Brass, Reeds, and Percussion

Brass, Reeds, and Percussion is a program about music written for wind instruments and percussion. The only uniting theme of the program is that the music almost never involves any fiddle playing, although a little bit of fiddle sneaks in every once in a while.

In Prague, 134 years ago today, Julius Fucik was born. He graduated from the Prague Conservatory at age 19 after studying under Anton Dvorak. He became a member of the 49th Infantry Regiment Band of the Austro-Hungarian Army, conducted by Josef Franz Wagner and became a featured bassoon soloist for the band.

The “Star Spangled Banner” has not always been our national anthem.  Indeed, “Hail Columbia” was in the running for quite a while as the the favorite patriotic air of the United States.  Furthermore, the tune we know as the “Star Spangled Banner” is really a British drinking song entitled “Anacreon in Heaven.”  Francis Scott Key’s words were set to that tune.  And it only became the national anthem in 1931.

Hear blasmusik from Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic, including a marsh by Julius Fucik, the Bohemian Sousa.

Later this month, from June 25 to 28 in Austria in a little town near the northern border of Austria called Ort im Innkreis, the fifth Woodstock der Blasmusik will be held. Ort im Innkreis is roughly equidistant from Vienna, Munich, and Prague. The Woodstock der Blasmusik is a festival of both traditional and modern blasmusik or wind-band music. Meanwhile, you can hear traditional and modern blasmusik during this episode of Brass, Reeds, and Percussion.

The following compositions will be heard on this edition.

Memorial Day started out during or after the American Civil War as a way to honor the more than 600,000 who died in that war. It was first called Decoration Day because people would decorate the graves of soldiers who had died in the war. By the 20th century, Memorial Day had become a holiday to honor all those who have died while serving in our armed services. Memorial Day shouldn’t really be confused with Veteran’s Day, which is to honor those who are alive and have served. So today’s edition is dedicated to the memory of those who died in service to our country.

German blasmusik is featured on this episode.

On Monday, May 4, 1865, the American Civil War east of the Mississippi River ended. Even after Lee surrendered to Grant at Appomattox on April 9, 1865, the war had continued. On April 16, Union General Wilson defeated the Confederates in the Battle of Columbus, Georgia. On April 18, Confederate General Johnston surrendered to Union General Sherman in Durham, North Carolina. On May 4, Confederate General Taylor surrendered to Union General Canby at Citronelle, Alabama, in Mobile County.

Estonian composers and music are featured on this episode.

Today, we go to public concerts by rock stars like Elton John or country music singers like Kenny Chesney.  Having been a teenager in the 1960s, I can still list the names rock bands from that period: Vanilla Fudge, the Who, and so forth.  During the late 19th century, there was popular music and singers—and musicians went on national tours just as they do today.  Only the stars of the late 19th century played the cornet and the trombone and performed with such wind bands as Gilmore’s Band, the Sousa Band, and the World Renowned Liberati Band.