Patriotic music at Civil War Weekend

PETERBORO, N.Y. >> Music was important during the Civil War and it will be so for the 25th annual Peterboro Civil War Weekend June 10 and 11.

The 77th New York Regimental Balladeers will return for the eighth time to Peterboro to performan evening concert in honor of the 25th annual Peterboro Civil War Weekend. The concert “Patriots All: America’s Songbook 1861-1865” will be performed at the Smithfield Community Center on Saturday, June 10 at 7 p.m. The Balladeers will also present earlier in the day at 3 p.m. on the encampment field with “Campfire Songs and Melodie.”

The Windham based band is celebrating its twentieth year and over 460 concert performances. The band’s mission is preserving the songs, tunes, history and spirit of the Antebellum and Civil War period. The 77th NY Regimental Balladeers have been recognized by the U.S. Department

of the Interior, Gettysburg National Military Park for their outstanding and authentic portrayal of the music of the period.

The original 77th NY Regimental band was comprised of military personnel from Fulton, Essex and Saratoga Counties who fought in the Civil War. The group banded together in 1872 as part of the Survivors Association of the 77th Regiment of 1861-65. These heralded musicians kept alive the memories and spirit of comradeship they had experienced together during the war. A military note was dominant in many social events of the period and the musical troupe was foremost in every event given for the interest and betterment of the community. The 77th NY Regimental band flourished into the early 1900s, before thinning ranks as members answered the fi- nal taps, caused it to dissolve. For more than twenty-five years, 77th Regimental band was a musical organization well thought of in the Capital District and North Country region. The balladeers are honored to evoke the memory of the ‘Old’ 77th Regimental band and are proud to keep their spirited musical tradition alive – which the band has been doing for two decades.

At 1 p.m. on Sunday, June 11 the Merry Mischief duo of Marilyn and Wayne Fuller of Jordan, New York will perform Civil War music within the encampment. Throughout the encampment and throughout the evening soldiers and their families will be heard singing and playing instruments. Visitors sometimes bring their instruments and play for their own enjoyment – as well as for the enjoyment of others. The weekend event ends on a musical note, as Taps will be played at 4 p.m. on Sunday, June 11. Cheryl Pula will precede the playing of Taps with an explanation of the origins – which relate to Peterboro history.

Admission to the 7 p.m. Saturday Patriots All concert is $5, and free to registered re-enactors, Saturday volunteers, and chil- dren less than six years of age.

Admission to the 25th annual Peterboro Civil War Weekend includes the afternoon band concerts, military and civilian encampments, three museums, exhibits, programs, walking tours, demonstrators, and vendors.

Adult admission is $10, ages 6-12 is $5, and fewer than six years is free. This music is made possible, in part, with funds from the Decentralization Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature and administered by CNY Arts.

For information: www. PeterboroNY.org and 315280-8828.

SUBMITTED PHOTO — ONEIDA DAILY DISPATCH The 77th New York Regiment Balladeers will be among those in attendance for Civil War Weekend 2017in Peterboro.