33 - Interview with Dr. Nathan Miller: Salvation Army Brass Bands and High Bridge Brass

The Early American Brass Band Podcast

Episode 33 is our conversation with Dr. Nathan Miller, Assistant Professor at Asbury University, Alto Horn player with High Bridge Brass, the Lexington Brass Band, and Saxton’s Cornet Band, Salvation Army member, and Willson Artist. We talk about the history of the Salvation Army and their musical traditions, brass bands in America independent of British Brass Bands, and larger points about band culture in the United States.

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Music in this episode comes from Our Musical Past from the Library of Congress, and High Bridge Brass.

Episode Structure:

• 2:08 - Dr. Miller’s musical background

• 14:50 - Salvation Army musical history

• 19:25 - Why the Salvation Army gravitated toward brass instruments, and how that tradition spread. Dr. Miller’s research

• 24:50 - Type of music the Salvation Army bands have played

• 29:12 - Instrument names: Alto Horn vs Tenor Horn

• 34:07 - Instrumentation and publishing of Salvation Army music

• 40:30 - Comparing the Salvation Army and Moravian musical traditions

• 43:18 - Musical excerpt - Shenandoah, High Bridge Brass

• 44:14 - Origins and forming of High Bridge Brass

• 50:30 - Discussing band culture in the United States

• 1:00:28 - Saxton’s Cornet Band

• 1:06:07 - Asbury University’s planned Brass Band Institute, brass bands as educational tools in smaller rural schools

• 1:15:42 - Where you can find more about High Bridge Brass, Willson Band Instruments

• 1:20:10 - Featured Album: High Bridge Brass, self titled album