The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-06-07
Tnnes's Rsc0llectionS Of
Patrick SarsfieId Gilmore.

WRITTEN FOR THE SUNDAY REPUBLIC
Twenty-Five years ago. one day in Pans
Patrick Sarsfeld Gilmore. the great band
master. wandered into the Fo!!es Bergeres
during a popular concert He heard from
bone played as he had never heard II played
before The heretofore untuneful instru-
rrert was giving forth silvery notes, e1-
qg;ri,e shadings Of tone and beautiful 4
1r-as-rg Of difficult passages astonished
Inn.
For the arst time the veteran leader dis
covered that there was music in the from
bone.
IN tvsn-y-four hours The young man who
d.i such remarkable things with the
lu-ua-iaus .nstru-re- had signed q contract
80 become sol0l-t Win Giimore's band.
Tha Young player vas r. y. lines.
That vas the beginning Of lasting
friendship. between the two men. which end
e.. only when death suddenly claimed the
great baud7,aste- in $. Louis on September
-; 1872 while ne WIS playing At the annual
Exrlsitson- lines larE- his own band now,
s.r the memories ~ .l.a Gilmore days are
T.easaa; as present piaudits.
Iares recently told the story Of Gilmore
between concerts at Suburban Park Gil
more was the favor!te during his engage
rns,-s 81 the Exposition. f5e was loved by
rra recrle To this day Patrick Sarstle.d
Gilmore IS a tradition IN the Mound Ci;s.
Gilmore was the great bandmastsr."
said lines through reminiscent pufs Of
sr-okA He was a musician ny instinct
No man ever succeeded him. none preceded
him who reached the unique position he
Eai-sd before the public. In 1879 in Paris
first net him. II vas bit OF good FOR
g-ue fc- me-
This is the way il came about.
lines had heard Levy. the remarkable,
play his brilliant solos on the c7rHet. II
struck lines that the same thing could ne
done on the trombone. He broke aWaG
from The old school the dr7Hins. blasting
school lines at the time was member
Of the Guards Band london. when he was
offered an engagement at the FoAes Berg
eres beng billed as The Paginini OF the
Trombone" Gilmore went to him and
asked: Can you play on the trombone any
ming Levy plays on Che corDet:" Levy at
that time was the 'iurore" Having salts
field himself. Gilmore engaged lines.
BOSTON PEACE JUBILEE
gilmore came to Paris" continued lines.
TO meet again the bandnasteEs whom he
had gathered together for the memorable
Boston Peace jubilee in 1872 The story Of
that magnificent event will show you what
kind Of a man Gilmore was 1t vas a
marvellous musical conception Of his. this
AMBITIOUS undertaking to Eloriry the re-
united North and South in music.
Bands from all over the world answered
his cali. The Garde Repu5licaine Band
came from Paris. the Grenadier Guards
Band from London. Brussels sent the
GUidess Band. the Royal Irish Band was
Drhin's contribution; prominent infantry
hand from Berlin came. and Russian band
from St Petersburg. American bands to
the number Of 80 took part Fifty fife and
drum corps were used as anvil choristers;
Loo nsn in uniform beat an anvil accom-
paninent
Imagine 50 stupendous an undertaking.
such a concert. and Gilmore's baton di-
rected it all. But you can't conceive Of the
tremendous work and energy required On
his part 10 arrange IL
a building was especially erected by pop
ular subscription for the Peace Jubilee con-
Cert- Gilmore often told me afterwards
tina: he had gone from door 10 door begging
money for it. His principal hacker was Mr..
Jordan Of the Jordan-Narsh Dry Goods
Company. who stood by him to the last The
Jubilee lasted several weeks. 1t was the
great event OF G!lmore's life.
'Gflmore's conception OF the magnificent
scheme came when he was brigade band
master under General B. F. Butler during
the war. Peace was declared while he vas
at New Orleans. Calling together all the
bands in the brigade he massed them IN
camp for a concert TO the army and resi-
dents Of New Orleans. The roar and boom
OF cannon formed base drum accomPanl-
uleur TO the national airs. The aInpi!dcation
OF that scheme resulted in The Peace Jubl-
lee
My first engagement with Gilmore was
IN lsS0. al Manhattan Beach. Levy, the
cornetist was then an independent solo!st.
playing there We must kill OF Levy
said Gilmore. He had me duplicate on the
trombone Levy's daily selections. It was
called the war OF the blasters.' Gilmore
rad the satisfaction OF forcing Levy to
withdraw IN midseason.
LOYAL To HIS MEN.
He was loyal TO his men, steadfast 10
his friends. While leading the Twenty-sec-
oGd Regiment Band OF New York at sal
arg Of Sl5.tJ5 year. the Seventh Regiment.
their rival, tried TO get him at a much
higher figure, but his allegiance made him
refuse. Pat Gilmore was name TO con-
ture with in New York City. / can see now
the stirring scenes in the big parades on
Decoration DAYS. When Gilmore came along
al the head cf his band the greatest en-
tEUSiusm Of tie day greeted him. even over
the dignitaries II was = constant ovation
along the lire OF march. and he was saIu;-
ting constantly TO right and left to the per-
fect roars Of 'Rah for Pat Gilmore
During one Of the big parades he held
the attention OF the country for the time
being. IN the reviewing stand We're Pres
!a,ut Grover Cleveland and his bride. AS
the band reached the presidential party
Gilmore struck up that pretty air from the
'AIikado' which was just then very popu-
lar. He's Gone and Married Yum Yum
Nearly a quarter Of a million people were
-rassad in and around Madison Square Gar
den. and roar Of arpreciative applause
went W. Mrs. Cleveland hid her bushes in
her handkerchief. while the President took
Of his hat and bowed Like the typical
freshman he WAS he knew now to do the
right thing at the right time"