Nauvoo Brass Band
Encyclopedia
The Nauvoo Brass Band was an official musical organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) when the church's headquarters where located in Nauvoo
, Illinois
, and was later revived in the Utah Territory
.
to accompany the public drills of the Nauvoo Legion
, and became nicknamed Pitt's Brass Band. The band performed public concerts and at various other special events.
After the death of Joseph Smith, Jr.
, the band met the wagon returning the bodies of Joseph and Hyrum
to Nauvoo, and became part of the procession of mourners into and through the city, playing as it marched directly in front of the wagon. After the bodies were delivered to the Mansion House
, they played outside the building for those that came to pay their respects while the bodies were lying in repose
.
gave the band special permission to travel together as a group. They pooled their individual resources to help each other migrate, and performed both for fellow LDS travelers as well for some of the Iowa settlements they traveled through. The band was able to stay together as far as Garden Grove, Iowa
, but fragmented after that point. Brigham Young tried to keep some of the best players of the group together by having them travel close to his own wagons and play for Young's family during the journey. In the end, only three members of the band where accompanying Young when he reached the Salt Lake Valley
in July 1847.
By October 1848 enough of the band members had completed the journey to allow for a performance at General Conference
. On July 24th, 1849, the second anniversary of the Mormon pioneers entering the Salt Lake Valley, the band lead a commemoration which became a precursor for the modern Pioneer Day celebrations. In early 1850 the Nauvoo Brass Band was formally reorganized and provided with new uniforms though a donation from Brigham Young.
Notable appearances in Utah include performances in 1853 at the Salt Lake Temple
site dedication
ceremony and later at the laying of the cornerstone
s. They also met the first Mormon handcart pioneer
company, as well as other Mormon pioneer groups as they entered the Salt Lake Valley.
who go to Nauvoo to play in the Brass Band each summer. Their purpose now is the same as the that of the original Nauvoo Brass Band; to entertain the people who live in Nauvoo, and those who come to Nauvoo. They perform daily in the summer next to the Scovil Bakery at noon, at Sunset By the Mississippi, and in the Nauvoo Pageant.
Nauvoo, Illinois
Nauvoo is a small city in Hancock County, Illinois, United States. Although the population was just 1,063 at the 2000 census, and despite being difficult to reach due to its location in a remote corner of Illinois, Nauvoo attracts large numbers of visitors for its historic importance and its...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, and was later revived in the Utah Territory
Utah Territory
The Territory of Utah was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from September 9, 1850, until January 4, 1896, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Utah....
.
Nauvoo era
Originally called Joseph's City Band, the Nauvoo Brass Band was formed in 1842 by William PittWilliam Pitt (Mormon)
William Hill Pitt was a prominent bandleader in the early history of the Latter Day Saint movement and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
to accompany the public drills of the Nauvoo Legion
Nauvoo Legion
The Nauvoo Legion was a militia originally organized by the Latter Day Saints to defend the city of Nauvoo, Illinois, . To curry political favor with the ambiguously-political Saints, the Illinois state legislature granted Nauvoo a liberal city charter that gave the Nauvoo Legion extraordinary...
, and became nicknamed Pitt's Brass Band. The band performed public concerts and at various other special events.
After the death of Joseph Smith, Jr.
Death of Joseph Smith, Jr.
The death of Joseph Smith, Jr. on June 27, 1844 marked a turning point for the Latter Day Saint movement, of which Smith was the founder and leader. When he was attacked and killed by a mob, Smith was the mayor of Nauvoo, Illinois, and running for President of the United States...
, the band met the wagon returning the bodies of Joseph and Hyrum
Hyrum Smith
Hyrum Smith was an American religious leader in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, the original church of the Latter Day Saint movement. He was the older brother of the movement's founder, Joseph Smith, Jr....
to Nauvoo, and became part of the procession of mourners into and through the city, playing as it marched directly in front of the wagon. After the bodies were delivered to the Mansion House
Joseph Smith Mansion House
The Joseph Smith Mansion House in Nauvoo, Illinois is a building constructed by Joseph Smith, Jr., the founder of the Latter Day Saint movement. Smith used the house as a personal home, a public boarding house, a hotel, and as a site for the performance of temple ordinances.In January 1841, Smith...
