10 - Interview with Barry Bocaner: Historical Instruments and Newberry’s Victorian Cornet Band

The Early American Brass Band Podcast

Episode 10 is a conversation with our good friend and colleague Barry Bocaner. We talk about Barry’s introduction into historically informed performance, performing and soloing with Newberry’s Victorian Cornet Band, as well as his adventures learning about early brass instruments while traveling to instrument museums across the world.

Music in this episode comes from Our Musical Past from the Library of Congress, The 8th GM Regiment Band, and Thomas Coates: The Father of Band Music in America, by Newberry’s Victorian Cornet Band.

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Episode Structure:

• 0:00 - 4:03 - Introduction, website announcements

• 4:03 - 11:47 - Interview with Barry Bocaner, musical upbringing and education

• 11:47 - 21:18 - How Barry got into historically informed performance, early early music gigs

• 21:18 - 32:33 - How Barry got involved with Newberry’s Victorian Cornet Band, soloing with the band, discussion of “early music performance” culture in the United States, historically informed performance challenges

• 32:33 - 40:54 - The instruments Barry uses when performing with Newberry’s Victorian Cornet Band and The Coates Brass Band: The 47th PA Vol. Infantry Regt. Band

• 40:54 - 47:36 - Trading instruments with Michael O’Connor, how Barry began acquiring period musical instruments

• 47:36 - 52:04 - philosophy on purchasing these instruments, purchasing to restore and play

• 52:04 - 54:34 - Thoughts on early 19th century brass players

• 54:34 - 1:04:03 - Barry’s travels to instrument museums across the world

• 1:04:03 - 1:12:48 - Brief history of the Boston Musical Instrument Company

• 1:12:48 - 1:14:42 - Where you can hear Barry playing, projects Barry is involved in

• 1:14:42 - 1:15:30 - Wrap-up, social media announcements

• 1:15:30 - 1:16:51 - Featured Album: Thomas Coates: The Father of Band Music in America, Newberry’s Victorian Cornet Band.