Glorious News!!!!  After over a year of searching, I have located a semi-professional 19th century brass band with musicians of the calibre need to perform the band books  of the 19th Va Heavy Arty Band.  They are also excited about making a CD. 

At this point, I'm not sure what the full play-list of the CD will be, or its title, or even its exact focus.  Generally, I would like to stress (1) that this is Virginia music from the Civil War, and (2) the fact the music is from the Museum of the Confederacy.  Perhaps other selections from the MOC will be put on the CD, but that's only in the early stages.   I hope the project is completed by the middle of April, and CDs will be available by early May.

Given (1) above, I would like to weave in ANY reports of Virginia bands during the Civil War.  At this point, I only have two:  One is the very fine book about the Stonewall Brigade Band from which I can extract enough, and the second is a minor reference by Shelby Foote about a brass band in Petersburg playing so loudly when Grant's army first appeared, that the army thought the Confederates were in town in strength.  It is a delightful story and gives an interesting twist to General Lee's observation that "You cannot have an army without music...."   But I have not found ANYBODY who can substantiate the story.

I guess I should add a third which are several references to "The Armory Band" performing in Richmond during the war, but I have nothing beyond that.

Anyway, I would appreciate any stories, references, programs, etc. of Virginia Brass Bands during the Civil War.  Try to make it as self-contained as possible, since I'm up here in the boonies and it takes about 3 hours to get to Richmond to follow up on any research.

Randy Cabell

To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions
at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html