The Wind Band and Wind Ensemble Before 1500 is the first volume in Dr. David Whitwell's ground breaking thirteen volume History and Literature of the Wind Band and Wind Ensemble series. Whitwell's meticulous scholarship reveals the continuous history of the wind ensemble, from its earliest roots to the nineteenth century - an unbroken tradition of wind music that music scholars have never been fully able to appreciate until now. This volume includes: 1] court wind music developing form crude ceremonial instruments into the real wind bands of the fifteenth century 2] the ancient tradition of civic wind music, centering on 'watch' duty and the gradual development of more aesthetic functions including real concerts 3] the complete prohibition of wind music in the early Christian church and its gradual acceptance into the service through the medieval church drama and the bands that accompanied nobles in their private church ceremonies. Updated with the inclusion of relevant iconography, this second edition belongs in music libraries and conservatoires around the world."