Constitution Brass Quintet of Vermont

     In addition to its ever-popular "Summer in the Park" program, the Constitution Brass successfully offered for the first time in an outdoor setting its celebrated "Music of the Civil War" concert during the summer of 1997.

     This program effectively resurrects for the audience the intense feelings of the Civil War through the quintet's authentic renditions of the inspiring marches, lilting waltzes and heart-rending songs as they were performed by the brass bands and sung by the troops on both sides of the conflict. Printed lyrics are provided and the audience is encouraged to sing along on familiar songs. In addition, well-researched historical commentary is presented to enhance the listener's experience.

     The Constitution Brass Quintet, with the addition of percussionist Tom Toner, has performed this program to standing ovations in Vermont since 1994 and in 1996 was invited by the Friends of the Vermont State House to perform Civil War brass band music in the State House chambers. In 1997, the ensemble performed music of the Civil War before a national TV audience for the unveiling of the recasting of the Colonel Robert Shaw Memorial at the Saint Gaudens National Historic Site.