Heritage Military Music Foundation Inc

Results: We have compiled one of the largest playing collections of mid-nineteenth century brass band instruments in the country. We are a traveling museum, taking these instruments to a variety of venues and using them for their original purpose - making music. Our programs bring history to life by combining narrative stories of the times with the music. We actively restore these antique instruments that have been converted into lamps, run over by trucks or otherwise abused over the past 150 years. We are arranging scraps of music from the period into band arrangements to present music that has not been heard in over 150 years.

Target demographics: present living history programs focused on the military bands of the American Civil War and mid-ninteenth century.

Direct beneficiaries per year: Performed over 20 programs for civic celebrations, holiday parades, veteran's organizations and schools.

Geographic areas served: Upper midwest, primarily Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota

Programs: Heritage military music foundation sponsors the 1st brigade band. The band is committed to two primary goals - to re-create to the fullest extent possible all aspects of the military and community brass bands of the 1860s and to do so in a manner that is entertaining and accessible to the modern audience. Attired in period uniforms and gowns, the band's musicians, color guard and vivandieres take their audiences back to the 1860's and breathes life into history by performing authentic music on actual antique instruments. Musical selections are combined with narrated accounts, anecdotes, letters and tales of the times. The foundation has acquired and maintains an extensive, exceptional collection of rare antique brass, woodwind and percussion instruments, one of the finest, most extensive playing collections in the nation. It has also developed a fine library of music selected from the books of union and confederate bands, from manuscripts and original sheet music of the period. The band has recorded fifteen volumes of historic music. Performances include historical programs, parades, circle concerts, joint concerts with school bands and period dances. In 2014, the band celebrated the 50th anniversary of the founding of the current 1st brigade band. The original 1st brigade band was formed in 1864 and served with general sherman during the american civil war.