Gilmore's body was sent by train to New York for his funeral at St. Francis Xavier Church, followed by burial at Calvary Cemetery in Woodside, Queens.
Photo by Michael Cummings
Born in Ballygar, County Galway, Gilmore emigrated to Boston in 1849 and quickly established himself as an excellent cornet player and a band organizer. He led several prominent bands in the 1850s, including Suffolk, Charlestown, Salem and Boston Brigade, before finally establishing his own Gilmore's Band.The band was called upon for the most important occasions, such as the dedication of the Statue of Liberty in 1886, and he performed for the inaugurations several US presidents, including Buchanan and Lincoln.
Gilmore and his band were attached to the Massachusetts 24th Regiment when the American Civil War broke out in 1861, and accompanied the soldiers to the battle front. After the war ended Gilmore put together a National Peace Jubilee in 1869 to celebrate peace. The five-day music festival featured 1,000 musicians and 10,000 choral singers, and was attended by President Ulysses S. Grant.
Then in 1872, Gilmore staged an even larger World Peace Jubilee to celebrate the end of the Franco-Prussian War. He invited national bands for over a dozen nations, and the feature artist was Austrian Waltz King Johann Strauss.
After living in Boston for more than two decades, Gilmore started a new chapter in his life and career when he moved to New York City in 1873, where he led the 22nd Regiment Band. The Gilmore Band performed frequently in the city, and for the final two decades of his life, Gilmore and his band toured throughout the United States and Canada as well as Europe.
The story of Gilmore's death was a national story that captured the nation's grief.
Then in 1872, Gilmore staged an even larger World Peace Jubilee to celebrate the end of the Franco-Prussian War. He invited national bands for over a dozen nations, and the feature artist was Austrian Waltz King Johann Strauss.
After living in Boston for more than two decades, Gilmore started a new chapter in his life and career when he moved to New York City in 1873, where he led the 22nd Regiment Band. The Gilmore Band performed frequently in the city, and for the final two decades of his life, Gilmore and his band toured throughout the United States and Canada as well as Europe.
The story of Gilmore's death was a national story that captured the nation's grief.
The Baltimore Sun wrote on September 26, "Gilmore always aimed to please and inspire the popular taste. He was a public musical instructor. His concerts had an undoubted effect for the better on the musical tastes of the country. With his music he conferred happiness upon thousands. He worked hard, studied hard, fought his way to success by his own efforts, and made himself memorable in the musical history of his country."
The St. Louis Dispatch wrote on September 26, "...he was a master showman with the impulse and ambition of the artist, and while he never disdained to delight the plain people with the melodies of the heart and the comedies of passing fancy, he did not neglect to educate them in harmonies of the intellect through the work of master musicians. He was a rare bandmaster whose like will not be seen again. Others will learn from his methods and will surpass him in particular qualities, but there will never be another Gilmore."
Gilmore's song When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again is considered one of America's iconic hymns.
For more about Boston's Irish history, visit IrishHeritageTrail.com.
For more about Boston's Irish history, visit IrishHeritageTrail.com.
Comments
Post a Comment