Professor Trevor Herbert

PhD DLitt FRCM FLSW FRHistS

Trevor Herbert is a former foundation scholar of the College. He was a trombone player (modern and period instruments) with various orchestras and ensembles, particularly the BBC Symphony Orchestra, Welsh National Opera, the Taverner Players and the Wallace Collection.  He is Emeritus Professor of Music at the Open University where he developed a global reputation as an expert on the history and performance practices of brass instruments.

The scope of his research, which is characterised by a strong cultural history theme, runs from the middle ages to the modern period and includes jazz and vernacular music. His books include The British Brass Band: A Musical and Social History (Oxford 2000), The Trombone (Yale 2006), and Music and the British Military in the Long Nineteenth Century (Oxford 2013, with Helen Barlow); and he is the joint editor of both the Cambridge Companion to Brass Instruments (1997) and the Cambridge Encyclopedia of Brass Instruments (2018), he is also lead editor of the Cambridge History of Welsh Music. He is a prolific contributor to the world’s major music reference works. His book on research method, Music in Words: A Guide to Researching and Writing about Music (ABRSM and Oxford), has had three editions, and he is joint editor of The Cultural Study of Music: A Critical Introduction (Routledge 2003; 2nd edition 2012). He has been the recipient of various awards and prizes, including several AHRC and British Academy awards. He is currently working on a new book, to be published by Yale University Press, on the history and influence of brass bands.

He was the 2002 recipient of the Christopher Monk Award of the Historic Brass Society and was awarded the Anthony Baines Prize of the Galpin Society in 2014. In 2016 he was elected a fellow of the Learned Society of Wales. He was the 2021 recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award of the International Trombone Association.

Selected publications

Herbert T, Clarke MV & Barlow H (eds.) (2022), A History of Welsh Music, Cambridge University Press [ISBN 9781009036511].

Herbert T, Myers A & Wallace J (eds.) (2018), The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Brass Instruments, Cambridge University Press [ISBN 9781107180000].

Herbert T & Barlow H (2013), Music and the British Military in the Long Nineteenth Century, Oxford University Press [ISBN 9780199898312].

Herbert T (2013), Brass and military bands in Britain - performance domains, the factors that construct them and their influence, in Reily S & K Brucher (eds.), Brass Bands of the World: Militarism, Colonial Legacies, and Local Music Making (SOAS Musicology Series) (pp. 33-54), Ashgate [ISBN 9781409444220].

Herbert T (2012), Music in Words: A Guide to Researching and Writing about Music (2nd ed.), Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music Publishing [ISBN 9781848491007], (US edition 2009 Oxford University Press [ISBN 9780199888320]).

Herbert T (2011), "…men of great perfection in their science…": the trumpeter as musician and diplomat in England in the later fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, Historic Brass Society Journal, 23, 1-23 On RCM Research Online.

Herbert T (2006), The Trombone, Yale University Press [ISBN 9780300235753].

Herbert T (ed.) (2000), The British Brass Band: A Musical and Social History, Oxford University Press [ISBN 9780198166986].

Faculties / departments: Research, Academic staff

Latest Publications

Herbert, T. (2024) The earliest source for the S-shaped trumpet – its provenance, material context and relevance. Historic Brass Society Journal ISSN 1045-4616 (print) 1943-5215 (online) (In Press)

Herbert, T. (2024) The Cyfarthfa Band in its period of grace. In: Cyfarthfa Castle 1825-2025: A People's History. Merthyr and District Historical Society, Merthyr Tydfil. (In Press)

Herbert, T. (2023) Military musical instruments and the culture of perfection in the long nineteenth century. In: Shaping Sound and Society: The Cultural Study of Musical Instruments. Routledge Research in Music . Routledge, Abingdon. ISBN 9780367417550 (hardback) 9780367816070 (e-book)

Griffiths, R. and Herbert, T. and Rees, S. P. (2022) Instrumental traditions after 1650. In: A History of Welsh Music. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp. 144-170. ISBN 9781316511060 (hardback) 9781009036511 (e-book)

Herbert, T. (2022) Music in Welsh history. In: A History of Welsh Music. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp. 1-24. ISBN 9781316511060 (hardback) 9781009036511 (e-book)

Herbert, T. (2022) Traditions and interventions: popular music 1840–1940. In: A History of Welsh Music. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp. 291-314. ISBN 9781316511060 (hardback) 9781009036511 (e-book)

Herbert, T. and Harper, S. and Hill, S. (2022) Postscript: contemporary Wales, devolution and digitisation. In: A History of Welsh Music. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp. 355-365. ISBN 9781316511060 (hardback) 9781009036511 (e-book)

