Heritage Military Music
Foundation Announces Assistant Bandmaster Appointment
Press Release
Heritage Military Music
Foundation Announces Assistant Bandmaster Appointment
Press Release
Jon Condon assumes
bandmaster position, and other management changes:
Press Release
Our 40th
Anniversary! Events Page Here
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MAJOR DONATION to Heritage Military Music
Foundation! Press Release
Latest Performances
and Events
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Documentary about the band - and film festival
award
An
IMAX 3-D movie in which the band participated comes to DVD!
"Mark Twain's America"
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Memorial in Art - main street mural in Watertown
featuring the 1st Brigade Band
1st Brigade Band
logo-wear - t-shirts, sweatshirts, mouse pads now available
HERE
Our newest
antique instrument acquisitions
HMMF Antique
Instrument Display in the Kwapil Memorial Library (below)
Heritage Military Music Foundation owns or has on loan over 200 antique instruments, and a semi-permanent display has been set up with about 40% of the collection in the Kwapil Memorial Library in Heritage Hall. The instruments are mainly grouped by family or configuration on the walls and tables of the library. Some unusual and historical non-period instruments are also featured. The library houses band archives, photos, and other media. The Kwapil Civil War book collection is on permanent display as well. The room is open by appointment, and has benefited from the recent bequest from the Peterson Foundation by receiving full fire and theft protection.
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Whitewater, WI - Basset House 150th Anniversary Celebration
The Basset House is only one of Whitewater's beautiful historic homes, but today it was the scene of an historical program in a natural amphitheater on the grounds. Part of Whitewater's 100th observance of Homecoming, a cultural and historical celebration of 1907, the event was one of many taking place over the weekend. The program consisted of some showing off, as usual, with stories of the Wisconsin Irish soldiers, and a Southern cornet player. The audience learned "Goober Peas" and listened to some of the most evocative vocal war songs. There was cake and pie in abundance, and it couldn't have been a better day for all.
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Annual Octagon House Ice Cream Social
Though a bit warm, the annual Ice Cream Social went off without a hitch. The crowd was entertained with two new sequences; the Brodhead Town band, and Women of Gettysburg. The town band sequence featured the "Hits of the 50's" and events leading up to the Civil War, and Women of Gettysburg described the events surrounding three women who's lives were directly impacted by the battle. We rounded out with some solos, and finished with ice cream and cake.
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Old World Wisconsin's 1860 County Fair
The special event this weekend at Old World Wisconsin was a re-creation of an 1860 County Fair, complete with competitions in livestock, foods, crops, machinery, and the arts. The band portrayed an 1850's style ensemble, and entertained the crowd with popular and patriotic selections of the day. Despite some drizzly weather, the competitions went on, though we were the only band in our class. The local militia also gave some drilling demonstrations for the fair-goers. At the end of the fair, we presented an historical program in the grove. It was an eventful day, and all of the fair participants made good showings. An event we look forward to doing again.
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Milwaukee, WI - 60th Anniversary of the Milwaukee Civil War Round Table
It seems not that long ago that we played for the Round Table's 50th anniversary at the Wisconsin Club in Milwaukee. This time we featured a number of instruments with Wisconsin history attached to them. Many of these instruments came to us from the band's founder, Fred Benkovic, who was also in attendance at the meeting and concert. Most of these instruments are played anonymously at our programs, so it was nice to be able to impart their history to a knowledgeable audience. Also featured was an entertaining version of 'Beauregard's Retreat from Shiloh', that has been adapted from the original piano sheet for the band - a real slice of Victorian melodrams. We look forward to celebrating the Round Table's 70th!
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Racine, WI - 20th Annual Harvest Ball
Despite a last minute date change, the 20th Harvest Ball was certainly one of the most memorable. We had a great group of dancers who stayed till the last. This year we taught a number of new dances, such as the Opera Reel, and the Circassian Circle, and will certainly feature them in future balls, as everyone really enjoyed them - even though some were quite complex. Dancing certainly was an art in the 19th century. We featured all of our vocalists in the course of the evening. Many fine door prizes were bestowed as well. As usual, the evening was ended with Goober Peas, and Battle Hymn. Our lips may recover by next fall. Hope to see everyone again.
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Rockford, IL - "The Soldiers, Remembered Through Their Music"
Rockford's GAR Memorial Hall was once again the site of a special Veteran's Day concert. The hall is beautifully restored, and features museum exhibits and displays from all of our nation's conflicts. We featured sequences revolving around Gettysburg and Shiloh, as well as lots of singing and story telling. The crowd was great, and helped us with a sing-along, too.
