The Excelsior Cornet Band is New York State's only authentic Civil War brass band. Founded in 2001, the band consists of a group of upstate New York musicians who are dedicated to the performance of original Civil War music on actual antique brass band instruments of the 1860's period.
The Excelsior Cornet Band looking ready for action at Rose Hill Mansion's
Civil War Weekend, August 8, 2004, Geneva NY
Photo: Victoria Stockham
Recreating the glorious sounds and appearance of this pivotal period in American history, the band performs the most popular melodies of the 1850-1870 period, as well as patriotic airs, operatic medleys, marches, and dance music by the era's most renowned composers and bandmasters. All of the band's musical arrangements come from the bandbooks of Civil War era bands, or are arranged from the original Civil War era sheet music.
The musicians of the Excelsior Cornet Band are professional performers with many years of experience in a wide variety of musical genres. They perform with an enthusiasm and polish that brings the music of the Civil War brass band era to life. Their uniforms authentically and accurately represent those of a typical early-war New York State Militia band.
During its more than six years of performing, the Excelsior Cornet Band has presented concerts, educational programs, and living history portrayals for a wide variety of organizations and municipalities across New York State, including:
Genesee Country Village & Museum, Mumford, NY
New York State Military Museum, Saratoga, NY
Tinker Homestead Museum, Rochester, NY
Rose Hill Mansion, Geneva, NY
155th NY Volunteer Infantry, Buffalo, NY
Aurora Historical Society, Aurora, NY
Morgan-Manning House, Brockport, NY
Peterboro NY Civil War Weekend
Syracuse University
Le Moyne College, Syracuse, NY
Elmira College
State University of NY at Oswego
Wells College, Aurora, NY
County of Onondaga, NY
Mohonk Mountain House, New Paltz, NY
Mount Hope Cemetery, Rochester, NY
Locust Grove/Samuel F.B. Morse Historic Site, Poughkeepsie, NY
The New York State Fair, Syracuse, NY
Albany Rural Cemetery Civil War Heritage Days
Dedication/rededication of Civil War Monuments and cemetery plots
in Syracuse, Buffalo, Albany, and Fabius NY;
The 149th NYS Volunteers
Oswego Harborfest, Oswego, NY
Concert series at Sacketts Harbor, Liverpool, Moravia, Cazenovia,
and Homer, NY
No other musical group in New York State can recreate the glorious sounds and appearance of the Civil War brass band era with such accuracy and authenticity. The Excelsior Cornet Band is proud to present the music of this important period of American history.
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We are always seeking period instruments for our performing collection. Of particular interest are any Over-The-Shoulder (OTS) instruments (especially E-flat soprano, B-flat soprano and B-flat baritone) and any keyed bugles (especially in E-flat). Please Contact Us if you have an instrument that you think may be of interest to us!
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WHAT'S NEW?
April 23: Two new acquisitions, a rare E-flat keyed bugle and a very nice over-the-shoulder E-flat alto horn, have been added to the Instruments Page.
Bandleader Jeff Stockham Wins
At National Trumpet Competition!
March 16: Bandleader Jeff Stockham won the 19th Century Historic Division of the National Trumpet Competition, held at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. Jeff performed Joseph Kuffner's Polonaise for Keyed Bugle in the final round, accompanied by the Federal City Brass Band.
March 23: We have just acquired a vanishingly rare box-valve E-flat cornet made by Hall & Quinby, and our rare teardrop-shaped baritone horn by Louis Schreiber has been fully restored by Robb Stewart. Pictures have been added to the Instruments Page.
February 22: Three new acquisitions, including a rare circular B-flat cornet, added to the Instruments Page; Updates added to the 2008 Schedule Page.
December 10: One new performance added to the 2008 Schedule Page.
November 21: One new acquisition, an E-flat over-the-shoulder bass saxhorn tuba by Slater & Martin, added to the Instruments Page.
October 7: Photo of our newly restored C. A. Zoebisch E-flat over-the-shoulder bass saxhorn tuba added to the Instruments Page.
October 4: One new acquisition, a very rare teardrop-shaped baritone horn by Louis Schreiber, added to the Instruments Page. One new picture from the 2007 concert season added to the Photo Gallery.
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Excelsior Cornet Band CD Wins SAMMY Award!
June 2, 2006: Our CD "Cheer, Boys, Cheer!" won a SAMMY Award (Syracuse Area Music Award) for "Best Recording, Other Styles" (non-pop/rock/jazz/folk.)
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PURCHASE OUR AWARD-WINNING CD!
Our debut CD Cheer, Boys, Cheer! is now available. It includes 16 selections ranging from well-known Civil War tunes to lesser-known but equally exciting music, ballads to quicksteps, marching songs to operatic arrangements.
1. 3rd U.S. Infantry Quickstep (Henry Jaeger)
2. Polonaise for Keyed Bugle (Joseph Kuffner)
3. Hero's Quickstep (Henry Schmitt)
4. Skyrockets! (Claudio Grafulla)
5. Irish Medley (Squire's Brass Band Oleo)
6. Meditation: 20 Years Ago (Hall/Linley/Goodwin)
7. Quickstep Ala Pike (Gaetano Daga)
8. Cheer, Boys, Cheer! (Henry Russell)
9. Remembrance (Felix Mendelssohn)
10. General Birney's Quickstep (Alfred Squire)
11. Battle Hymn Quickstep (Gilmore/Howe/Steffe)
12. Rock Me To Sleep, Mother (John Hill Hewitt)
13. Maryland Guard Galop (Charles Denstedt)
14. Manual of Arms Polka (Claudio Grafulla)
15. Tu Che A Dio (Gaetano Donizetti)
16. Tenting On The Old Camp Ground (Walter Kittredge)
CLICK HERE to hear Hero's Quickstep
Richard Schwartz, scholar and distinguished author of The Cornet Compendium: The History and Development of the Nineteenth-Century Cornet, has this to say about Cheer, Boys, Cheer!:
"Recordings of Civil War Brass Band Music that are played with true sensitivity, warmth, and depth of musicality and feeling are indeed rare. Many great Civil War Brass Band recordings do exist and represent a fine selection of music played by bands on both sides of the war. This recording, however, contains something very special indeed! Herein exists an opportunity to hear these pieces played with a rare depth of musicality, accuracy, sensitivity, and historical research! One knows as soon as the first track plays, Third U.S. Infantry Quickstep. The playing is musical, beautiful, clean, and the piece is played at a wonderful tempo that shows off all these great players! I knew that I was in for a treat! The research for the information for each piece is impeccable as well. There is so much good to say here, that I can only hit the highlights. First of all, the group is outstanding. Each section of the band is equally represented throughout the CD. The excellence of the research is further validated by the fact that not just (OTS) Over-The-Shoulder horns are used on this CD. OTS are, of course, here, but so also are rotary-valve cornets; cylindrical-valve lower horns; percussion; and keyed bugle played by the virtuoso Jeff Stockham. Moving performances of patriotic airs, operatic medleys, and music that were played by bands on both sides of the war is represented on the recording as well. The last arrangement on this great CD, Tenting on the Old Camp Ground, ends with a touching and very poignant performance of the immortal Taps. A well-rounded and excellent recording is for the taking here. Do yourself a great favor and order a copy soon!"
To purchase our CD, send your $17.00 PayPal payment, with your confirmed address, payable to this email address:
jstockham@a-znet.com
Or send your check or money order for $17.00 to:
Excelsior Cornet Band
P.O. Box 6733
Syracuse, NY 13217-6733
Price includes shipping.
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