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Territorial Brass Band Celebrates Statehood in Musical Medley
New CD and live concert

By Mary Jo Padgett

Brass bands and band music were popular in Arizona long before statehood became official. In fact, the nationwide brass band movement was introduced to Arizona at a concert in Prescott in 1865, led by Lucian Bonaparte Jewell, who later became Prescott's first mayor. The popularity of brass bands quickly spread throughout the territory, and over time brass bands were organized in the settlements of Prescott, Phoenix, Tucson, Tempe, Mesa, Yuma, Kingman, and many of the mining towns such as Bisbee, Morenci, Jerome, and Globe. Popular bandleader Federico Ronstadt hailed from Tucson; regimental bands played across the state in towns large and small; and Prescott boasted about its hometown bandleader Achille La Guardia.

These historic figures and their music, along with much more music related to Arizona history, are being recorded for release on CD by the 12-member band Territorial Brass as part of the Arizona Centennial Legacy Project. Folks can enjoy a preview of this compilation of Arizona Mosaic at a 7 p.m. concert in Patagonia on August 14 in the Amish Barn at the Spirit Tree Inn B&B.

The concert by Territorial Brass will offer a taste of what is to come on the CD that is being produced in honor of Arizona's Centennial. Dressed in turn-of-the-century costumes (modeled after the Prescott and Bisbee brass bands), Territorial Brass recaptures the golden age of the American town band. Members of the band will sing and play pieces at the concert that will be performed by Arizona celebrities on the CD.

For example, there will be a medley of music written by Rex Allen, "The Arizona Waltz," and by Rex Allen, Jr. "I Love You, Arizona." R. Carlos Nakai, well-known Navaho flutist, has recorded "Amazing Grace" with the band for the CD. Members of the Buffalo Soldiers reenactment group, representing the 9th and 10th Calvary based at Fort Huachuca, will sing their regimental songs. Stories will be included: Wyatt Earp will record a short story vignette taking on the role of THE Wyatt Earp, his great uncle ... performer Tony LoBianco will impersonate the voice of Fiorello LaGuardia describing his boyhood days in Prescott and his father's band ... Michael Ronstadt, grandson of Tucson bandleader Federico Ronstadt, will present a brief story about the band in the 1890s ... and Jody Drake of Sharlot Hall Museum will take the role of Sharlot Hall.

Since 1987 Territorial Brass has performed across the state of Arizona and beyond. In 1990 it was proclaimed Arizona's Official Historical Brass Band. Specializing in 19th century American brass band music, the ensemble plays authentic arrangements from 1835, through the Civil War, and up to 1912, Arizona's year of statehood. Popular songs of the period are rendered by a soprano vocalist and the program is narrated from the perspective of a young lady living in Arizona Territory in 1897. For indoor concerts, their program incorporates slides of vintage photographs of Arizona bands and daily life in the territory. "Our goal is to replicate the brass bands that were active in Arizona and New Mexico during the territorial periods," said Don Larry, who plays euphonium with the band. "Over the years we've added more than 300 original 19th century works to our repertoire. Music played by the Arizona and New Mexico territorial bands and written by Arizona composers such as Achille La Guardia - father of Fiorello La Guardia, who later become Mayor of New York City - and Federico Ronstadt - who is singer Linda Ronstadt's grandfather - are constantly being researched and collected by Territorial Brass and programmed into each concert."

The title song of the new CD, "Arizona Mosaic," will be written and made available to high school bands so they can play it at their own Arizona Centennial celebrations, Larry said.

"At this point, we're about half-way through the recording process," he reported. "But the CD will be ready in time for our state Centennial. In the meantime, folks can enjoy some of the music and stories on the CD at the concert in Patagonia on August 14."

It will be an exciting and rousing event with the sounds of piccolo, flute, tuba, cornets, flugel horn, alto horns, drums, euphonium, trombone, and tuba, along with a vocalist and narration.

For Patagonia concert information visit the Santa Cruz Foundation for the Performing Arts website at http://www.scfpapresents.org

Project Information
Name: Arizona Voices
Type: State/Regional
Contact: Don Larry (480) 495-2299
Website: http://www.scfpapresents.org