In the small cafeteria of a midtown middle school, the sounds of old-time America recently could be heard filling the echoing space.
The Old Arizona Brass Band held a rehearsal last Wednesday at Townsend Middle School, 2120 N. Beverly Ave., giving members a chance to gear up for their upcoming shows.
The band, a re-creation of the 4th Cavalry Regimental Band of Fort Lowell, specializes in music from roughly the Civil War to 1912, using the same style of instruments and dressing in historical garb.
"We are in living-history mode. We act out the part of a military band during our performances," said John Prokop, president and band manager. "It's the kind of music that you don't hear anywhere else."
The band was started in 1996 by Ray Hicks, who died in 2006. The band continues to perform at historical celebrations and military events.
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Steve Smith, who plays the euphonium, said the band feels almost duty-bound to keep the tradition alive.
"When people go to our concerts, hopefully they leave with a little piece of history," he said.
The band tries to use the original arrangements of the songs, dating back to before Arizona was even a state.
"Sometimes it's a Xerox of a Xerox," Smith said as the song "Dixie and the Bonnie Blue Flag" played in the background.
"It's just plain fun to play this music."
Contact photographer Dean Knuth at dknuth@astarnet.com or 349-1625.
