The Boston Brigade Band (1821 – c. 1863) was a brass and reed band that performed in Boston, Massachusetts, and elsewhere in New England. Some of the musical pieces played by the band were subsequently published as sheet music, including "The Mammoth Cod Quickstep" of 1839. The band received acclaim in its day, particularly for its combination of both brass and woodwind instruments.Dwight's Journal of Music, September 18, 1852. Cited in: Clyde S. Shive Jr. The "First" Band Festival in America. American Music, Vol. 15, No. 4 (Winter, 1997); p.455.Musical World and New York Musical Times, September 11, 1852. Cited in: Shive, 1997.Frank J. Cipolla. Review of: The Music Men: An Illustrated History of Brass Bands in America, 1800–1920; by Margaret Hindle Hazen and Robert M. Hazen. American Music, Vol. 7, No. 3 (Autumn, 1989); p.330.
History In 1821, at the request of Captain Martin Brimmer, Dan Simpson (proprietor of the Green Dragon tavern) "organized the Boston Brigade Band. ... Maj. Simpson was just the man to carry out successfully Capt. Brimmer's desire, for besides being well acquainted with the few musicians in Boston, he was the popular host of the tavern ... at which many of the old members [of the Green Dragon band] often congregated.Drayley. Boston Daily Globe, August 6, 1900.
Leaders of the Brigade Band included: Asa Fillebrown (1821–1826, 1828–1835);Drayley. Boston Daily Globe, August 7, 1900.Oliver Ayer Roberts. History of the Military company of the Massachusetts, now called the Ancient and honorable artillery company of Massachusetts. 1637–1888, Volume 2. A. Mudge & son, printers, 1897; p.462. James Kendall (1826–1827); Abel F. Knight (1836–1844); J.H. Seipp (1844–1848); Patrick S. Gilmore (1852, c. 1859); and E.H. Weston (c. 1858).Concert programme. Boston Music Hall, July 12, 1858.
Band members in 1824 included: John Bartlett (trumpet); James Clark (clarinet); Lemuel Clark (French horn); William Crombie (bassoon); Asa Fillebrown (clarinet); George W. Foster (octave flute); James K. Kendall (clarinet); Richard Madden (bugle); Joel R. Mann (clarinet); Moses Mann (serpent); Willard W. Mann (clarinet); J. Henry Niebuhr (trumpet); Calvin Simonds (clarinet); Jonathan Stanley (bass drum); Asa Warren (bass horn); John B. Warren; Samuel Wetherbee (French horn); Charles Wright (cymbals). "William Crombie, who beat the cymbols, kept a tavern on the corner of Cambridge and Garden" streets. "Lemuel Clark was a crusty man, but a good musician. He became drum major of the band in September, 1830(?), on Centennial day. ... He wore a scarlet coat, flat cocked hat and carried a red baton, which he never knew how to swing, saying: 'He wasn't going to play any of them monkey tricks.'"
The band often performed at appearances of the Boston Light Infantry. "The band uniform ... was especially neat and attractive and bore a marked difference to any then worn by the militia. The coat was blue, of the same style and pattern as worn by the officers of the U.S. army, with three rows of bell buttons on the front, and was further set off by a gold-laced collar."
According to one account, "the band grew in proficiency, and became quite celebrated. It existed until 1861, when it was dissolved by Mr. Eben Flagg.Roberts, 1897; p.462. After the band dissolved, some of the musicians joined the Edmands' Band and Orchestra, formed in 1863 by Thomas Ormsby Edmands.The Last Tones. Jacobs' Band Monthly. October 1919; p.22.
