Description
Chambers wrote and published nearly ninety marches in addition to several brilliant cornet solos. His band compositions have been referred to as “one of the crucial finest and most difficult works in the American march repertoire.” Today, he is mainly known for two of his marches, Boys of the Old Brigade and the present work. The Chicago Tribune March was once written in 1892 for the iconic Chicago newspaper company which was once founded in 1847. Over the last century and more, quite a lot of major (and well as smaller regional) newspapers have commissioned band pieces for special events, a tradition that still continues today, and has greatly enriched the American march band repertoire. The The Chicago Tribune March was once first performed at “Music Day” at the Illinois State Fair in Peoria on Friday, September 30, 1892. The Tribune reported that four of the most efficient bands in the state, plus a 100-strong chorus, had been engaged for that year’s event. The first feature of the day was once the “March of the Nations” with each of the four bands entering the arena with music, ‘soldiery’ and colors representing France, Germany, Great Britain and america. The four bands then massed in a hollow square in front of the grand stand, and directly in front of the chorus, to perform America, with a single band performing the first stanza, then a second band joining them for the second one stanza, and a third for the third stanza, then all four bands and chorus joined together in unison to perform the last stanza. After the bands had conducted their military back to their starting places all four bands then formed again in front of the grand stand and performed The Chicago Tribune March to great applause. Richard Sargeant’s new edition retains the grandeur of the first performance, and includes the composer’s original instrumentation which was once frequently reduced in later editions. It is scored for extended woodwinds (including E-flat clarinet), full brass, basses, snare drum, cymbals and bass drum. The B-flat bass clarinet and saxophones have been added by the editor as the instruments were present in the bands directed by Chambers.
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