41 - Interview with John Connors: A Lifetime of Reenacting

The Early American Brass Band Podcast

Our Season 3 premiere is here! In this episode, Chris and Stephen talk with John Connors - musician, reenactor, and historian with the 122nd Army Band at The Ohio National Guard, The 73rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment Band, and The 2nd Cavalry Brigade Band. We discuss his interest in history and reenacting, and how that field has impacted his musical career.

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Music in this episode comes from The 8th GM Regiment Band.

Episode Structure:

• 1:48 - Welcome, John's musical background

• 10:01 - Unique experience with the Marine Band

• 14:09 - How John got interested in American music history, and the National Guard

• 18:25 - How John began playing with 19th century American Brass Bands

• 22:52 - John's first reenacting experiences

• 27:55 - Forming of the 73rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment Band

• 31:22 - Ideas and thoughts behind Civil War reenacting

• 41:19 - Recent changes in the reenacting field

• 53:38 - Options for visual representations of bands in the 19th century

• 1:02:15 - John's collection of 19th and 20th century musical instruments

• 1:14:32 - Where you can find more about John and the groups he's involved with

• 1:19:00 - Featured Album: Brass Music of the Civil War, The 73rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment Band