The Early American Brass Band Podcast

Our first episode is a broad overview of brass bands in America before, during, and immediately after the Civil War. We cover a general history of brass bands in America before, during, and after the Civil War, focusing on the instruments and music they played, duties during the Civil War, and their history after the war concluded.

If you like the show, the best way you can support us is by becoming a patron at https://www.patreon.com/eabbpodcast...

This episode focuses on Frederick Fennell and the Eastman Wind Ensemble's landmark 1960 recording The Civil War: Its Music and Its Sounds. We discuss Fennell's inspiration for the album, the musicians on the album, the instruments used for the recording, as well as the music on the album.

If you like the show, the best way you can support us is by becoming a patron at https://www.patreon.com/eabbpodcast...

Episode 3 is our social distancing mega-episode! Join us for a wide ranging, insightful interview with Dr. Mark Jenkins of The President’s Own United States Marine Band. We discuss Dr. Jenkins’ research, the history of the Marine Band, their relationship to the Lincoln administration, and a healthy dose of low brass instrument history. This episode's featured album is The American Brass Band Journal - Empire Brass Quintet & Friends (2005)...

In Episode 4, we talk with Dr. Kirby Jolly about his time with the Old Bethpage Village Brass Band, how it has evolved over the years, and his view of the mission of the band. Dr. Jolly tells us some stories about his time performing with the Goldman Band. His wealth of experience with 19th century brass band music is vast, and we enjoyed the opportunity to pick his brain!

If you like the show, the best way you can support us is by becoming a patron at https://www.patreon...

Episode 5 is a wide ranging conversation with Dr. Michael O’Connor, Associate Professor of Music at Palm Beach Atlantic University. Dr. O’Connor is the director of The Coates Brass Band, and a founding member of Newberry’s Victorian Cornet Band and the Washington Cornett and Sackbut Ensemble. We discuss his musical background, research of Civil War-era music, the performing groups he helped found, and the life and music of Thomas Coates...

Episode 6 is a fantastic interview with Jari Villanueva, former trumpeter with the United States Air Force Band. Jari is heavily involved in all things related to 19th century American Brass Band, most notably with researching the history of Taps, and performing and arranging for the Federal City Brass Band. We talk at length about both of those things in this episode, with many interesting and funny stories from Jari’s career. You can find Jari at www.jvmusic.net and https://tapsbugler...

Episode 7 is our conversation with Eric Totman, aka “The Horn Collector.” Eric has amassed a large collection of primarily brass instruments from the 19th century, and has many unique and rare items. We talk about these, other odd instruments he has such as Besson Cornophones and Antoniophones, and how he acquired them. Eric also talks about his experiences playing with the Fort Point Garrison Brass Band in California...

Episode 8 is our interview with Dr. Dennis Edelbrock, former trumpet with The United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own,” and current professor of trumpet at George Mason University. This great conversation covers the Classical Brass album Honor to Our Soldiers, filming the movie Lincoln and so much more. We also discuss Dr...

Episode 9 is our interview with Raymond Mase, professor of trumpet at the Juilliard School and former trumpet with The American Brass Quintet. In the episode we discuss how The American Brass Quintet came to record The Yankee Brass Band: Music from Mid-Nineteenth Century America (1981), A Storm in The Land: Music of the 26th N.C. Regimental Band, CSA (2002), and Cheer, Boys, Cheer!: Music of the 26th N.C. Regimental Band, CSA Volume 2 (2006)...

Episode 10 is a conversation with our good friend and colleague Barry Bocaner. We talk about Barry’s introduction into historically informed performance, performing and soloing with Newberry’s Victorian Cornet Band, as well as his adventures learning about early brass instruments while traveling to instrument museums across the world...