COOKEVILLE, Tenn. (April 15, 2005) — Tennessee Tech University’s Brass Arts Quintet will perform a free multimedia concert featuring music of the American Civil War on Wednesday, April 20, at 8 p.m. in the Wattenbarger Auditorium of the Bryan Fine Arts Building.

Joining the TTU brass professors will be Rick Woods, Director of Cookeville Leisure Services. Woods will narrate the program, which features brass band music from 1850 to 1880.

The concert features a variety of popular music from the mid-19th century including marches, patriotic works, waltzes and polkas written for brass bands when they were an important part of the American musical scene.

Solos for cornet and baritone along with songs by the famous American composer Stephen Foster will be performed.

Original photographs taken more than 150 years ago of musicians, American society, and bands from the Civil War era will add to the concert experience.

Brass quintet coordinator Charles Decker said, "We are excited to present a multimedia concert of popular songs and dance music as played by brass bands in the mid-19th century. The combination of narration, original photographs from the era, and the actual sounds [people of that period] heard will make it a memorable evening for all who enjoy stepping back in time to relive the American experience.”

The Brass Arts Quintet has appeared on concert specials broadcast nationally on public television stations.

Members are TTU brass faculty Charles Decker and Chris McCormick, trumpets, Greg Danner, horn, Joshua Hauser, trombone, and R. Winston Morris, tuba.

--Tracey LeFevre
This information posted April 15 2005