The Providence Brigade Band

Taken from: "Providence Brigade Band" brochure.

Town brass bands proliferated in the 1840's and 50's due to the prosperity of the period and the availabilityof brass instruments with valves such as the "Saxhorns" of Aldoph Sax. These types of brass instruments initiated a movement so great that at one point in last third of the nineteenth century there were an estimated 10,000 brass band in America.

The original Providence Brigade Band was chartered in 1847, and was made up of tradesmen and professional people who were musicians by avocation. Numbered among them were a music professor, a carpenter, a clacksmith, and a jeweler.

Today that tradition is carried on. The Providence Brigade Band is a group of musicians who perform in the mannor of early American brass bands. They dress in uniforms of these bands and play original music from the period. With special emphasis on the American Civil War, programs are presented that brings to life this critial chapter of our history and its music. Facts, stories, and at times the legends, of the songs and composers are used to enhance the unique qualities of this musical genre.

Since its resurgence, the Providence Brigade Band has quickly attained a distinguished reputation in the Southeastern New England area.

Providence Brigade Program for this evening:

The Town Band

• Old Log Hut-----------------------Friederich
  
• Jewel Waltz------------------------Friederich
  
• Marine Artillery Quick Step-----Robinson
  
• Wood Up---------------------------Holloway
  

Bands of the South-The 26th North Carolina
• Dixie & the Bonnie Blue Flag--------------Emmett/McCarthy
• Come Dearest, the Daylight Is Gone------Richards
• Louisa Polka----------------------------------anonymous
• Listen to the Mockingbird-------------------Tubb
• Lorena------------------------------------------Webster
• Carry Me Back to Old Virginny Shores---White

Bands of the North
• Kingdom Coming/Battle Cry of Freedom------------Work/Root
• Tenting Tonight------------------------------------------Kitteridge
• Just Before the Battle Mother--------------------------Root
• Yankee Doodle-------------------------------------------traditional/Friederich
• General Grant Grand March- --------------------------E. Mack
• Tramp, Tramp, Tramp-----------------------------------Root
• Weeping Sad and Lonely/Home Sweet Home-------Sawyer/Bishop
• John Brown's Body--------------------------------------Steffe/Gilmore
• When Johnny Comes Marching Home---------------Gilmore

Visit their website at: http://members.home.net/pbband

Some concert notes:
Yankee Doodle
"During this period, it seemed everyone had the favorite song, or at least most everyone. When Gen. Grant was asked what was his favorite song, he responded "I don't know if I have one". Being a prominent figure that he aws he must have had a favorite song but when pressed on the issue he responded "I only know two songs. One is Yankee Doodle and the other one ain't".

Marine Artillery Quickstep MP3
The Marine Artillery Quick Step
"One of the founding members of the Providence Brigade Band, Benjamin Robinson, wrote a piece early on in the career of the band and that song has lived on for many many decades. The song was written in 1848. It is the theme song of the 103rd field artillery division of the Rhode Island National Guard and it is still in use through this very day".

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