Barlow, H. and Herbert, T. (2021) Introduction: listeners in music history: studying the evidence. Nineteenth-Century Music Review, 17 (3) pp. 343-357. ISSN 1479-4098 (print), 2044-8414 (online)

Herbert, T. (2021) Public military music and the promotion of patriotism in the British provinces c.1780-c.1850. Nineteenth-Century Music Review, 17 (3) pp. 427-444. ISSN 1479-4098 (print), 2044-8414 (online)

Herbert, T. (2020) Bands as musical subcultures: cultures, practices, and influences. In: Practice in Context: Perspectives on Historically Informed Practices in Post-Classical Music. Oxford University Press, New York. (In Press)

Herbert, T. (2019) Solo and ensemble brass instrument recordings. Early Music, 47 (2) pp. 277-280. ISSN 0306-1078 (print) 1741-7260 (online)

Herbert, T. (2018) Cornett. In: The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Historical Performance in Music. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp. 151-152. ISBN 9781107108080 (hardback) 9781107518476 (paperback) 9781108698573 (e-book)

Herbert, T. (2018) Military music. In: The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Historical Performance in Music. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp. 409-411. ISBN 9781107108080 (hardback) 9781107518476 (paperback) 9781108698573 (e-book)

Herbert, T. (2018) Musica Reservata. In: The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Historical Performance in Music. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, p. 427. ISBN 9781107108080 (hardback) 9781107518476 (paperback) 9781108698573 (e-book)

Herbert, T. (2018) Serpent. In: The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Historical Performance in Music. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp. 572-573. ISBN 9781107108080 (hardback) 9781107518476 (paperback) 9781108698573 (e-book)

Herbert, T. (2018) Trombone. In: The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Historical Performance in Music. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp. 630-632. ISBN 9781107108080 (hardback) 9781107518476 (paperback) 9781108698573 (e-book)

Herbert, T. (2018) Tuba and ophicleide. In: The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Historical Performance in Music. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp. 636-638. ISBN 9781107108080 (hardback) 9781107518476 (paperback) 9781108698573 (e-book)

Herbert, T. (2018) Cornetti e tromboni in the high Renaissance and Baroque. Early Music, 46 (2) pp. 343-345. ISSN 0306-1078 (print) 1741-7260 (online)

Herbert, T. (2018) Foreword: amateur bands, their localities, and their challenges – the lessons of history. In: The Routledge Companion to the Study of Local Musicking. Routledge Music Companions . Routledge, Abingdon, UK. ISBN 9781138920118 (hardback) 9781315687353 (e-book)

Herbert, T. (2016) Trumpets, drums and the sources for their symbolic authority in Britain. Music in Art: International Journal for Music Iconography,, 41 (1-2) pp. 65-81. ISSN 1522-7464 (print) 2169-9488 (online)

Herbert, T. (2016) Carl Florian Mandel and the production, consumption and status of "military" brass-wind instruments in the nineteenth century. In: Instrumental Odyssey: A Tribute to Herbert Heyde. Bucina: The Historic Brass Society Series (9). Pendragon Press, New York. ISBN 978-1-57647-252-1

Herbert, T. (2016) Adolphe Sax, his saxhorns and their international influence. Revue Belge de Musicologie/Belgisch Tijdschrift voor Muziekwetenschap, 70 pp. 65-76. ISSN 0771-6788

Herbert, T. (2016) A Tudor manuscript granting livery to the King’s ‘Shakbots’. Historic Brass Society Journal, 28 pp. 191-198. ISSN 1045-4616 (print) 1943-5215 (online)

Herbert, T. (2013) Review of 'Music and theology in nineteenth-century Britain' ed. Martin V. Clarke (Ashgate 2012). Nineteenth-Century Music Review, 10 (2) pp. 323-356. ISSN 1479-4098 (print), 2044-8414 (online)

Herbert, T. (2013) Brass and military bands in Britain - performance domains, the factors that construct them and their influence. In: Brass Bands of the World: Militarism, Colonial Legacies, and Local Music Making. SOAS Studies in Music Series . Ashgate, Farnham, UK. ISBN 9781409444220 (hardback) 9781138251212 (paperback) 9781315569895 (e-book)

Herbert, T. and Barlow, H. (2013) Music and the British military in the long nineteenth century. Oxford University Press, New York. ISBN 978-0-19-989831-2

Herbert, T. (2012) Music in words: a guide to researching and writing about music, 2nd edition. Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, London. ISBN 9781848491007

