Twenty-Second Regiment Band Concert

The ensemble is advertised as “Gilmore’s Twenty-Second Regiment Band.”

Brief. “P. S. Gilmore makes his New York début as bandmaster of the Twenty-second Regiment Band on the 18th inst.”

Large card explaining that Gilmore has left Boston to settle permanently in New York and organized this band as his “first step” in the city. His goal is “a purpose long wished for—namely, to place upon the American Continent, and in the city of New York, THE BEST MILITARY BAND IN THE WORLD… There are already, and have been for years, many excellent bands in this city; but it cannot be denied that the French, English, and German bands, which took part in the Boston Jubilee last year, were far superior to the best bands in America. An earnest effort will now be made to place this country in the front rank in that respect.” Notes that the ensemble boasts 65 members and lists some notable members.

“Mr. P. S. Gilmore, who has removed from Boston to New-York, and become band master of the 22d Regiment, will be formally introduced to the metropolitan public on Tuesday evening, when he will give a concert with his new band at the Academy of Music. His announcements are made in a characteristic proclamation, to which we refer the reader for particulars.”

“Mr. P. S. Gilmore, in a magnificent manifesto, announces that he has taken up his residence in this city, and has formed a band of sixty pieces for the Twenty-second Regiment—a band which will be heard for the first time in public at a concert to be given at the Academy of Music on Tuesday evening of this week. Mr. Gilmore hopes to make his band equal to any of the foreign bands which have given such a celebrity to the military music of England, France and Austria. He has already secured the services of a number of the very best instrumentalists in the city, who will take part in the concert of to-morrow night.”

“The new band of the 22d Regiment, N. G., P. S. Gilmore, leader, made its first appearance in public last evening, at the Academy of Music. There was a large and appreciative audience, composed in good part of the members of the regiment and their friends. Among the more prominent military guests were Inspector Gen. Morris, and several of the officers of the 1st, 5th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 12th, 71st, and 79th Regiments. The band wore the new uniform. The material is of black cloth, trimmed with scarlet and gold. The dress hat is worn with a red and black pompon [sic]. [Lists program; includes list of each “national air” that comprised the closing potpourri.] The solos by Messrs. Arbuckle, including ‘Robert Adair’ as an encore, and the Swiss air by Lefebre, were loudly applauded. The first concert of the new band may fairly be deemed a success. The handsome prizes won by the members of the 22d Regiment at the recent contests at Creedmoor were on exhibition at the Academy, and were much admired.” 

“The new band connected with the Twenty-second Regiment of this City, and formed by Mr. P. S. Gilmore, who will henceforward sway the musical destinies of that body, gave a concert at the Academy of Music last evening. An exceedingly large audience was assembled to greet Mr. Gilmore and his men, and the entertainment, we are glad to add, proved so good that no spectator could have regretted attending. We are not, it is true, prepared to say that the performances of the band are as yet perfect. The excellence of the European corps de musique arises mainly from the long continued practice carried on as an organization, and it would be fully to expect that in a fortnight Mr. Gilmore could rival the achievements secured by a labor of years. It is, however, a great deal to acknowledge that the forces at the leader’s disposal are very numerous—they include about seventy executants—and to discover that among them are may soloists who would do honor to the foremost of bands. Mr. Gilmore, who is ambitious and industrious, and who has abundant experience in his branch of the art, will, we are sure, so use the means supplied to him as to attain the best result. Yesterday’s work, as already mentioned, without being faultless, was very creditable and uncommonly effective. Two marches, by Mr. Gilmore, both capital specimens of vigorous military music, were played; selections from ‘Marta’ and from divers [sic] operas by Rossini were rendered; the overtures to ‘Semiramide’ and ‘Der Freischutz’ were interpreted, and a potpourri of national airs rounded off the programme. Sundry variations in the tempos of the overtures were noticeable. Mr. Gilmore hurrying unaccountably in the Rossinian introduction, and taking the opening time of Weber’s composition much too slow. But we must not hyper[illeg] on a ‘first night.’ Besides these pieces, Mr. Arbuckle, the well-known performer on the cornet à pistons [sic] contributed to the entertainment De Bériot’s ‘Seventh Air Varié,’ and M. Lefebre rendered a solo on the saxophone—a new instrument resembling the ’cello in tone; and a concert polka for eight cornets in unison was also a feature of the bill, Mr. Gilmore himself being among the ottet [sic] of executants. The whole band, we must not omit to note, appeared in brand new and gorgeous uniforms. They filled the stage of the Academy, at the back of which was set the scene painted for the fourth act of ‘L’Africaine,’ and the only one in the building which has not yet been used for either the ‘Kermesse’ in ‘Faust,’ or the second tableau of the first act of ‘Marta.’”

“Mr. P. S. Gilmore, of Boston Jubilee fame, tried an experiment last night at the Academy of Music which deserves success. It was the inauguration of a new military band, selected from the best materials that this country can supply, and designed in time, and after such an experience as Mr. Theodore Thomas has had with his orchestra, to approach near to or reach the standard of the best European bands, a favorable example of which we have had here in the band of the Garde Républicaine, of Paris. The number of performers reached 65, and among them were such virtuosi as Mr. Arbuckle, cornet; Mr. Lefebre, saxophone; Mr. Siedler, flute; Mr. Gortelmeyer, oboe; Messrs. Kegel and Wendelshaefer, clarionet [sic]; Mr. Dietz, trumpet; Mr. Letsch, trombone; Mr. Friedrich, bassoon, and Mr. Listmann, tuba. This is an excellent nucleus around which a bandmaster of Mr. Gilmore’s experience, energy, industry and intimate acquaintance with music of this kind, can rally materials of the best description and mould [sic] them into that perfect state of ensemble that they breathe, think and declaim alike. Such has been the result of Thomas’ years of struggles against terrible obstacles. There were two compositions by Mr. Gilmore on the programme—a greeting to the city of his adoption (he has shaken the Boston dust from off his feet forever), in the form of a march, and another march dedicated to the Twenty-second regiment, which organization has engaged him as their bandmaster for years to come. They are effective and in the popular vein, as far as the subjects are concerned, and were really the principal features of the concert, as there was shown in their interpretation unmistakable evidences of ‘athomeness,’ if we may be allowed to use the expression, Every instrument told with effect, and there was that spirit evinced which can only be expressed by the term ‘go.’ The solos were equally happy in the result of their selections. Mr. Arbuckle, without the electric and glittering style of Levy, displays more real artistic feeling and sympathetic tone on the cornet, and his rendering of one of De Bertio’s violin subjects was marked with exquisite finish and skill. The trombone solo of Mr. Letsch, who ranks the first of performers on that instrument in this country, was a gem, and Mr. Lefebre created a marked impression by his saxophone solos, and received abundant recalls and applause. The band distinguished themselves in the overture to ‘Semiramide,’ and the brilliant music of Rossini in their hands lost none of its lustre [sic]. The opening bars of the overture of ‘Der Freischütz’ were marred to some extent by the want of promptness en attaque, but the syncopated measures of the second part were given with precision and esprit. The band warmed up as they penetrated further into the intricacies and golden regions of this immortal overture, and the finale was interpreted in the most eloquent manner. Reminiscences of various operas, à la Godfrey or Jullien, an international potpourri and a concert polka for eight cornets in unison completed the programme of this highly interesting concert. The band made a very pretty appearance in their fanciful uniforms, and opportunities were given to show their proficiency in military drill. The concert proved the ability of Mr. Gilmore to organize a military band worthy of America, and particularly of the city of his adoption, the metropolis.”