Honor to Our Soldiers: Music of the Civil War

The American Civil War was a time of great heroics, celebration, suffering, and tenderness. Although much can be learned by studying this great conflict, it is through the music of this period that one may feel the emotions of the 1860s. In this recording, the Classical Brass presents music of the Civil War performed on original brass instruments dating from that time.

The instruments used in this recording are from the John H. Elrod Memorial Collection. Mark Elrod, the owner of the collection, was most helpful in the production of this recording. The two soprano instruments date from 1864 and were manufactured by E.G. Wright in Boston, Massachusetts. They include an E-flat valved bugle and a B-flat cornet. The three low brass instruments are over-the-shoulder sax horns (alto, tenor, and bass) pitched in E-flat, B-flat, and E-flat, respectively. These instruments were found in Reading, Pennsylvania, but bear the markings, "Klemm Bro., Philadelphia" as the manufacturer. All five instruments have string-linkage rotary valves.

Over-the shoulder brass instruments are an American phenomenon. The idea was for the band of a particular regiment to march in front of the troops with the bells of the instruments  pointing   backwards   so   they could be heard. This practice fell out of use shortly atter the Civil War.