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Musical Heritage

Music invigorates and lifts our spirits. The brass instruments glisten in the sunshine and the musicians look sharp in their distinctive uniforms.

For more than a hundred years, California’s Portuguese marching bands have brightened lives with their cheerful parade tunes and wonderful concerts. Select an article to view photos, watch videos, listen to music, and read brief histories of California’s Portuguese marching bands. Enjoy many other articles about the Portuguese and their love of and affinity for music.

Click on an article below.

Marching Bands: John Philip Sousa John Philip Sousa was an American composer and conductor of the late Romantic era.

Marching Bands: Bands from the Old Country Marching bands, or filarmónicas, began in the early 1800s in Portugal, the Azores, and Madeira

Marching Bands: Fraternal Societies Created to provide financial support for the newcomers, Portuguese fraternal societies were instrumental in fostering the musical traditions from the Azores.

Marching Bands: Churches Heavily influenced by the resident Portuguese priest, they encouraged bands to organize to help them celebrate other church festivals beyond the Holy Spirit.

Marching Bands: Community Groups Associated with the church calendar, but of more secular origin, were the groups that organized to celebrate Carnival

Marching Bands: Founded by Individuals Many individuals founded marching bands to share their music with others in the Portuguese immigrant community

Marching Bands: Anthony Ferry and his North Star Band The City of Los Banos is tied to the legendary John Philip Sousa through the life of Anthony Ferry

Marching Bands: Portuguese Band of San José (PBSJ) Discover the oldest current Portuguese marching band in California.

Marching Bands: Filarmónica de Artesia D.E.S. A Portuguese marching band is reborn in Artesia.

Marching Bands: S.F. Nova Aliança The second Portuguese marching band founded in the modern era.

Marching Bands: S.F. União Portuguesa de Santa Clara The fourth Portuguese marching band founded in the South Bay Area.

Marching Bands: S.F. Nova Artista Açoriana de Tracy The first Portuguese marching band is founded in the San Joaquin Valley.

Marching Bands: S.F. União Popular S.F. União Popular is the third Portuguese marching band founded in San José.

Marching Bands: S.F. Recreio do Emigrante Português of Newark A Portuguese marching band is founded on the banks of San Francisco Bay.

Marching Bands: Azores Band of Escalon Established in the San Joaquin Valley in the heart of almond country.

Marching Bands: Filarmónica Artista Amadora de San Leandro A Portuguese marching band is founded in an early Portuguese settlement.

Marching Bands: S.F. União Portuguesa de San Diego The southernmost Portuguese marching band is born in San Diego.

Marching Bands: Filarmónica Portuguesa de Tulare A Portuguese marching band is founded in the southern Central Valley.

Marching Bands: S.F. Lira Açoriana de Livingston Serving Livingston and neighboring Portuguese population centers around Turlock.

Marching Bands: Filarmonica de Chino D.E.S. Many people had wanted to organize a philharmonic band in Chino. That dream came true in 1986.

Marching Bands: Lusitania Band of the North Bay A Portuguese marching band is founded in an early Portuguese settlement.

Marching Bands: California Festival Since 2004, musicians from all over California have reunited annually to celebrate the music that they love.

Marching Bands: Founder of Three Bands Shortly after immigrating, he got to work founding three bands in seven years.

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