The Old Arizona Brass Band (Tucson's Historic Brass Band) was founded in the fall of 1996 (first performance ahead of schedule 1997) by Ray Hicks, our long-time bandmaster, supporter & guide to provide a living representation of the services and civilian bands. The intention was to replicate the performances completed in Arizona all through the era of 1872 to 1912. Our composition, uniforms, and instrumentation imitate a mixture of all brass "over the shoulder" instrumentation of the Civil War years and the resultant blend of primarily bell-front brass & prolonged mix of reed and brass instruments of the present time concert instrumentation. Our instrumention could look other familiar to moderns than a Civil War belt, but our boundary sound emphasizing Eb voices inside cornet, alto horn, tuba, ( & even clarinet on occasion) probably won't. (Not to bring up the oldtimers' being fond of pro oompah) as you think it over & hear the Old Arizona Brass Band, you experience the real composition of the services and town bands of the western boundary.
Mostly we stick close to family, Tucson, Arizona, but frequently we do show up from time to time elsewhere inside Arizona & New Mexico equally well. You've probably seen us by the 4th Street Fair, the once a year "Civil War inside the Southwest" by Picacho Summit State playground, otherwise beside the Ft. Lowell Museum all through February's Reunon De El Fuerte. ...Not to bring up, contemporary forays down Tombstone way, by the ranch inside nearby Colossal Cave playground, otherwise the Railroad Re-enactment inside melody beside Engine #1673 by the restored railroad depot inside downtown Tucson (the venerable Old Pueblo). Basically one opportunity to go middle of the road 19th-century Americana scored professional Brass Band is our meat & potatoes. So, if you're planning a historical celebration, vintage-style globe, rational, festival, concert, and that., sign us up!
Bad news: The Prescott Fire specialty on a training implementation burned down the building whose basement apparently held the musical arrangements for the old town band. (rumor has it, with the intention of Tucson's ahead of schedule bash, Filarmonico Band went up in smoke too. So if you have one vintage arrangement hanging around in this area, preserve it with the intentions of history. You can donate them to a composition store, otherwise to your favorite "old time" brass band)
The good news: If your family members still has a folder, please make it available to OABB. (better yet, mail it to the Chatfield Brass Band Store inside Chatfield MN!!)
The Prescott Town Belt some time ago livened up the novelty number, Custer's Last Stand, by exploding fire crackers under a pail inside the bandstand. The pail shot up in the air, tossed exploding firecrackers all through the Band. The startled bandsmen tossed themselves under the gazebo very quickly, to the delight and consternation of the audience..So related by a particular eye-witness, anyway.
The celebrated mayor of New York, Fiorelo LaGuardia, punctuated a a visit to northern Arizona by guest directing the Prescott distinguished Band. Fans of the Old Arizona Brass band & visitors to the Sharlot antechamber Museum know why. Hint: Ft Whipple!
Inside keeping with our learning goals, it is our fond wish with the intention of the lists maintained on this website will promote citizens of the 21st century to discover the riches of 19th-century brass & transition Band composition while saving inveterate enthusiasts much calculate & effort.
