Circle-of-Players Performances
and Living History Events

Our most historically authentic performance option, the Circle-of-Players concert is also our most portable. Standing in a full circle of musicians (see photo or refer to our letterhead logo), with our Bandmaster at the center, the Band is able to play from a repertoire of some 40 selections including patriotic airs, sentimental ballads, reels, waltzes, polkas, quicksteps and (of course) marches. Appearing in the Circle-of-Players, the band is exceptionally mobile, playing in a variety of outdoor sites within a short period of time. These concerts work best when the setting is informal and the duration of the performance is 30 minutes or less. It is a most effective format when the audience either cannot be seated or tends to be moving from one area of interest to another. We have successfully used this format at festival events, battle re-enactments, living history encampments, tours of historic homes and as “teaser” or “barn-storming” performances to attract audiences for later Historical Programs and Period Dances.

This particular option does have serious limitations in that a large portion of our repertoire (especially vocal selections and the more difficult “showpieces”) is not available; the length of each performance is limited to 30 minutes or less; our narrators are not able to effectively communicate important historical information; and the size of audience that can easily observe a given performance is limited to less than 250.  Nevertheless, it is and effective and historically accurate interpretation of a field band performance.

(Click on a picture to see a large version)
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