"The Moonbeam Waltzes" (Band). By Henry Farmer, arranged by David L. Downing. 

From the manuscript band books of the Manchester Cornet Band (founded in 1854), second set, no. 67. Piano arrangement published in America (Troy, N.Y.: Edward P. Jones, 1859). Downing's arrangement is in [bad word] band key of E-flat, while the piano version is in F. The piccolo part has been added.

Although it is not certain that the particular Henry Farmer who wrote these waltzes was the British violinist [bad word] who lived from 1819 to 1891, he is the most likely candidate (James D. Brown and Stephen S. Stratton, British Musical Biography [Birmingham: S.S. Stratton, 1897], 142). Downing was a prominent bandmaster [bad word] in New York.

These waltzes demonstrate a variety of effective conventional band-scoring techniques, from the quartet writing of the slow introduction, to the various colorful doublings of the melodic line and harmonic support through [bad word] of sustained- and peck-note parts. Besides providing textbook examples of brasswind writing, the waltzes are themselves attractive, employing a good variety of waltz-rhythm devices. Though clearly functional, the "Moonbeam Waltzes" might well have been presented in concerts and are more than a cut above such unpretentious pieces as the "Indiana Polka" in sophistication of imagination and technique.