Herbert, T. and Barlow, H. (2012) The British military as a musical institution, c.1780-c.1860. In: Music and Institutions in Nineteenth-Century Britain. Music in Nineteenth-Century Britain . Ashgate, Farnham, UK, pp. 247-266. ISBN 9781409405832 (hardback) 9781138268234 (paperback) 9781315596624 (e-book)

Herbert, T. (2011) Social history and music history. In: The Cultural Study of Music: A Critical Introduction [2nd Edition]. Routledge, Abingdon. ISBN 9780415881906 (hardback) 9780415881913 (paperback) 9780203149454 (e-book)

Herbert, T. (2011) Review of 'A history of the trombone' by David M. Guion. American Musical Instrument Society Newsletter, 40 (2) pp. 12-14. ISSN 0160-2365

Herbert, T. (2011) Brass instruments. Oxford Bibliographies Online

Herbert, T. (2011) “…men of great perfection in their science…”: the trumpeter as musician and diplomat in England in the later fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. Historic Brass Society Journal, 23 pp. 1-23. ISSN 1045-4616 (print) 1943-5215 (online)

Herbert, T. and Myers, A. (2010) Music for the multitude: accounts of brass bands entering Enderby Jackson's Crystal Palace contests in the 1860s. Early Music, 38 (4) pp. 571-584. ISSN 0306-1078 (print) 1741-7260 (online)

Herbert, T. (2010) Trombone glissando: a case study in continuity and change in brass instrument performance idioms. Historic Brass Society Journal, 22 pp. 1-18. ISSN 1045-4616 (print) 1943-5215 (online)

Herbert, T. (2008) Reviews of 'Sigmund Romberg' by William A. Everett and 'Jerome Kern' by Stephen Banfield. Studies in Musical Theatre, 2 (3) pp. 295-297. ISSN 1750-3159 (print) 1750-3167 (online)

Herbert, T. (2007) William Waterhouse 1931–2007. Historic Brass Society Journal, 19 pp. 4-5. ISSN 1045-4616 (print) 1943-5215 (online)

Herbert, T. (2006) The trombone. The Yale Musical Instrument Series . Yale University Press, London. ISBN 9780300100952 (hardback) 9780300235753 (paperback)

Herbert, T. (2005) Review of 'Berlioz's orchestration treatise: a translation and commentary' by Hugh MacDonald. Historic Brass Society Newsletter, 18 p. 23. ISSN 1045-4594

Herbert, T. (2005) Review of 'Jazz in print (1856–1929): An anthology of selected early readings in jazz history' by Karl Koenig. Historic Brass Society Newsletter, 18 p. 22. ISSN 1045-4594

Herbert, T. (2005) Review of 'Musical instruments: history, technology, and performance of instruments of Western music' by Murray Campbell, Clive Greated, and Arnold Myers. Historic Brass Society Newsletter, 18 pp. 22-23. ISSN 1045-4594

Herbert, T. (2005) Susato's colleagues: the trombonists of the Tudor court. In: Tielman Susato and the Music of his Time: Print Culture, Compositional Technique, and Instrumental Music in the Renaissance. Bucina: The Historic Brass Society Series (5). Pendragon Press, New York, pp. 117-132. ISBN 978-1576471067 (hardback)

Herbert, T. (2004) Selling brass instruments: the commercial imaging of brass instruments (1830-1930) and its cultural messages. Music in Art: International Journal for Music Iconography,, 29 (1-2) pp. 213-226. ISSN 1522-7464 (print) 2169-9488 (online)

Herbert, T. (2004) Review of 'Bands at the St. Louis World's Fair of 1904: information, photographs, and database' by Richard I. Schwartz and Iris J. Schwartz. Historic Brass Society Newsletter, 17 p. 25. ISSN 1045-4594

Herbert, T. (2003) Review of 'The musical society community bands of Valencia, Spain: A global study of their administration, instrumentation, repertoire, and performance activities' by Richard Scott Cohen. Historic Brass Society Newsletter, 16 pp. 23-24. ISSN 1045-4594

Herbert, T. (2003) Review of 'Military music & bandsmen of Adolf Hitler's Third Reich, 1933–1945' by Brian Matthews. Historic Brass Society Newsletter, 16 p. 23. ISSN 1045-4594

Herbert, T. (2002) Wind instruments. In: A Performer's Guide to Music of the Romantic Period. Performer's Guides . Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, London, pp. 57-69. ISBN 9781860961946

Herbert, T. (2002) Review of 'The cheque books of the Chapel Royal' transcribed and edited by Andrew Ashbee and John Harley. Historic Brass Society Newsletter, 15 pp. 32-33. ISSN 1045-4594

