Civil War Band Performs at Library

Brighton District Library invites the public to step back in time – 150 years, and discover the 5th Michigan Regiment Band, Michigan’s official Civil War Sesquicentennial Band.

Drop in a free evening of music, hymns and historical narrations of the Civil War Era from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 7 at the library, located at 100 Library Dr., Brighton.

Those attending will learn about the rich history of the Civil War through an authentic historical recreation performed by the group. In addition, participants will hear music, including the 1861 Star Spangled Banner and see distinct uniforms patterned after the 5th Regiment Band and period-correct civilian clothing.

The band’s vast musical repertoire includes more than 150 marches, polkas, schottisches and waltzes that were played around 1860 for parades, military balls, and musters on both sides of the Mason-Dixon Line during the Civil War.

Lt. Col. Guy Smith conducts the evening's performance using original sheet music that he obtained from the National Archives. (He later painstakingly transcribed and orchestrated each piece.) The group performs all music on Civil War period instruments such as the saxhorn and wood rope tension wood drums, as they were used during the Regimental Band’s period. 

Following the war, the 5th Michigan Regiment bandsmen were disbanded for 108 years. In 1973, however, the group was reborn as a bicentennial project. Today’s band of 30 individuals are musicians, color guards, and support persons.

They embody the original 5th Michigan Volunteer Infantry Band, many of whom were Livingston County residents, mustered into service on August 28, 1861 at Fort Wayne in Detroit, Michigan.

The  present day band has performed at Civil War festivals, re-enactments, historical events and musters in Gettysburg, PA, Michigan, Ohio and Kentucky and has recorded five CDs.

To learn more about the 5th Michigan Regiment Band, visit www.mi5th.org or call the Brighton District Library at 810-229-6571 ext. 227.