The Humboldt Project
The Humboldt Brass Band of Humboldt, Kansas was founded in 1866 by Richard R. Redfield, a former Civil War musician of the Union Army, and according to the Humboldt Union Newspaper, their first concert was held on the occasion of July 4, 1866.
The hand written part books of the Humboldt Brass Band date primarily to the 1870’s, measure 6½ x 4¾ inches, and are now housed in the Sousa Archives and Center for American Music at the University of Illinois (Carl Busch Papers and Music Instrument Collection, ca. 1833-1924, Series 1: Music, Box 4).
The July 8, 1876 issue of the Humboldt Union Newspaper documents that the Humboldt Brass Band led the July 4 centennial procession and played Hail Columbia, Red, White and Blue, and a Grand March. Hail Columbia and Red, White and Blue are both found in the band books. Hail Columbia is found twice as numbers 1 and 43, and Red, White and Blue once as number 7. No complete grand march is found in the collection. It is possible that the grand march was number 64, General Smith’s Grand March, but this is unlikely due to it being found in only the 1st Eb Cornet book. More likely is the possibility that the reporter did not recognize by name the other selection he heard and simply referred to it as a grand march.
On April 18, 2009, the Vintage Brass Band traveled to the Sousa Archives to perform music from the above mentioned Centennial Celebration in Humboldt, KS as part of the Boneyard Arts Festival. Click here to read the Press Release about that event. The performance included Hail Columbia, and Red, White and Blue, but for a third selection the Vintage Brass Band chose the Bass [sic] Ball Quick Step. The music was played on restored 1860’s and 1870’s over-the-shoulder brass instruments which are also a part of the Carl Busch Collection.
Carl Busch (1862 -1943) was a Danish born conductor, composer, educator and collector of music instruments. During his distinguished career, he served as the conductor of the Kansas City Symphony Orchestra and was knighted by the King of Denmark for his efforts to promote Scandinavian music in the United States. He composed works within numerous genres including choral, orchestral, wind band and chamber music. Mr. Busch served as guest conductor for major symphony orchestras in the United States, Europe and Scandinavia. Source: Sousa Archives
Visit our Recordings from the Humboldt Project page to listen to the April 18th recordings of the 3 pieces from the Humboldt Brass Band performed on instruments from the Carl Busch collection.
Visit our Pictures from the Humboldt Project page to see shots of our musicians mastering the nineteenth century instruments from the Carl Busch collection.
Loading...