2nd South Carolina String Band
Encyclopedia
The 2nd South Carolina String Band is a band
of Civil War re-enactors
who recreate American popular music
of the 1820s to 1860s with authentic instruments and in period style. The group claims to "perform Civil War
music as authentically as possible . . . as it truly sounded to the soldiers of the Civil War."
According to the band's official website, the group formed in August 1989. The founding members--consisting of Joe Ewers, Fred Ewers, John Frayler, Dave Goss and Bob Beeman-- were amateurs who played a variety of 19th-century instruments, including banjo
, bones
, drum
, fiddle
, guitar
, and tambourine
. They began by playing informally during re-enactment campaigns. They eventually moved to playing dances and concerts. Today, the roster comprises eight members, including players of the fife
, flute
, and pennywhistle.
The 2nd South Carolina String Band has released four albums through Palmetto Productions. Documentary filmmaker Ken Burns
has featured their music in his films Mark Twain
and Jazz
. The band appears in the film Gods and Generals
, directed by Ronald F. Maxwell
, and their music appears on the soundtrack
. In November 2004, the band received the Stephen Collins Foster Award for their preservation of 19th-century American song. The band's current personnel includes: Joe Ewers (banjo), Fred Ewers (fiddle), Dave Goss (guitar), Bob Beeman (tambourine & bones), Mike Paul (fiddle), Greg Hernandez (fife), Joe Whitney (flute) and Tom DiGiuseppe (banjo).
Past band members have included Marty Grody (fife, tin whistle) and John Frayler (military drum).
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
of Civil War re-enactors
American Civil War reenactment
American Civil War reenactment is an effort to recreate the appearance of a particular battle or other event associated with the American Civil War by hobbyists known as Civil War reenactors or Civil War recreationists...
who recreate American popular music
American popular music
American popular music had a profound effect on music across the world. The country has seen the rise of popular styles that have had a significant influence on global culture, including ragtime, blues, jazz, swing, rock, R&B, doo wop, gospel, soul, funk, heavy metal, punk, disco, house, techno,...
of the 1820s to 1860s with authentic instruments and in period style. The group claims to "perform Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
music as authentically as possible . . . as it truly sounded to the soldiers of the Civil War."
According to the band's official website, the group formed in August 1989. The founding members--consisting of Joe Ewers, Fred Ewers, John Frayler, Dave Goss and Bob Beeman-- were amateurs who played a variety of 19th-century instruments, including banjo
Banjo
In the 1830s Sweeney became the first white man to play the banjo on stage. His version of the instrument replaced the gourd with a drum-like sound box and included four full-length strings alongside a short fifth-string. There is no proof, however, that Sweeney invented either innovation. This new...
, bones
Bones (instrument)
The bones are a musical instrument which, at the simplest, consists of a pair of animal bones, or pieces of wood or a similar material. Sections of large rib bones and lower leg bones are the most commonly used true bones, although wooden sticks shaped like the earlier true bones are now more...
, drum
Drum
The drum is a member of the percussion group of musical instruments, which is technically classified as the membranophones. Drums consist of at least one membrane, called a drumhead or drum skin, that is stretched over a shell and struck, either directly with the player's hands, or with a...
, fiddle
Fiddle
The term fiddle may refer to any bowed string musical instrument, most often the violin. It is also a colloquial term for the instrument used by players in all genres, including classical music...
, guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, and tambourine
Tambourine
The tambourine or marine is a musical instrument of the percussion family consisting of a frame, often of wood or plastic, with pairs of small metal jingles, called "zils". Classically the term tambourine denotes an instrument with a drumhead, though some variants may not have a head at all....
. They began by playing informally during re-enactment campaigns. They eventually moved to playing dances and concerts. Today, the roster comprises eight members, including players of the fife
Fife (musical instrument)
A fife is a small, high-pitched, transverse flute that is similar to the piccolo, but louder and shriller due to its narrower bore. The fife originated in medieval Europe and is often used in military and marching bands. Someone who plays the fife is called a fifer...
, flute
Flute
The flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
, and pennywhistle.
The 2nd South Carolina String Band has released four albums through Palmetto Productions. Documentary filmmaker Ken Burns
Ken Burns
Kenneth Lauren "Ken" Burns is an American director and producer of documentary films, known for his style of using archival footage and photographs...
has featured their music in his films Mark Twain
Mark Twain (documentary)
Mark Twain is a documentary film on the life of Mark Twain produced by Ken Burns in 2001. Burns captures both the public and private persona of Mark Twain from his birth to his death. The film was narrated by Keith David and the voice of Mark Twain was provided by Kevin Conway....
and Jazz
Jazz (documentary)
Jazz was a 2000 documentary miniseries, directed by Ken Burns. Jazz was the last in a trilogy by Burns, following The Civil War and Baseball...
. The band appears in the film Gods and Generals
Gods and Generals (film)
Gods and Generals is a 2003 American film based on the novel Gods and Generals by Jeffrey Shaara. It depicts events that take place prior to those shown in the 1993 film Gettysburg, which was based on The Killer Angels, a novel by Shaara's father, Michael...
, directed by Ronald F. Maxwell
Ronald F. Maxwell
Ronald F. Maxwell is an independent film director and writer from Clifton, New Jersey. He is most famous for writing and directing the American Civil War epics Gettysburg, 1993 and Gods and Generals, 2003....
, and their music appears on the soundtrack
Soundtrack
A soundtrack can be recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of a film or TV show; or the physical area of a film that contains the...
. In November 2004, the band received the Stephen Collins Foster Award for their preservation of 19th-century American song. The band's current personnel includes: Joe Ewers (banjo), Fred Ewers (fiddle), Dave Goss (guitar), Bob Beeman (tambourine & bones), Mike Paul (fiddle), Greg Hernandez (fife), Joe Whitney (flute) and Tom DiGiuseppe (banjo).
Past band members have included Marty Grody (fife, tin whistle) and John Frayler (military drum).
Discography
- Southern SoldierSouthern Soldier (album)Southern Soldier is the first album by the 2nd South Carolina String Band, released on July 4, 1997. It features songs from the American Civil War era played on period instruments using the original words and music.- Track listing :#Ol' Dan Tucker...
(1997) - Hard Road (2001)
- In High CottonIn High CottonIn High Cotton is the third studio album by the 2nd South Carolina String Band, released in 2002. It features songs from the American Civil War era, played on period instruments using the original words and music.- Track listing :...
(2002) - Dulcem MelodiesDulcem MelodiesSouthern Soldier is the fourth studio album by the 2nd South Carolina String Band, released in 2006. It features songs from the American Civil War era played on period instruments using the original words and music.- Track listing :#Nelly Bly...
(2006) - Lightning in a Jar [Live] (2008)