Newberry's Victorian Cornet Band

The next featured group on this blog is Newberry's Victorian Cornet Band. I can not find much about their whereabouts but it appears they are based out of Florida.

Newberry's Victorian Cornet Band
Newberry's Victorian Cornet Band is a professional period-instrument ensemble that plays American wind band music from the late 19th century. They have one CD available through Amazon and the linear notes include this information:

Newberry's Victorian Cornet Band was founded in 2002 by Michael O'Connor to explore the largely forgotten repertoire of wind band music composed between the end of the Civil War and the advent of the Sousa Band in 1892. This was a formative era for the instrumentation and the music of the American wind band, and the music played by these bands was one of the primary entertainment options available to most Americans. The Newberry Band plays only music published during this time on instruments from the era with original period mouthpieces. Our name reflects the practice of Victorian bands naming themselves after their leaders, even after another leader has taken over. In that spirit, we take our name from our original stage leader, Flora Newberry.

On the right notice the Schreiber baritone horn. Several other period instruments are used as well.
For your listening pleasure I present you with two funeral marches drawn from the ten recordings on Newberry's Victorian Cornet Band's YouTube Channel.


Out of necessity, funeral marches were within the repertoire  for many brass ensembles during this time period. The functionality, power and durability of a brass ensemble often meant playing outside: whether in a sweltering 4th of July parade or in a cold wind-swept cemetery in the midst of winter. I have even seen a photo of a brass ensemble playing at a funeral c.1900 where mourners are holding umbrellas for the musicians to keep their handwritten sheet music from getting wet

There are numerous other videos on YouTube of Newberry's Victorian Cornet Band but they are not official videos from this group.

For a very long time, brass ensembles have been a highly-sought after musical group for occasions festive or somber. 

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