The Yankee Brass Experience
Every year Yankee Brass Band Musicians come together from across the United States for a week-long immersion in traditional brass band performance and scholarship. Each musician has extensive experience in playing the instruments and music of the late 1800s and early 1900s. The group also includes many scholars who have studied brass band instruments and literature of the period. As the musicians rehearse and prepare for concerts, these skills and knowledge are blended. As a result of this effort, musicians increase their knowledge and audiences are rewarded with a glimpse into the world of traditional brass bands.
The Instruments used for performance are original instruments made in the late 1800s by some of the best American brass instrument manufacturers of the time period. The instrumentation of the band includes Eb Cornet, Bb Cornet, Alto Horn, Tenor Horn, Baritone Horn, Eb Tuba, Bb Tuba, and Percussion. The design and valve types have not standardized at this time in development of brass instruments. As a result, several designs and value configurations will be found in the instruments.
The Music performed by the band is also from the late 1800s and early 1900s. The sources of the music include actual band books that have been preserved, historical societies, and collections of music from the era throughout the United States. Some music has been arranged for the band based on historically information practices to maintain the authenticity of the music.
Concerts are another important experience in the effort to preserve and promote the traditional brass bands and music of the period. 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 yesteryear. The Yankee Brass Band – performing these genres of music on original instruments – creates an authentic and entertaining audience experience.