Calumet & Hecla Band
Encyclopedia
In the late 19th century, many mining
companies established in the Upper Peninsula
of the state of Michigan
entered an era of economic growth
and prosperity
. Mineral
s such as copper
and nickel
were taken from the ground in large quantities. To help maintain a good reputation with the populace, many companies sponsored bands
to perform, entertain, and create a favorable reputation for the companies. In many instances, talented mine workers were offered paid leave to fill the position as a company musician
.
By virtue of composition and action, nearly every company band fell under the classifications of either 'concert military band
' or 'brass band
.' Notable bands of the era include the Phoenix Band, Allouez Band, Central Cornet Band, Keweenaw Band, and the Calumet & Hecla Band (Phillips 1958). Of these and more, the Calumet & Hecla Band (C&H band) received the most national acclaim.
The band that became the C&H band was formed in the late 19th century as the Calumet Miners' (the exact date of creation is disputed).The band consisted of roughly 17 people playing a variety of wind instrument
s, as well as two percussion instrument
s. What began small did not stay small. The band was renamed the Calumet & Hecla Band (C&H Band) soon after the turn of the century. Members were given paid leave to perform at dances, historical events, and public concerts. By 1905 the band had grown to about 30 members, and along with the increase in numbers came an increase in skill. The Calumet & Hecla company began recruiting musicians nationally as well as locally. Talented individuals were drawn from notable organizations such as the Ringling Brothers
and Barnum & Bailey Circuses (Daily Mining Gazette 1977). By 1907 the band was considered second only to the band of the legendary master John Philip Sousa
. Sousa himself filled the role of guest conductor
in 1913 and was greatly impressed by the skills of the musicians. “Gentlemen, you have here an organization of exceptional ability. The quality of your music is excellent.” (Daily Mining Gazette) Famous musicians such as Herbert L. Clarke
(trumpet
and cornet
virtuoso) came on occasion to solo with the band. At one point the band went to a festival in Detroit with 35 other bands; the others were referred to as simply there for “dress parade” (merely to look good). Though one would think that the UP would not have much of a following in the way of classical music
, the concerts put on by the C & H band routinely drew thousands of concert-goers. The band slowly declined after its peak in the decade surrounding 1910. It was disbanded and reformed several times between 1920 and 1934, when the unit was dissolved for good.
Mining
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...
companies established in the Upper Peninsula
Upper Peninsula of Michigan
The Upper Peninsula of Michigan is the northern of the two major land masses that make up the U.S. state of Michigan. It is commonly referred to as the Upper Peninsula, the U.P., or Upper Michigan. It is also known as the land "above the Bridge" linking the two peninsulas. The peninsula is bounded...
of the state of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
entered an era of economic growth
Economic growth
In economics, economic growth is defined as the increasing capacity of the economy to satisfy the wants of goods and services of the members of society. Economic growth is enabled by increases in productivity, which lowers the inputs for a given amount of output. Lowered costs increase demand...
and prosperity
Prosperity
Prosperity is the state of flourishing, thriving, good fortune and/or successful social status. Prosperity often encompasses wealth but also includes others factors which are independent of wealth to varying degrees, such as happiness and health....
. Mineral
Mineral
A mineral is a naturally occurring solid chemical substance formed through biogeochemical processes, having characteristic chemical composition, highly ordered atomic structure, and specific physical properties. By comparison, a rock is an aggregate of minerals and/or mineraloids and does not...
s such as copper
Copper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
and nickel
Nickel
Nickel is a chemical element with the chemical symbol Ni and atomic number 28. It is a silvery-white lustrous metal with a slight golden tinge. Nickel belongs to the transition metals and is hard and ductile...
were taken from the ground in large quantities. To help maintain a good reputation with the populace, many companies sponsored bands
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
to perform, entertain, and create a favorable reputation for the companies. In many instances, talented mine workers were offered paid leave to fill the position as a company musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
.
By virtue of composition and action, nearly every company band fell under the classifications of either 'concert military band
Military band
A military band originally was a group of personnel that performs musical duties for military functions, usually for the armed forces. A typical military band consists mostly of wind and percussion instruments. The conductor of a band commonly bears the title of Bandmaster or Director of Music...
' or 'brass band
Brass band
A brass band is a musical ensemble generally consisting entirely of brass instruments, most often with a percussion section. Ensembles that include brass and woodwind instruments can in certain traditions also be termed brass bands , but are usually more correctly termed military bands, concert...
.' Notable bands of the era include the Phoenix Band, Allouez Band, Central Cornet Band, Keweenaw Band, and the Calumet & Hecla Band (Phillips 1958). Of these and more, the Calumet & Hecla Band (C&H band) received the most national acclaim.
The band that became the C&H band was formed in the late 19th century as the Calumet Miners' (the exact date of creation is disputed).The band consisted of roughly 17 people playing a variety of wind instrument
Wind instrument
A wind instrument is a musical instrument that contains some type of resonator , in which a column of air is set into vibration by the player blowing into a mouthpiece set at the end of the resonator. The pitch of the vibration is determined by the length of the tube and by manual modifications of...
s, as well as two percussion instrument
Percussion instrument
A percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
s. What began small did not stay small. The band was renamed the Calumet & Hecla Band (C&H Band) soon after the turn of the century. Members were given paid leave to perform at dances, historical events, and public concerts. By 1905 the band had grown to about 30 members, and along with the increase in numbers came an increase in skill. The Calumet & Hecla company began recruiting musicians nationally as well as locally. Talented individuals were drawn from notable organizations such as the Ringling Brothers
Ringling Brothers Circus
The Ringling Brothers Circus was a circus founded in the United States in 1884 by five of the seven Ringling Brothers: Albert , August , Otto , Alfred T. , Charles , John , and Henry...
and Barnum & Bailey Circuses (Daily Mining Gazette 1977). By 1907 the band was considered second only to the band of the legendary master John Philip Sousa
John Philip Sousa
John Philip Sousa was an American composer and conductor of the late Romantic era, known particularly for American military and patriotic marches. Because of his mastery of march composition, he is known as "The March King" or the "American March King" due to his British counterpart Kenneth J....
. Sousa himself filled the role of guest conductor
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
in 1913 and was greatly impressed by the skills of the musicians. “Gentlemen, you have here an organization of exceptional ability. The quality of your music is excellent.” (Daily Mining Gazette) Famous musicians such as Herbert L. Clarke
Herbert L. Clarke
Herbert Lincoln Clarke was a well-known American cornet player, feature soloist, bandmaster, and composer....
(trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
and cornet
Cornet
The cornet is a brass instrument very similar to the trumpet, distinguished by its conical bore, compact shape, and mellower tone quality. The most common cornet is a transposing instrument in B. It is not related to the renaissance and early baroque cornett or cornetto.-History:The cornet was...
virtuoso) came on occasion to solo with the band. At one point the band went to a festival in Detroit with 35 other bands; the others were referred to as simply there for “dress parade” (merely to look good). Though one would think that the UP would not have much of a following in the way of classical music
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
, the concerts put on by the C & H band routinely drew thousands of concert-goers. The band slowly declined after its peak in the decade surrounding 1910. It was disbanded and reformed several times between 1920 and 1934, when the unit was dissolved for good.