Selected performances
1821 – September 23 – Brigade muster, Boston Common 1823 – October 15 – Salem Light Infantry 18th Anniversary, Salem MAGeorge Mantum Whipple. History of the Salem Light Infantry from 1805–1890. Essex Institute, 1890. 1825 – October 14: Salem East India Marine Society hall dedication. 1831 – June – Boston Guards visit to Philadelphia. "The band gave two concerts at Musical Fund Hall, which were greatly applauded, and attended by 12 or 1500 persons."The Diary of Samuel Breck, 1827–1833. The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 103, No. 2 (April, 1979); p.240-241. 1830 – October 25 – Salem Light Infantry 25th Anniversary, Salem MA 1832 – Laying the cornerstone of the Masonic Temple, Boston. 1833 – October 16 – Salem Light Infantry 28th Anniversary, Salem MA 1835 – October 16 – Salem Light Infantry 30th Anniversary, Salem MA 1837 August 24 – Salem Light Infantry 32nd Anniversary, Salem MA October 4 – Parade on Berry Street, Boston 1838 – October – Regimental parade, BostonSalem Gazette, September 28, 1838. 1840 May 29 – Parade in Ipswich, MA July – Encampment of the Boston Light Infantry, Springfield Mass. 1841 – August 17 – Boston 1843 – February – Odeon, BostonDaily Atlas (Boston), February 16, 1843. 1844 May 30 – Abstinence Convention, BostonDaily Atlas (Boston), May 25, 1844. June 26 – Salem, MA August 15 – Yale commencement, New Haven CTCommencement concert, Thursday evening, August 15, 1844: the Beethoven Society of Yale College, assisted by the Boston Brigade Band, will give a vocal and instrumental concert ... [New Haven?]: Hitchcock & Stafford, 1844. 1853 – May 26 – Keene, New Hampshire, centennial celebrationKeene Public Library. Retrieved 2009-12-11 1854 – August – University of Vermont semi-centennial celebrationUniversity of Vermont; Semi-Centennial Celebration-Literary Addresses-Annual Commencement-Dinners, &c. New York Times, August 8, 1854. 1855 Middlesex Cattle Show and Exhibition. "The Spading Match took place at ten, immediately after the plowing, and, as usual, drew a large concourse of spectators. The stirring strains of the Boston Brigade Band lent their aid to the occasion, and the scene soon became an animated one, the spectators at once fixing upon their favorite competitors, and becoming as deeply interested as the spaders themselves."New England Farmer. November 1855; p.514-515. October 9 – Salem Light Infantry 50th Anniversary, Salem MA 1856 Brown University commencementCommencement of Brown University. New York Times, September 9, 1856 October 2 – Reception of President Franklin Pierce in New Hampshire.Boston Daily Atlas, October 3, 1856. 1859 – Visit of the Knights Templar of Boston to Masons in Richmond, CaliforniaWeekly San Joaquin Republican, May 21, 1859. 1863 – September 2 – Arrival of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry at Commercial Wharf, BostonLuis Fenollosa Emilio. History of the Fifty-Fourth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, 1863–1865, 2nd ed. Boston Book Co., 1894; p.318.
Sheet music
1820s
The Boston Brigade march: as performed by the Brigade Band at the reception of Genl. Lafayette; arranged for the piano forte by James Hewitt. Boston: Published by James L. Hewitt at his music store no. 70 Market St., [1824?]. Also known as Lafayette's quick step.For more information on sheet music related to the band, see catalog of the Boston Athenaeum; also Boston Public Library. The Norfolk guards: favorite quickstep: as performed by the Boston Brigade band: arranged for the piano forte. New York: Published by James L. Hewitt & Co. at their music saloon, [between 1827 and 1829]
1830s The Massachusetts Grand Railway march, as played by the Boston Brigade Band. Boston (197 Washington Street, Boston): John Ashton, [c. 1830] President Jackson's grand march, arranged for the piano forte by Mr. Peile. 2nd ed. New York: Published by J.L. Hewitt, [1830–1835]. "Performed by the Boston Brigade Band and presented by them to the publisher." Corner-stone march. Boston (164 Washington St.): Published by C. Bradlee, 1832. "As performed by the Boston Brigade Band at the ceremony of laying the cornerstone of the Masonic Temple, Boston. Dedicated to the fraternity by Ch. Zeuner." Rangers quick step. Boston: Published for the author by C. Bradlee; Boston (141 Washington St.): sold by S.H. Parker; Boston: Pendleton's Lithography, 1834. "Respectfully dedicated to Capt. C. R. Lowell and the officers and members of the Boston Rifle Rangers. Performed for the first time by the Boston Brigade Band, August 26, 1834. Composed (in part) by T. Comer." Rangers' trip to Westborough or lion quickstep. Boston: Published for the author by C. Bradlee; Pendleton's Lithogy, 1834. "Respectfully dedicated to Capt. Chas. C. Paine and the officers and members of the Rifle Rangers, Boston. Performed for the first time on their visit to the Lyon Farm by the Brigade Band at the opening of the railroad to Westborough, November 15th, 1834. Composed by James Hooton." The Tiger quick step, composed by Thos. Comer. Boston (115 Washington St., Boston): Oliver Ditson, 1834. "Respectfully dedicated to Capt. E. Weston and the Officers & members of the Boston Light Infantry, performed for the first time at their anniversary 1834 by the Boston Brigade Band."
