GILMORE, PATRICK SARSFIELD A celebrated American military bandmaster, born near Dublin, Ireland. His first musical experi ence was with the town band of Athlone, and when but eighteen years of age he left his na tive city to go to Canada with an English band. Almost immediately on his arrival he crossed the boundary into the United States and settled in Salem, Mass., where he became con ductor of a military band. The famous Gilmore's Band (see BAND) was organized by him at Bos ton in 1859, but the Civil War interfered with its full development at that time, its conductor, Gilmore, becoming a bandmaster in the Union Army. During the war he established a bril liant musical record, and in 1864, at New Orleans, gave a magnificent musical festival. His per formers were the combined bands of many regi ments, which, together with such novel effects as the booming of cannon to emphasize more strong ly the musical rhythm, combined to make the festival memorable. The National Peace Jubilee
of 1869, and the World's Peace Jubilee of 1872, held on Boston Common. gained him an inter national reputation. The entire musical en semble in 1869 consisted of an orchestra of 1000, and a chorus of 10.000 voices, which num ber was doubled in the festival of 1872. This huge volume was still further reinforced by a powerful organ, artillery guns, bells, and other devices. Commencing with New York, Gilmore and his hand began a concert tour which was as popular as it was successful, the tour covering Canada, Great Britain, and several Continental European cities of importance. He published several compositions and arrangements for mili tary bands, hut is of far greater importance as a conductor, and for the perfection to which he brought the concert military band organization. His successor in this branch of musical organiza tion was Sousa (q.v.). He died in Saint Louis, Mo.