Mid Nineteenth Century Social Orchestra

AMOSKEAG PLAYERS

The Amoskeag Players was officially formed in 1991, however the members had been playing together for many years prior. The concept of recreating the sights and sounds of mid 19th century music evolved as part of the living history community and was an attempt to accurately portray the social life of the period. Toward this end the band uses either original or faithful reproduction instruments, period correct styles, and primary sources for music and arrangements. The appearance of the band is also striking, in that the clothing is also carefully researched and reproduced.

The music played by the band fits in a window between 1830 and 1865. The early date reflects the rise of popular music in America, the infant sheet music industry, and the beginning of the popularity of the banjo. The other time boundary is the end of the American Civil War. It would be an understatement to simply say that life changed after the war. To be more specific American culture and music was necessarily changed by the inclusion of four million people of African descent. The ensuing acculturization changed the style of popular music drastically.

The period defined by these dates is sometimes referred to as the early minstrel period and carries a certain stigma of racism. It is with a critical historical eye and ear that the Amoskeag Players preserves this music and by no means assigns anything to it other than its own intrinsic worth. Other are chosen from the parlor music genre and some come from the civil war itself. This represents a wide scope of period music. The latest project for the group is a program entitled "Music That Shaped a Nation". This was developed for a weekend at Harpers Ferry National Historic Site and gives a cross section of the music of the time and how it applied to such topics as abolition, temperance. labor, and the way Americans generally viewed themselves.

Musically, the band consists of banjo, fiddle, guitar, flute / whistle, tambourine, and bones. Other instruments include accordion, mandolin, and various drums where appropriate. The individual members are as follows:

David Nelson, Fiddle - Dave began playing fiddle about five years ago as an adjunct to his portrayal of the common soldier of the Civil War. His style is that of a self taught musician, playing off his chest and singing along. The fiddle is integral to the minstrel show and provides a strong background to the popular music. Dave is a mechanical engineer and makes his home in Wilton, NH.

Greg Heppe, Whistle/Flute - A penny whistle is just that, a cheap, readily available. and easily played instrument. While it is mostly associated today with Celtic music. there is evidence of a wide acceptance across the music spectrum in the 18th and 19th centuries. Its more elaborate cousin, the keyed wooden flute, enjoyed an extensive popularity. Greg has been playing winds for about twenty years in many styles and is looking for a period clarinet to add to the mix on dance pieces. He lives in Ossipee, NH, and teaches Industrial Arts at the Wolfeboro, NH, middle school level.

Stephen Belyea, Tambourine/Bodrhan - The other educator in the band is also the only out of state resident. Steve lives in Malden, MA, and is an artist. both fine and graphic, and has taught art at high school levels. In the minstrel show one of the two stars was Mr. Tambo, one of the end men. A properly played tambourine adds a striking effect and provides the distinctive sound required for faithful reproduction. Here a home made fourteen inch instrument is used and is quite different than a modern one. The bodhran is relatively unique in this setting; however, the tremendous influx of Irish people at this time brought traditional instruments to the new world.

Brett Walker, Bones - The opposite end from Mr. Tambo was real star of the show Mr. Bones. The uniqueness of the sound and playing style of this humble instrument is as fascinating today as it was then. Brett has been focusing almost exclusively on the bones for about six years and has achieved quite a level of expertise. He plays both wooden and bone varieties. Occasionally he doubles on mandolin which was not at all popular. The reason it appears at all is because the band plays many selections of the famous Hutchinson Family Singers of Milford NH. Jesse Hutchinson played a mandolin at their concerts. Brett is a pension plan administrator in the family business and lives in Hillsboro, NH.

Bob Kilham, Banjo - To discuss mid 19th C. music without mentioning the banjo would be like talking about rock and roll and forgetting the electric guitar. The parallel is striking in many ways. Like the other band members, Bob began playing his homemade banjo as part of soldier impression in 1986 and has been playing the stroke or minstrel style since. He also plays fiddle, guitar, and flute. Bob lives in Deerfield, NH, and makes his living as an interpreter and historical musician at Strawbery Banke Museum in Portsmouth

All band members are responsible for the vocal duties whether in lead or back up capacities. The stringed instruments are strung with gut as were the originals and this more than any one thing gives the music its distinctive sound. This enterprise represents many years of individual and collective research and the band feels confident in its claim to be a faithful recreation of a mid nineteenth century social orchestra.

For more information, questions, or comments, please feel free to call Amoskeag Music, in care of Bob Kilham, 1 Ridge Road, Deerfield, NH. 03037 (603) 463-3046

Minstrels ot Great Renown

This cassette, recorded in December 1993 is the first recording of the Amoskeag Players. It represents an effort to recreate the sounds of a mid-19th century minstrel troupe or social orchestra. It is, for the most part, a live recording. There are spots which use a second voice track for clarity. The instrumentation uses original and exact reproduction instruments including banjo, fiddle, bones, tambourine, guitar, tin whistle, and drum.

Production of this tape is as follows. It was recorded and engineered at Reel Time Studios, Mast Road, Pinardville, by Moe Bournival. It was produced and directed by Bob Kilham. Mixing was done by Brian Garceau and Bob Kilham.

The band on this album consists of:

• Brett Walker - Bones, vocal on Camptown Races, O Suzanna, Kemo Kimo
• Brian Garceau - Guitar, vocal on Clar'de Kitchen, Dixie
• David Nelson- Fiddle
• Gregg Heppe - Tin Whistle
• Stephen Belyea - Tambourine, Drum
• Bob Kilham - Banjo, vocals except as noted

The music was obtained from original sources and arranged authentically.

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