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Seaford Silver Band is a non contesting brass band based in the seaside town of Seaford East Sussex. We play for a variety of concerts, functions and events in Seaford, Eastbourne, Alfriston, Bishopstone, Newhaven and the surrounding villages.

Seaford Silver Band was formed shortly after the First World War as the Seaford British Legion Band when it played as a brass and reed band.It was restarted after the Second World War and, before the end of the forties, changed to its present brass band format. The band contested very successfully in the early fifties reaching the first division. Over the years the Band has performed at a variety of venues ranging from garden parties and church fetes to Eastbourne Bandstand and formal concerts. In the early 90’s the band played the part of the ‘Seaside Band’ on the Eastbourne Bandstand for the film ’84 Charing Cross Road’ which was then then Queen Mother’s command performance film and has played the music for a ‘BBC Songs of Praise’. There have been visits to France and , of course, to Germany. Five years ago the Band was part of the 20th Anniversary celebrations of the Twinning Association visiting both Bonningstedt and Crevitz. There is now a regular Autumn spot in Seaford at the Seaford Proms Night which is a Concert in aid of the Seaford Martello Rotary Club Charities.

Seaford Silver is a traditional English brass band. A British-style brass band is a musical ensemble comprising a standardised range of brass and percussion instruments. The modern form of the brass band in the United Kingdom dates back to the 19th century, with a vibrant tradition of competition based around local industry and communities.

The term ‘silver band’ is synonymous with ‘brass band’ in this sense; the vast majority of bands termed either ‘brass’ or ‘silver’ incorporate musicians playing both lacquered and silver-plated instruments. In the days when ‘brass’ instruments were not as costly as silver plated ones, the term ‘silver band’ implied a band that could afford the latter and thus were a more successful band. Now, however, the costs are similar and the distinction between brass and silver bands is generally not made.

British Brass Bands are limited to specific instruments, which does not include, for instance trumpets or french horns, which are found in orchestras and concert bands.
The standard instrumentation is as follows:

• 1 Soprano Cornet (Eb)
• 9 Cornets (Bb)
  Front row: 1 Principal Cornet, 3 Solo Cornets
  Back row: 1 Repiano Cornet, 2 2nd Cornets, 2 3rd Cornets
• 1 Flugelhorn (Bb)
• 3 Tenor Horns (Eb), sometimes called Alto Horns in the United States and Germany – Solo, 1st and 2nd
• 2 Baritones (Bb) – 1st, 2nd
• 2 Tenor Trombones (Bb) – 1st, 2nd
• 1 Bass Trombone
• 2 Euphoniums (Bb)
• 2 Eb Basses, also known as Eb tubas
• 2 Bb Basses, also known as BBb tubas
• 2 to 4 Percussion

The above totals 27–29 players, although in practice a band often has fewer than this. Spare seats may be filled for concerts and contests by players brought in from other bands, commonly known as deputising players or deps.

With the exception of percussion, bass trombone and some tenor trombone music, all parts are transposing and written in the treble clef. This means that for every instrument, from the big basses right up to the soprano cornet, the fingering is similar and players can switch more easily between instruments. This system, which is unique to UK-style brass bands, ensures most parts can be covered when there is less than a full complement of players. Bass Trombone music is written in Bass Clef, and Tenor Trombone music is in Tenor Clef on older scores.

Brass Band repertoire is as wide and as varied as one’s imagination. For example, a typical brass band could play items from Bach’s Air on a G String, to brass band arrangements of contemporary pop and rock classics along with traditional military marches and concert music.

If there is a piece of music you would like the band to play at a future concert please contact the bands MD. If the chosen music is available and within the scope of the band we will consider adding it to our repertoire.