The Newmont Military Band was formed 1995 to help celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Rachel Harlow United Methodist Church, Windsor, Vt. Our original instrumentation followed that of the many cornet bands in existence in the late 1890s Several years later Newmont incorporated woodwind instruments, so following the conventions of the late 19th century, we became a "Military" band . Most of the brass instruments played by the musicians in the NMB were manufactured during the 19th century, only a few are more modern but follow designs of that era. These brass instruments, cornets (not trumpets), alto horns, tenor horns, baritone, and tubas, because they are conical, have a more mellow sound than most modern brass instruments. We think you will agree our cornet section does not sound the same the trumpet section of a modern band. They also require a different level of skill to produce the sound so indicative of the old-time bands.

You will notice there are no french horns, no flutes, and the D-flat piccolo looks a little different than the C piccolo found in modern bands.

Our music was borrowed from the archives of the American Band of Claremont, New Hampshire, The Library of Congress, The Chatfield, Mn Lending Library, The Band Music PDF Library, arrangements by some our own band members, and individual donations from our band members based on archival research. As it is authentic or reproduced late 19th century music, it is scored differently than music played by modern bands and we hope you agree it has a different overall sound.

A cursory examination of our uniforms quickly reveals that not all are identical. However, our photos of the Windsor (Vt.) Military Band performing at the summit of Mt. Ascutney in 1903, show that this was the norm for a New England town band. The uniforms we are wearing today replicate those worn by the Windsor Band in that picture. The jacket closely resembles the U.S. Army's 1872 officer undress military fatigue tunic. The hat is similar to the M-1895 officer's undress hat. And... prices have gone up! In 1902, you could buy a dozen hats for $7.00!!!

It is a common misconception that there were no women in these 19th-century town bands. Historically, women did participate, although it was thought by most that it was not seemly for a woman to place herself on display that way. Thus it may not seem authentic to have women musicians in a representation of a 19th century band, but there are precedents. In fact, the village of Lockehaven, N.H. (part of Enfield), was proud of their Lockhaven Ladies Cornet Band.

Our program is representative of the music played on the town green in the late 19th century. There are songs of the war Civil War), love songs, marches (including Sousa's!), dances, and songs from the old folks. Many of our musical selections are chosen from American Band and Windsor Military Band programs documented in the Claremont Advocate and the Vermont Journal between the years of 1890 and 1905. These concerts included music composed by New Englanders, and sometimes the composer himself would conduct (E.E. Bagley, C. L. Brigham) ...It is sometimes hard to imagine that local musicians had the skills necessary to play some of these very difficult and heavily interwoven scores from the composers of their time, but they most certainly did!

The Newmont Military Band has performed at the Shelburne Museum in Shelburne, Vermont, Windsor (Vt.) Heritage Days, the Franklin Pierce Homestead in Hillsborough NH, The Gettysburg, Pa. Band Festival several times, The Lutheran Seminary at Gettysburg, and numerous other historic venues..

The members of the band come from Vermont, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts. They are your neighbors and friends, and are from all walks of life. Not only are they sons, daughters, fathers, and mothers, most are professionals in today’s workforce, as were the members of the old bands... they were farmers, bakers, blacksmiths, and factory workers. They shared the same love and avocation that the musicians in the Newmont Military Band do... a love of this kind of music and of the mellow sound these horns produce. These people do what they love to do, in the company of those who feel the same, and come away from each event with a great feeling of accomplishment. They also have a lot of fun!