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The Allentown Band
Fanfare And Flourish

Album US on WFB Productions label
Classical and Brass (March)

This album was release in the 1950s. American Marches, Volume 1: [liner] The Allentown Band, Allentown, Pennsylvania, regarded as the oldest non-military band in America, was established in 1828. One of its important functions was to honor the memory of General Lafayette, who had just then passed away. During the years that followed, the band played at firemen's parades, for holiday activities and various other important gatherings. By 1872, it was considered the leading civilian band in the land, although consisting of only 25 members. During the heyday of marching bands, at the turn of the century, the ranks of The Allentown Band gradually increased. Today, it boasts a contingent of more than seventy and is renowned as one of the nation's best municipal bands. Albertus L. Meyers has been director of The Allentown Band since 1926. He started to study music at the age of eight, eventually mastering the piano, pipe organ, cornet and French horn. His professional experience included performances for the orchestras of Victor Herbert and Donald Voorhees, and with such "marching band" greats as Sousa, Conway, Pryor and Liberati. He has been guest conductor of the U.S. Marine Band, the U.S. Navy Band, the Goldman Band, and others too numerous to mention. Mr. Meyers is also a charter member of many select bandmaster associations and societies. Among the selections in "FANFARE AND FLOURISH" are marches by great bandmasters associated with the history of The Allentown Band. John Philip Sousa, the "March King," had great admiration for Allentown's band and its musicians, and once, after guest-conducting the group, remarked: "I hope my band sounds that good." Heard in this album are Sousa's "THE BELLE OF CHICAGO" and "THE CHARLATAN" from his operettas of the same name, and "IMPERIAL EDWARD," which was dedicated to King Edward VII of England. Edwin Franko Goldman was also guest-conductor on at least five occasions, and he once stated: "The Allentown Band is without a doubt the finest organized band in America." Mr. Goldman is represented here by his stirring "FANFARE MARCH." Also heard are two of the most popular and authentic circus marches–"RINGLING BROTHERS GRAND ENTRY," by noted bandmaster Albert C. Sweet, who had been a band director and cornet soloist for the Ringling Bros. Circus; and "BARNUM AND BAILEY'S FAVORITE," written by Karl L. King when he was bandmaster for that organization. Mr. King, a prolific composer-conductor, also contributes "IOWA BAND LAW," which honors Major George Landers, father of the legislation that permitted towns and cities of less than 40,000 to levy a local tax to support a municipal band. Another military man, Col. George S. Howard, chief of bands and music of the Air Force, is spotlighted by The Allentown Band in their rendition of "THE WASHINGTON STAR." Col. Howard dedicated his march to the Washington, D.C. newspaper that has been an important national and local influence since 1853. Additional "FANFARE AND FLOURISH" is provided by the spirited interpretations of the indigo-accented and jaunty "MARCHING THE BLUES"; the fiery Latin-rhythmed "EL CHACO"; the high-stepping and constantly moving "CRAWLEY'S MARCH"; and "PRIDE OF STETSON," the marching song of Stetson University, De Land, Florida. --Harold Stein

Musicians

	The Allentown Band , US album by
	Albertus L. Meyers , US conductor

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Composers

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