, they played outside the building for those that came to pay their respects while the bodies were lying in repose
Lying in repose
Lying in repose is a term used to describe when a deceased person, often of some stature, is available for public viewing. "Lying in repose" is different from the formal honor of "lying in state", which is generally held at the principal government building of the country and often accompanied by...
.
Post-Nauvoo era
When the majority of the Latter Day Saints were leaving Nauvoo as part of the Mormon Exodus in early 1846, Brigham YoungBrigham Young
Brigham Young was an American leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and a settler of the Western United States. He was the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1847 until his death in 1877, he founded Salt Lake City, and he served as the first governor of the Utah...
gave the band special permission to travel together as a group. They pooled their individual resources to help each other migrate, and performed both for fellow LDS travelers as well for some of the Iowa settlements they traveled through. The band was able to stay together as far as Garden Grove, Iowa
Garden Grove, Iowa
Garden Grove is a city in Decatur County, Iowa, United States. The population was 250 at the 2000 census.-History:On April 24, 1846, emigrants affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints under the direction of Brigham Young established a way station halfway into their trek...
, but fragmented after that point. Brigham Young tried to keep some of the best players of the group together by having them travel close to his own wagons and play for Young's family during the journey. In the end, only three members of the band where accompanying Young when he reached the Salt Lake Valley
Salt Lake Valley
Salt Lake Valley is a valley in Salt Lake County in the north-central portion of the U.S. state of Utah. It contains Salt Lake City and many of its suburbs, notably West Valley City, Murray, Sandy, and West Jordan; its total population is 1,029,655 as of 2010...
in July 1847.
By October 1848 enough of the band members had completed the journey to allow for a performance at General Conference
General Conference (LDS Church)
General Conference is a semiannual world conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints held in April and October, where members gather in a series of two-hour sessions to listen to instruction from Church leaders...
. On July 24th, 1849, the second anniversary of the Mormon pioneers entering the Salt Lake Valley, the band lead a commemoration which became a precursor for the modern Pioneer Day celebrations. In early 1850 the Nauvoo Brass Band was formally reorganized and provided with new uniforms though a donation from Brigham Young.
Notable appearances in Utah include performances in 1853 at the Salt Lake Temple
Salt Lake Temple
The Salt Lake Temple is the largest and best-known of more than 130 temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is the sixth temple built by the church, requiring 40 years to complete, and the fourth operating temple built since the Mormon exodus from Nauvoo,...
site dedication
Dedication
Dedication is the act of consecrating an altar, temple, church or other sacred building. It also refers to the inscription of books or other artifacts when these are specifically addressed or presented to a particular person. This practice, which once was used to gain the patronage and support of...
ceremony and later at the laying of the cornerstone
Cornerstone
The cornerstone concept is derived from the first stone set in the construction of a masonry foundation, important since all other stones will be set in reference to this stone, thus determining the position of the entire structure.Over time a cornerstone became a ceremonial masonry stone, or...
s. They also met the first Mormon handcart pioneer
Mormon handcart pioneers
The Mormon handcart pioneers were participants in the migration of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to Salt Lake City, Utah, who used handcarts to transport their belongings...
company, as well as other Mormon pioneer groups as they entered the Salt Lake Valley.
Modern recreation
The Brass Band was re-created in 2003 by the LDS Church's Illinois Nauvoo Mission. The group is made up of young performing missionariesMissionary (LDS Church)
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is one of the most active modern practitioners of missionary work, with over 52,000 full-time missionaries worldwide, as of the end of 2010...
who go to Nauvoo to play in the Brass Band each summer. Their purpose now is the same as the that of the original Nauvoo Brass Band; to entertain the people who live in Nauvoo, and those who come to Nauvoo. They perform daily in the summer next to the Scovil Bakery at noon, at Sunset By the Mississippi, and in the Nauvoo Pageant.
Notable members
- Robert T. BurtonRobert T. BurtonRobert Taylor Burton was a member of the presiding bishopric of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1874 until his death...
(trumpet) - William Clayton
- Levi W. HancockLevi W. HancockLevi Ward Hancock was an early convert to Mormonism and was a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for nearly fifty years. He was also one of the witnesses of the Book of Commandments....
(fife)