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California band coming to re-enactment
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| The Americus Brass Band of California is based on the original Americus Brass Band of Americus, Ga., which enlisted in the Confederate Army in 1861 and performed on the battlefield during many Civil War battles, including the battles of Gettysburg and Manassas. |
By Cindy Iutzi/Gate City Staff Writer
The Americus Brass Band, known throughout the United States for its authenticity and professionalism, will perform at the 20th annual Battle of Pea Ridge Civil War Re-enactment in Keokuk.
The band's appearance is a “rare opportunity,” said Kirk Brandenberger, executive director of the Keokuk Area Convention and Tourism Bureau.
“Having a band like the Americus Brass Band at the re-enactment shows the credibility of our event and keeps it at a high standard,” he said. “There has been a great deal of interest in the re-enactment community for this band. It will be the first time some of them see it.”
Most years the three-day event brings a total of 1,500 re-enactors and family members to Keokuk, all in Civil War uniforms and period dress.
The re-enactment begins Friday, April 27, and continues through Sunday, April 29, at Rand Park, with associated events at several locations.
Americus Brass Band scheduled performances are at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Military Ball, 2285 Middle Road, Keokuk High School, and 9:30 a.m. Sunday at the memorial and church service at the Keokuk National Cemetery, 18th and Ridge streets.
The Americus Brass Band is one of the most active and well known professional brass ensembles in the United States, touring for more than 10 years in more than 35 states.
Based on the original Americus Brass Band of Americus, Ga., which enlisted in the Confederate Army in 1861 and performed on the battlefield during many Civil War battles - most notably the battles of Gettysburg and Manassas (Battle of Bull Run) and through the surrender at Appomattox - today's band was founded in 1976 by students at the California State University, Long Beach, who also were Civil War re-enactors.
The band equips itself with a complete and authentic set of 19th century brass instruments and is outfitted in re-created, correct, Confederate uniforms. The music is authentic, too, comprised of pieces played during the Civil War and 19th century.
A trumpet player, Richard Birkemeier, professor of music at the Long Beach campus and vice chair of the music department, directs the Americus Brass Band. He's been with the band for 22 years.
“We'll play on the battle field in a circle concert,” Birkemeier said. “They didn't have a director back then. They played in a circle so they could see each other.
“In Keokuk, we will do marching and I will pretend to be a drum major. They did have drum majors back then. We make a huge effort to be as authentic as possible.”
Birkemeier said bands played during Civil War battles to keep soldiers' minds off of the horrors of war, to remind them of home and for what they were fighting. He said a Union observer at Pickett's Charge, Gettysburg, Va., “was incredulous that the band was playing waltzes and dance pieces while the men were being slaughtered.”
About half of the 12,500 Confederate soldiers in the battle were wounded or killed.
Americus Brass Band was drawn to Keokuk because of its roots in the Civil War and interest in Civil War re-enactments.
“The guys are always ready to jump into a van and will drive as far away as Georgia,” Birkemeier said. “We've become known in the United States as the top band.”
The Americus Brass Band performed at the 125th anniversary re-enactments of the battles of Bull Run and Gettysburg.
One of the reasons the band is so highly acclaimed is because of its talented musicians. Birkemeier said all are professionals and several play in symphony orchestras. Birkemeier himself has a history of playing in orchestras as well as conducting.
The group has appeared in several movies and television productions, such as: the ABC television mini-series, “The North and South”; the CBS television movie, “Once Upon a Texas Train”; several episodes of the CBS show, “Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman”; and the IMAX movie, “Alamo: The Price of Freedom.”
The band also has performed for the sound tracks of the 1991 NBC television mini-series, “Son of the Morning Star”; the 1993 Turner major motion picture, “The Battle of Gettysburg”; the 1993 syndicated television mini-series, “The Wild West”; the 1990 Tri-Star Pictures, Oscar-winning movie, “Glory”; and the 1993 Columbia Pictures epic film, “Geronimo.”
The band's appearance is a “rare opportunity,” said Kirk Brandenberger, executive director of the Keokuk Area Convention and Tourism Bureau.
“Having a band like the Americus Brass Band at the re-enactment shows the credibility of our event and keeps it at a high standard,” he said. “There has been a great deal of interest in the re-enactment community for this band. It will be the first time some of them see it.”
Most years the three-day event brings a total of 1,500 re-enactors and family members to Keokuk, all in Civil War uniforms and period dress.
The re-enactment begins Friday, April 27, and continues through Sunday, April 29, at Rand Park, with associated events at several locations.
Americus Brass Band scheduled performances are at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Military Ball, 2285 Middle Road, Keokuk High School, and 9:30 a.m. Sunday at the memorial and church service at the Keokuk National Cemetery, 18th and Ridge streets.
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Based on the original Americus Brass Band of Americus, Ga., which enlisted in the Confederate Army in 1861 and performed on the battlefield during many Civil War battles - most notably the battles of Gettysburg and Manassas (Battle of Bull Run) and through the surrender at Appomattox - today's band was founded in 1976 by students at the California State University, Long Beach, who also were Civil War re-enactors.
The band equips itself with a complete and authentic set of 19th century brass instruments and is outfitted in re-created, correct, Confederate uniforms. The music is authentic, too, comprised of pieces played during the Civil War and 19th century.
A trumpet player, Richard Birkemeier, professor of music at the Long Beach campus and vice chair of the music department, directs the Americus Brass Band. He's been with the band for 22 years.
“We'll play on the battle field in a circle concert,” Birkemeier said. “They didn't have a director back then. They played in a circle so they could see each other.
“In Keokuk, we will do marching and I will pretend to be a drum major. They did have drum majors back then. We make a huge effort to be as authentic as possible.”
Birkemeier said bands played during Civil War battles to keep soldiers' minds off of the horrors of war, to remind them of home and for what they were fighting. He said a Union observer at Pickett's Charge, Gettysburg, Va., “was incredulous that the band was playing waltzes and dance pieces while the men were being slaughtered.”
About half of the 12,500 Confederate soldiers in the battle were wounded or killed.
Americus Brass Band was drawn to Keokuk because of its roots in the Civil War and interest in Civil War re-enactments.
“The guys are always ready to jump into a van and will drive as far away as Georgia,” Birkemeier said. “We've become known in the United States as the top band.”
The Americus Brass Band performed at the 125th anniversary re-enactments of the battles of Bull Run and Gettysburg.
One of the reasons the band is so highly acclaimed is because of its talented musicians. Birkemeier said all are professionals and several play in symphony orchestras. Birkemeier himself has a history of playing in orchestras as well as conducting.
The group has appeared in several movies and television productions, such as: the ABC television mini-series, “The North and South”; the CBS television movie, “Once Upon a Texas Train”; several episodes of the CBS show, “Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman”; and the IMAX movie, “Alamo: The Price of Freedom.”
The band also has performed for the sound tracks of the 1991 NBC television mini-series, “Son of the Morning Star”; the 1993 Turner major motion picture, “The Battle of Gettysburg”; the 1993 syndicated television mini-series, “The Wild West”; the 1990 Tri-Star Pictures, Oscar-winning movie, “Glory”; and the 1993 Columbia Pictures epic film, “Geronimo.”
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