Post-Nauvoo Era
When the majority of the Latter Day Saints were leaving Nauvoo as part of the Mormon Exodus in early 1846, Brigham Young gave the band special permission to travel together as a group. They pooled their individual resources to help each other migrate, and performed both for fellow LDS travelers as well for some of the Iowa settlements they traveled through. The band was able to stay together as far as Garden Grove, Iowa, but fragmented after that point. Brigham Young tried to keep some of the best players of the group together by having them travel close to his own wagons and play for Young's family during the journey. In the end, only three members of the band where accompanying Young when he reached the Salt Lake Valley in July 1847.
By October 1848 enough of the band members had completed the journey to allow for a performance at General Conference. On July 24th, 1849, the second anniversary of the Mormon pioneers entering the Salt Lake Valley, the band lead a commemoration which became a precursor for the modern Pioneer Day celebrations. In early 1850 the Nauvoo Brass Band was formally reorganized and provided with new uniforms though a donation from Brigham Young.
Notable appearances in Utah include performances in 1853 at the Salt Lake Temple site dedication ceremony and later at the laying of the cornerstones. They also met the first Mormon handcart pioneer company, as well as other Mormon pioneer groups as they entered the Salt Lake Valley.
Read more about this topic: Nauvoo Brass Band
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