room, thus giving an insight into the real people and their incredible commitment to keeping this proud tradition alive.

You can see Connections at Durham Railway Station (southbound platform, next to the Stationmaster's Office and Costa) or at Locomotion National Railway Museum, Shildon

All videos are also available at youtube.com/RealTyne, or click on the images below for more info on each band

A Brass:Pitch commission