Herbert, T. (2001) Review of 'A biographical dictionary of English court musicians (1485–1714)' by Peter Holman, Fiona Kisby, Andrew Ashbee, and David Lasocki. Historic Brass Society Newsletter, 14 p. 57. ISSN 1045-4594

Herbert, T. (2000) Popular nationalism: Griffith Rhys Jones ('Caradog') and the Welsh choral tradition. In: Music and British Culture, 1785-1914: Essays in Honor of Cyril Ehrlich. Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp. 255-274. ISBN 9780198167303 (hardback)

Herbert, T. (2000) God's perfect minstrels: the bands of the Salvation Army. In: The British Brass Band: A Musical and Social History. Oxford University Press, Oxford. ISBN 9780198166986

Herbert, T. (2000) Nineteenth-century bands: making a movement. In: The British Brass Band: A Musical and Social History. Oxford University Press, Oxford. ISBN 9780198166986

Herbert, T. and Wallace, J. (2000) Aspects of performance techniques: the brass band and its influence on other brass-playing. In: The British Brass Band: A Musical and Social History. Oxford University Press, Oxford. ISBN 9780198166986

Herbert, T. (2000) Review of 'The early horn: a practical guide' by John Humphries. Consort: The Journal of The Dolmetsch Foundation, 56 pp. 70-71. ISSN 0268-9111 (print)

Herbert, T. (2000) Trombones and the English court c.1480 – c.1680. In: Posaunen und Trompeten: Geschichte, Akustik, Spieltechnik. Michaelsteiner Konferenzberichte . Kloster Michaelstein Musikakademie, Blankenburg, Germany, pp. 51-58. ISBN 978-3895121166

Herbert, T. and Nussbaum, J. (1999) Public defender number one for the serpent: an interview with Douglas Yeo. Historic Brass Society Newsletter, 12 pp. 13-17. ISSN 1045-4594

Herbert, T. (1999) Farmer's contribution to the study of military music. In: Henry George Farmer: A Bibliography. Glasgow University Library Studies . Glasgow University Library, Glasgow. ISBN 978-0852616901

Herbert, T. (1999) Review of 'The civic muse: music and musicians in Siena during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance' by Frank A. D'Accone. Historic Brass Society Journal, 11 pp. 195-196. ISSN 1045-4616 (print) 1943-5215 (online)

Herbert, T. (1999) The practice and context of a private Victorian brass band. In: Nineteenth-Century British Music Studies. Music in Nineteenth-Century Britain, 1 . Ashgate, Farnham, Surrey, pp. 105-118. ISBN 9780367146221 (hardback) 9780429052774 (e-book)

Herbert, T. (1998) Victorian brass bands: class, taste, and space. In: The Place of Music. Guilford Press, New York, pp. 104-128. ISBN 9781572303140 (paperback)

Dudgeon, R. T. and Eastop, P. and Herbert, T. and Wallace, J. (1997) Playing, learning and teaching brass. In: The Cambridge Companion to Brass Instruments. Cambridge Companions to Music . Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp. 193-206. ISBN 9780521565226 (paperback) 9781139002035 (e-book)

Herbert, T. (1997) Brass bands and other vernacular brass traditions. In: The Cambridge Companion to Brass Instruments. Cambridge Companions to Music . Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp. 177-192. ISBN 9780521565226 (paperback) 9781139002035 (e-book)

Herbert, T. (1997) 'Sackbut': the early trombone. In: The Cambridge Companion to Brass Instruments. Cambridge Companions to Music . Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp. 68-83. ISBN 9780521565226 (paper back) 9781139002035 (e-book)

Herbert, T. (1997) Review of 'First philharmonic: a history of the Royal Philharmonic Society' by Cyril Erhlich. Historic Brass Society Newsletter, 10 pp. 34-35. ISSN 1045-4594

Herbert, T. (1997) Review of 'The wind ensemble and its repertoire: essays on the fortieth anniversary of the Eastman Wind Ensemble' edited by Frank J. Cipolla and Donald Hunsberger. Historic Brass Society Newsletter, 10 pp. 35-36. ISSN 1045-4594

Herbert, T. and Sarkissian, M. (1997) Victorian bands and their dissemination in the colonies. Popular Music, 16 (2) pp. 165-179. ISSN 0261-1430 (print) 1474-0095 (online)

Herbert, T. (1997) Review of 'Records of English court music: volumes VIII (1485-1714), and IX (index)' by Andrew Ashbee. The Galpin Society Journal, 50 p. 244. ISSN 0072-0127

Herbert, T. (1997) Review of 'Talks with bandsmen: a popular handbook for brass instrumentalists' by Algernon S. Rose with a new introduction by Arnold Myers. Historic Brass Society Journal, 9 pp. 199-201. ISSN 1045-4616 (print) 1943-5215 (online)

