The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1930-02-05
GILLETTE, CARLETON
BAND CONDUCTOR, IS
RENOWNED ORGANISE
Organized First College Sym
phony 6and;'He Composed
Many Organ Numbers

Particular interest in the forthcom-
ing concert by the Carleton SYM
phony band, which Is to play at the
city auditorium Thursday evening,
February Is, centers around its con-
ductor. James Robert Gillette, con-
sidered one Of the outstanding band
leaders in the United States today.
The present year Is MI. Gillette's
seventh as conductor Of this, the first
and only symphonic band in the
northwest, and the first college SYM
phony band in the country. During
this short time he has won q national
reputation. as the foremost outstand-
Ing symphony band conductor in
America.
Mr. Gillette, one Of two sons Of the
local physician, was born in 1885 at
Roseboom, New York. From the first,
this son, who has since gained ma
tional prominence In his chosen field,
was interested in music. At the age
Of six he was able to render on the
piano the usual pieces that are gen.
orally played by the child Of 10 or II.
At the age of 10 he started studying
on the organ, with the help Of which
instrument, he worked his way
through Syracuse university. receiv-
ing from that institution the degree
Of Bachelor of Music.
Some Of the most important en-
gagements that Mr. Gillette has filled
as an organist are: Gust recitalist
twice with the Minneapolis Sym
phony orchestra; guest recitalist at
two conventions of the National AS
ISOLATION Of Organists; guest recitalist
at q convention of international
Rotary. Guest recitalist selected from
the northwest to play at the Sesqui-
centennial Exposition at Philadelphia.
In addition, he has played recitals
and organ dedications in many of
the large cities Of the country.
Mr.. Gillette has also earned for
himself q reputation as q composer,
having written over a hundred COM
positions for organ, voice. and piano.
Four of his most popular numbers
are: Dragon Flies" Chant d
Amour" 1.-The Ripping Brook" and
From the South" These have be-
come recognized as standard organ
music and are played annually by
hundreds Of organists.
The Cantata "A Legend Of Nacoo-
chic" by Mr.. Gillette. has been sung
by high school choruses, generally.
throughout America with notable
success. The "Organists Handbook"
the only dictionary of organ music
published, which Mr.. Gillette spent 10
years in compiling has been adopted
as a standard text book by q great
many schools and colleges and Is
used by over 1000 organists.
Like all great artists, Mr.. Gillette
was, and still is, continually looking
for new and undiscovered fields IN
the musical world. It was this CROP
ing that led Mr.. Gillette, over seven
years ago, to start experimenting with
bands and the Instrumentation and
scoring for them. Not content to fol-
low the usual beaten path and to pro-
duce q band similar to every other
band in America, he set out from the
first to build up an Instrumentation
that would create an intimate tone
color for every listener and In this
short time he has built up what Is
now known as the first Symphony
Band in the northwest and the first
college Symphony Band in America,
referred to by musical critics through
out the country as q New Musical
Force"
The majority Of pieces played by
the Carleton Symphony band are
especially arranged by Mr. Gillette.
Uiva some, idea of this tremendous
task, It took him six weeks to arrange
symphony No. II Military by Joseph
Haydn" which is n OF forty-five
pieces that will be On the 1929-l93O
programs.
Mr.. Qillette's hobby is chickens"
For the past 20 years. he has raised
buff Cochin Bantams" and in this
field as well as music. he has won .
national reputation. having been
awarded many national prizes with
his "pets."