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Alexandria, VA - Historic Instrument Display for Marine Band Living History Concert
The band sent it's horns this time and left it's lips at home. The Marine Band, celebrating it's 210th anniversary this year, is performing a series of Living History concerts. "Will the Leader of the Marine Band Please See Mrs. Lincoln Today?" was the titile of the Civil War era concert; showcasing the leadership of Francis Scala during those times. The concert was moderated by Dr. Allen Guelzo of Gettysburg College, who detailed both the history of the Marine Band, Francis Scala, and Scala's relationship with the Lincolns during the Civil War. Five band members, led by Emeritus Bandmaster Dan Woolpert, travelled to Washington DC to bring 25 period instruments for display before and after the concert. In addition, nine Marine Band members played seven over-the-shoulder instruments with drums before the concert to an overflow crowd outside the main auditorium, and they did a splendid job with very minimal rehearsal time. Also on display were original photographs of Scala, some of his original manuscripts, and the note from President Lincoln that inspired the title of this concert. Below find a series of pictures that cover the rehearsals at the John Philip Sousa Band Hall to the display and ensemble concert at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall.
Click the photo above to see a slide show of the event
Many thanks to Colonel Michael J. Colburn, MGySgt Michael Ressler, Major John Barclay for their hospitality and making the journey smooth and memorable. Thanks to the ensemble members MSgt John Abbracciamento, SSgt Rob Singer, GySgt Doug Burian, SSgt Gabriel Gitman, GySgt Matt Summers, SSgt Ryan McGeorge, MSgt Tom Holtz, GySgt Dave Murray and MSgt Mark Latimer for their patience and fine performance on unfamiliar instruments. And to Emeritus Bandmaster Nick Contorno for making the necessary contacts. Thanks, too, are in order for those 1st Brigade Band members who worked to make instruments and cases ready for the trip. It was a truly memorable occasion, and we are all very proud to have participated.
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1st Brigade Band mural in Watertown
Watertown, Wisconsin is known for the historical murals that it decorates the walls of downtown buildings in. They commemorate business, agriculture, old advertising, and now one features the 1st Brigade Band. Painted on the side of the Century 21 Building at 4th and Main Streets, it features the band playing in marching formation. The slide show below shows the artist in action, Gail Towers MacAskill - pictures are shown as the work progresses. It was finished at the end of July, and we played for the dedication in October. Watertown will soon publish a book on its murals and the histories that inspired them - we'll keep you up to date. And we are certainly proud to be so honored in our adopted home town.
Click the photo above to see the step-by-step progression of the mural
Click the picture above for a large photo of the finished mural
(For you purists out there who realize that you don't hold an over-the-shoulder horn or period drum that way, the mural is done in reverse, like an old photo or tintype, to show off the instruments better from the vantage point just off of Main Street in Watertown, where it is located)
Well, the band has often supplied music for documentaries and other film projects, but this is the first time it has been the focus of one. A documentary about the 1st Brigade Band and its performance of original period music on original instruments is now finished. Dan Senn, a Watertown native - now of Washington; an instrumental artist, designer of experimental musical instruments, freelance film maker and owner of Newsense Intermedium, has filmed and has produced the documentary. His focus is the performance of historical music on the instruments that originally made it.
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He followed the band for much of the early summer of 2001 at performances, rehearsals, and social events to gain material. Interviews with many band members and friends of the band are featured. As a bonus, his son, Nick joined us as a Bb cornet player for several performances, and is now a band member. Titled "The Exquisite Risk of Civil War Brass", it delves into the use of antiques, music and costume to re-create music and sounds of a lost era, and also how the instruments and history influence and change the people involved. The documentary covers everything from period dress, horn and performance issues, manuscript music, and the life and times of the people who originated this music, as well as the actual collecting and preserving of music and horns. It aired on several Public Television stations throughout the US.
Dan recently entered the film in the da Vinci Film Festival, and it won the da Vinci Spirit Award - the film that most exemplifies da Vinci's philosophy on the relationship of art, science and technology. Congratulations Dan!! See the letter of congratulations HERE.
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In 1998, the band was privileged to participate in Stephen Low's 3-D IMAX movie, "Mark Twain's America". We re-created a period ball, with the help of many of our regular Harvest Ball participants, and re-enactor friends at the Wisconsin Club Ballroom in Milwaukee. Rather than a biography of Twain's life, the film showcases many of the ways we today celebrate Twain's life and times with modern celebrations, and re-creations of historical events and activities. Enjoy some screen shots of the band and dancers from the DVD.
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