Herbert, T. (1997) The origin of the species/L'origine d'un genre/Ursprung einer Gattung. Brass Bulletin: Magazine International de Cuivres, 97 pp. 38-44. ISSN 0303-3848

Herbert, T. (1997) The reconstruction of nineteenth-century band repertory: towards a protocol. In: Perspectives in Brass Scholarship: Proceedings of the International Historic Brass Society Symposium Amherst 1995. Bucina: the Historic Brass Society Series (2). Pendragon Press, New York, pp. 193-222. ISBN 978-0945193975 (hardback)

Herbert, T. (1996) Review of 'Text and act: essays on music and performance' by Richard Taruskin. Historic Brass Society Newsletter, 9 pp. 64-65. ISSN 1045-4594

Herbert, T. (1996) Late Victorian Welsh bands: taste, virtuosity and Cymmrodorion attitudes/Bandiau Cymreig y cyfnod Fictoraidd diweddar: Chwaeth, pencampwriaeth ac agweddau'r Cymmrodorion. Welsh Music History/Hanes cerddoriaeth Cymru, 1 pp. 92-113.

Herbert, T. (1996) Review of 'Nicholas Lanier: Master of the King's Musick' by Michael I. Wilson. Historic Brass Society Journal, 8 p. 124. ISSN 1045-4616 (print) 1943-5215 (online)

Herbert, T. (1996) Review of 'The tuba source book' compiled and edited by R. Winston Morris and Edward R. Goldstein. Historic Brass Society Journal, 8 pp. 124-125. ISSN 1045-4616 (print) 1943-5215 (online)

Herbert, T. (1995) Review of 'French music for low brass: an annotated bibliography' by J. Mark Thompson and Jeffrey Jon Lemke. Historic Brass Society Newsletter, 8 p. 86. ISSN 1045-4594

Herbert, T. (1995) Review of 'Records of English court music volume VII (1485-1558)' by Andrew Ashbee. The Galpin Society Journal, 48 pp. 220-221. ISSN 0072-0127

Herbert, T. (1995) Review of 'The Bassanos: Venetian musicians and instrument makers in England, 1531–1665' by David Lasocki and Roger Prior. Historic Brass Society Journal, 7 pp. 207-209. ISSN 1045-4616 (print) 1943-5215 (online)

Herbert, T. (1994) Review of 'Hoffnung: his biography' by Annetta Hoffnung. Historic Brass Society Newsletter, 7 pp. 43-44. ISSN 1045-4594

Herbert, T. (1993) Review of 'Records of English court music: volumes III, IV and V' by Andrew Ashbee. The Galpin Society Journal, 46 pp. 175-177. ISSN 0072-0127

Herbert, T. (1993) The sackbut and pre-Reformation English church music. Historic Brass Society Journal, 5 pp. 146-158. ISSN 1045-4616 (print) 1943-5215 (online)

Herbert, T. (1992) Victorian brass bands: the establishment of a 'working class musical tradition'. Historic Brass Society Journal, 4 pp. 1-11. ISSN 1045-4616 (print) 1943-5215 (online)

Herbert, T. (1990) The sackbut in England in the 17th and 18th centuries. Early Music, 18 (4) pp. 609-616. ISSN 0306-1078 (print) 1741-7260 (online)

Herbert, T. (1990) The repertory of a Victorian provincial brass band. Popular Music, 9 (1) pp. 117-132. ISSN 0261-1430 (print) 1474-0095 (online)

Herbert, T. and Myers, A. (1990) Catalogue of the European wind and percussion instruments in the Cyfarthfa Castle Museum collection. Cyfarthfa Castle Museum and Art Gallery, Merthyr Tydfil, Wales.

Herbert, T. (1989) The history of the trombone [review article]. The Galpin Society Journal, 42 pp. 148-150.

Herbert, T. (1989) Sondheim's technique. Contemporary Music Review, 5 pp. 199-214. ISSN 0749-4467 (print) 1477-2256 (online)

Herbert, T. and Myers, A. (1988) Instruments of the Cyfarthfa band. The Galpin Society Journal, 41 pp. 2-10.

Herbert, T. (1988) Review of 'Popular music in England 1840–1914: a social history' by Dave Russell, Manchester University Press, 1987. Popular Music, 7 (1) pp. 114-115. ISSN 0261-1430 (print) 1474-0095 (online)

Contact

For enquiries please contact:

Professor Trevor Herbert

Professor of Music Research, Doctoral Supervisor

research@rcm.ac.uk

trevor.herbert@rcm.ac.uk

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