Design characteristics of nineteenth century American-made brass instruments

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The brass band was arguably the most popular form of entertainment for most American citizens in the nineteenth century. This ensemble flourished in nearly every town and eventually led directly to the development of jazz, the basis for all American popular music in the twentieth century. American brass instrument design underwent significant changes in a relatively short period of time during the second half of the nineteenth century. These design changes resulted in noticeable variations in instrumental timbre, changes that clearly had an effect on the music written for wind bands during this period. This presentation will feature two complete sets of nineteenth century brass band instruments, one from the Civil War era and one from the end of the century. They will be analyzed from the following perspectives: design specifications of bore, bell shape, valve configuration and mouthpiece design; weight and thickness of metal; and instrument timbre as demonstrated in live performance. It is hoped that the comparison of design characteristics followed by the actual sounds of the instruments will offer insights into this most important of relationships for the musician.