American_Brass_Bands

American Brass Bands Hazzan, Margaret & Robert. The Music Men. Washington D.C., London: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1987. List of Illustrations, Preface, Notes, Index. Pp. 1-225. In American towns across the nation during the nineteenth century were introduced to the pleasures of band music. Whether marching in a parade for the Fourth of July, welcoming dignitaries and officials into town, or just for some nice relaxing listening pleasure, most of these bands were primarily or exclusively brass instruments. These were unquestionably the most visible organizations of the day. They could be found regaling graduates and guests at commencement ceremonies, or entertaining many people on steamboat excursions. Brass bands enlivened military units on the parade ground and accompanied civilian couples on the dance floor. When politicians launched their campaigns they hired bands to punctuate their promises. And when the circus came to town, it was the band that made the first announcement with ringing brass and at showtime was on hand to accompany the daring acts with dramatic and spirited music. During this time brass bands were mostly civilian and every town had one. It would have been difficult to avoid band music in the nineteenth century in America. “There is nothing that rouses the universal enthusiasm of everybody as does a spirited bands, band, musicians, music, military, circus, bandsmen, time, brass, town, professional, out, organizations, helped, fun, sousa, profession, phillip, perform, organized, often, movement, marine, john, came, bad, wonderful, whether, way, very, units, understand, travel, thousands, spirited, source