New wind is now blowing through our brass bands and wind bands

A positive change in fortunes is now taking place in our traditional bands. The declining membership of the past decade seems to have reversed; professionalism and the increasing involvement of women in this particular piece of our cultural heritage are steadily increasing.

During the interwar period, up to 3,000 orchestras and bands turned out with clockwork regularity. All over the country, the sound and sight they provided, and still provide, add lustre to all kinds of festivities. Fairs, parish celebrations, honouring of a centenarian and other anniversaries, the inauguration of the new parish priest ... As the procession made its way through streets and squares, the generally poor quality of the decibels produced fell below a level that was still bearable. Was this due to fatigue, to slackening concentration under a blazing sun or, as is often claimed, to the infamous demon drink that gradually spread its influence among the musicians? For the massed spectators, none of that mattered much; they enjoyed a lot of genuine love of music, friendship, fun and togetherness.

Involvement in clubs and associations has weakened. In 2025, there are barely over 300 brass bands and 700 wind bands left in Belgium and overall membership is down by 15%. Even the smallest instruments also cost quite a bit. But among the tenacious percussionists, brass and woodwind players, the traditional sense of belonging endures. Their motivation is also on the up, thanks to thorough training and cooperation with part-time arts education. The quality of their music and the difficulty of their repertoire are also increasing under the direction of increasingly professional or semi-professional conductors. The majority of bands no longer play on the streets. Instead, they now prefer taking part in national and international competitions and festivals. They have also long since shed the image of band members as a dissolute bunch.

Add to this the success of youth work and the growing interest among women and we would even dare to suggest that our marching bands, which are still as good as the best in Europe and even in the world, once again have a promising future ahead of them.