City guards quickstep. Boston: Published by Oliver Ditson; Pendleton's Lithogy, 1835. "Composed by Walch, arranged for the pianoforte with a flute accompaniment and also for two flutes by Ch.Zeuner. Dedicated to the City Guards by the Boston Brigade Band." Paine's quick step: respectfully dedicated to Capt. Chas. C. Paine, as performed by the Boston Brigade Band at the encampment of the Rifle Rangers. Boston: Parker & Ditson, 1836. Pulaski quickstep. Boston: Published by Oliver Ditson; Boston: Moore's Lith., 1836. "As played by the Boston Brigade Band. Respectfully dedicated to Gen. J. L. C. Amee, first commander of the Pulaski Guards by James Hooton." Sutton's quick step: respectfully dedicated to Capt. William Sutton, and the officers and members of the Salem Independent Cadets by the Boston Brigade Band. Boston: Parker & Ditson, 1837. Charles Zeuner. Herz's quick step: as played by the Boston Brigade Band: arranged for the piano forte. Boston: Parker & Ditson, 1837. The Berry Street Rangers quickstep. Boston: Published by H.Prentiss; T. Moore's Lithogy, [c. 1837]. "Our Country is Safe" as performed by the Boston Brigade Band at the Volunteer Parade of the company Oct. 4th, 1837, and dedicated to the officers and members of the company by the Boston Brigade Band. Composed by Walch." The Dennis quickstep. Boston: Published by G. P. Reed; Thos. Moore's Lithography., 1839. "As performed by the Boston Brigade Band. Respectfully dedicated to Major Louis Dennis, officers, and members of the Hancock Light Infantry. Performed for the 1st time at their anniversary Oct.28th, 1839. Composed and arranged for the pianoforte and flute by B. A. Burditt." Greys quickstep. Boston: Published by Henry Prentiss; T. Moore's Lith., 1839. "Respectfully dedicated to Capt. John C. Park, officers, and members of the Greys. Composed and arranged for the piano by B. A. Burditt. Performed for the first time by the Boston Brigade Band at the encampment in Portsmouth, July 31st, 1839." Hancock Light Infantry quickstep. Boston: Published by Henry Prentiss; Thos.Moore's Lith., 1839. "Composed and dedicated to Capt. Louis Dennis, officers, and members of the Hancock Light Infantry by Wm. Isenbeck. As performed by the Boston Brigade Band on their first parade, Oct. 28th, 1839." Mammoth cod quickstep. Boston: Published by Henry Prentiss; Thos. Moore's Lith., 1839. "As performed by the Boston Brigade Band. Composed and respectfully dedicated to the members of the Mammoth Cod Association by B. A. Burditt. Arranged for the pianoforte by H. P. Monroe." Stevens quickstep. Boston: Published by Henry Prentiss; T. Moore's Lithogy., 1839. "Composed and respectfully dedicated to Captain Seriah Stevens, officers, and members of the Pulaski Guards by Zaleucus (a member of the company). As performed by the Boston Brigade Band at their encampment, Dorchester Heights, August 8th, 1839."
1840s
Baltimore Whig Convention Quick Step. Boston: Published by Henry Prentiss; Thayer, successor to Moore, 1840. "As performed with great success by the Boston Brigade Band. Composed and arranged for the pianoforte by Zaleucus."