Dodworth Saxhorn Band
Dodworth Saxhorn Band of Ypsilanti, Mich., is known at the Danville festival for some crazy stunts, such as imitating bands of the past by playing while riding old-fashioned bicycles, or riding atop an elephant. Some of the members also rode in a wagon pulled by a trick mule team.
In keeping with their tendency to go to extremes, their interest in baseball music resulted in recordings that were heard in a 20-hour documentary on PBS on the history of the sport. As evidence of their adaptability, the 17-member band added a banjo for the baseball music project. Lately, they have been working on recording the music of Claudio Graffula, a 19th century band director.
The band is a faithful recreation of the mid-19th century American brass band that entertained citizens of Michigan at various public gatherings, including social events, political rallies and military balls. Specific bands of the region included The Detroit Light Guard Band, The Detroit City Band, The Ypsilanti Light Guard Band, The Ypsilanti Cornet Band, The Plymouth Band and The Chelsea Brass Band. Over-the-shoulder horns, such as those many of the band members carry, were much in use, being especially advantageous for military purposes since they projected the sound back to the troops marching behind the band. Soldiers generally referred to these instruments as ``back'ard blasters.''
All the selections played by the band are arrangements of tunes supplied by The Smithsonian Institute, The Library of Congress and private collections.