[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
yankee

To: brass-band@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: yankee
From: Mjabrass@xxxxxxx
Date: Sat, 19 Jul 1997 18:33:54 -0400 (EDT)
Priority: low
Reply-to: brass-band@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
From: valliere@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Donna Valliere)
Date: Fri, 18 Jul 1997 11:34:49 -0400
Subject: Yankee Brass Band

Hello, folks:

It's July... and that means that the Yankee Brass Band is once again
gearing up for a frantic week of rehearsals and concerts. This group of
musicians comes to New England from all over the U.S. to gather and perform
authentic concerts reminiscent of the late 1800s. We use the original
instruments (over-the-shoulder saxhorns, cornopeans, ophicleides, rope
tension drums, etc.--no reproductions), and dress in firemen's shirts and
caps of the period (which was common dress of the town bands of the
period).

We meet at Norwich University in Northfield, Vermont, for 2-1/2 days of
intensive rehearsals, and then travel through New Hampshire and Vermont,
presenting FREE concerts to the public.

Conductor of the 21-piece Yankee Brass Band is Paul Maybery, of St. Paul,
Minnesota.

Following the listing of the concert venues is a background of the Yankee
Brass Band. I realize this is a lengthy message, so only read that part
that interests you!!!


p.s.
I'm going off-line today for the duration of the YBB. If you have
questions, you can e-mail <carole.i.blake@xxxxxxxxxx>

Submitted by Donna Valliere
Yankee Brass Band

======================================
======================================

CONCERT SERIES OF THE 12TH ANNUAL YANKEE BRASS BAND

July 23, 7 p.m., On the Bandstand, Gilford, N.H.

July 24, 3 p.m., Granite State Room, Memorial Union Bldg.,
		 UNH Campus, Durham, N.H.

July 24, 7 p.m., Victory Park, Manchester, N.H.

July 25, 7 p.m., Chandler Music Hall, Randolph, Vermont

July 26, 1 p.m., Hildene (home of Robert Todd Lincoln),
		 Manchester, Vermont

July 26, 7 p.m., Lyman Point Park, White River, Vermont


- -- Free Admission to all concerts --



The Yankee Brass Band

Northern New England (and, in fact, the Upper Valley) was a scene of the
development of the brass band movement in the 1800s, not only by having
several bands and some outstanding soloists, but also by producing many of
the instruments these bands used.

Samuel Graves and his brothers began making musical instruments in West
Fairlee, Vermont, in the 1820s. In 1830 they formed Graves & Co. and
occupied half of a four-story, water-powered shop in Winchester, New
Hampshire. By the early 1840s they had purchased another floor of the
building and were the largest supplier of woodwind and brass instruments in
the country.

Two brothers from Lyme, N.H., also made important contributions to brass
band music of the day. Keyed bugle soloist D.C. Hall was the leader of the
Boston Brass Band, one of the great bands of the period, and the owner of
an instrument-making business that turned out large numbers of brass
instruments.

Rudolph Hall traveled from coast to coast, often playing clarinet and
cornet solos on the same program. In the early 1860s he toured England,
performing in many cities and at the Queen's Concert Rooms in London. Both
brothers often brought their bands to perform in Lyme and at Dartmouth
College events.

In 1986, with a collaboration of David Briggs (of the Hotel Coolidge in
White River, Junction. Vt.), Paul Maybery of St. Paul, Minnesota, and Mark
Elrod of Germantown, Maryland, and a small host of brass players from
around the country, the first "Yankee Brass Band" performed in the Upper
Valley of Vermont and New Hampshire. What was created was an historically
accurate recreation of an American Brass Band circa 1840-1870 performing
music of the period in an appropriate style and on the original
instruments.

The original pieces of music, some traced from copies of old band programs,
have been researched, restored, and arranged for the Yankee Brass Band by
Paul Maybery, noted musicologist, music historian and conductor of the
Yankee Brass Band. Although from the Minnesota area, he has spent much time
in New England researching music. Not only are the largest collections of
period music located here in New England, but many local town bands still
have them in their libraries. One of the best collections, located in the
Manchester (N.H.) Historical Association, is that of the Manchester Cornet
Band led by Walter Dignum. The Nevers Band of Concord (N.H.) still uses its
ancestor's (the 2nd N.H. Regiment's Band) music books. Several members of
the Yankee Brass Band Festival were involved in the production of the PBS
(Civil War) series, and Maybery assisted in the arrangement of the historic
music. Maybery also appeared as guest conductor at the Ford's Theatre
Commemorative Concert on the anniversary of Lincoln's assassination. The
historic instruments themselves appeared in the Civil War film Glory.

The musicians in the Yankee Brass Band (like those of the bands of the last
century), come from all walks of life. Engineers, doctors, teachers,
consultants, professional musicians and a host of others come from around
the U.S. to share a common love and respect for the music of the early
brass bands. Many of them direct or perform with similar bands in their
home towns. The integrated expertise of these musicians produces one of the
area's most entertaining and informative musical events. With its
collection of antique instruments and authentic music scores, the Yankee
Brass Band gives the audience an auditory living-history experience they
will long remember. The quicksteps, gallops, polkas, mazurkas, schottisches
and waltzes, and the many overtures and medleys popular in the mid-19th
century make up the program of the typical brass band concert of yesterday
and today.


--
unsubscribe or receive the list in digest form, mail a message of 'help' to
listserver@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Prev by Date: Re: Low Tuba Notes
Next by Date: Stars & STripes
Previous by thread: Re: United Co-op Band (Crewe)
Next by thread: Stars & STripes
Index(es):
- Date
- Thread