Orion R. Farrar
Encyclopedia
Orion R Farrar was a marching band
director and composer.
Farrar was born in Indianapolis
, Indiana in 1866, son of an English shoemaker and an Indiana woman. Soon after his birth, his family moved to Warren, Ohio
. At the age of 19, Farrar enrolled in the famous Dana Musical Institute in Warren, studying theory, composition, and cornet
playing. Following graduation, he taught brass instruments and conducted the Institute band for 7 years. He resigned from Dana in 1896 to organize the Indiana State Band, which he led for two years. He then returned to Ohio to form the Ohio State Band (unrelated to Ohio State University). He moved to Youngstown, Ohio
in 1901, where he led the Youngstown Military Band. In 1915, he conducted the Lima, Ohio
Municipal Band. He became a member of Old Erie Masonic Lodge
No 3 in 1894 and was active until 1904, when he was expelled for non-payment of dues.
The final years of Farrar's life remain a mystery. He was purported to have died in California in 1929, but this is undocumented.
As a march composer, Orion R Farrar is most remembered for BOMBASTO, INDIANA STATE BAND, and HI HENRY'S TRIUMPHAL. Bombasto found an enduring place in the circus band repertoire, as well as in the libraries of municipal bands throughout America.
Marching band
Marching band is a physical activity in which a group of instrumental musicians generally perform outdoors and incorporate some type of marching with their musical performance. Instrumentation typically includes brass, woodwinds, and percussion instruments...
director and composer.
Farrar was born in Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, Indiana in 1866, son of an English shoemaker and an Indiana woman. Soon after his birth, his family moved to Warren, Ohio
Warren, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 46,832 people, 19,288 households and 12,035 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,912.4 people per square mile . There were 21,279 housing units at an average density of 1,322.9 per square mile...
. At the age of 19, Farrar enrolled in the famous Dana Musical Institute in Warren, studying theory, composition, and cornet
Cornet
The cornet is a brass instrument very similar to the trumpet, distinguished by its conical bore, compact shape, and mellower tone quality. The most common cornet is a transposing instrument in B. It is not related to the renaissance and early baroque cornett or cornetto.-History:The cornet was...
playing. Following graduation, he taught brass instruments and conducted the Institute band for 7 years. He resigned from Dana in 1896 to organize the Indiana State Band, which he led for two years. He then returned to Ohio to form the Ohio State Band (unrelated to Ohio State University). He moved to Youngstown, Ohio
Youngstown, Ohio
Youngstown is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Mahoning County; it also extends into Trumbull County. The municipality is situated on the Mahoning River, approximately southeast of Cleveland and northwest of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
in 1901, where he led the Youngstown Military Band. In 1915, he conducted the Lima, Ohio
Lima, Ohio
Lima is a city in and the county seat of Allen County, Ohio, United States. The municipality is located in northwestern Ohio along Interstate 75 approximately north of Dayton and south-southwest of Toledo....
Municipal Band. He became a member of Old Erie Masonic Lodge
Masonic Lodge
This article is about the Masonic term for a membership group. For buildings named Masonic Lodge, see Masonic Lodge A Masonic Lodge, often termed a Private Lodge or Constituent Lodge, is the basic organisation of Freemasonry...
No 3 in 1894 and was active until 1904, when he was expelled for non-payment of dues.
The final years of Farrar's life remain a mystery. He was purported to have died in California in 1929, but this is undocumented.
As a march composer, Orion R Farrar is most remembered for BOMBASTO, INDIANA STATE BAND, and HI HENRY'S TRIUMPHAL. Bombasto found an enduring place in the circus band repertoire, as well as in the libraries of municipal bands throughout America.
MARCHES by Orion R Farrar
- Northeastern Ohio Band Association Overture (Farrar 1891)
- Alhotas (Cook 1895)
- Americus (Harry Coleman 1887)
- The Banner of Freedom (Carl Fischer MusicCarl Fischer MusicCarl Fischer Music is a major publisher of sheet music based in New York City that has been in business since 1872. As one of the few remaining family-owned music publishers, it supplies educational materials to professional and beginning musicians of all ages, as well as new music works.Notable...
1901) - Bombasto (Carl Fischer MusicCarl Fischer MusicCarl Fischer Music is a major publisher of sheet music based in New York City that has been in business since 1872. As one of the few remaining family-owned music publishers, it supplies educational materials to professional and beginning musicians of all ages, as well as new music works.Notable...
1895) - Canton Warren (Harry Coleman 1897)
- Col. Roosevelt's March (Carl Fischer MusicCarl Fischer MusicCarl Fischer Music is a major publisher of sheet music based in New York City that has been in business since 1872. As one of the few remaining family-owned music publishers, it supplies educational materials to professional and beginning musicians of all ages, as well as new music works.Notable...
1898) - Columbiana (Harry Coleman 1892)
- D.M.I. (Dana Musical Institute March) (Cook 1898)
- Fort Frayne (Harry Coleman 1901)
- Fort Omaha (Carl Fischer MusicCarl Fischer MusicCarl Fischer Music is a major publisher of sheet music based in New York City that has been in business since 1872. As one of the few remaining family-owned music publishers, it supplies educational materials to professional and beginning musicians of all ages, as well as new music works.Notable...
1896) - General Miles (Harry Coleman 1896)
- Hi Henry's Triumphal (Carl Fischer MusicCarl Fischer MusicCarl Fischer Music is a major publisher of sheet music based in New York City that has been in business since 1872. As one of the few remaining family-owned music publishers, it supplies educational materials to professional and beginning musicians of all ages, as well as new music works.Notable...
1900) - Indiana State Band (Harry Coleman 1896)
- Kokomo ( Harry Coleman 1896)
- The Little Napoleon (Harry Coleman 1896)
- The Loyal American (Carl Fischer MusicCarl Fischer MusicCarl Fischer Music is a major publisher of sheet music based in New York City that has been in business since 1872. As one of the few remaining family-owned music publishers, it supplies educational materials to professional and beginning musicians of all ages, as well as new music works.Notable...
1901) - McCune Cadets (Mace Gay 1894)
- Montgomery Club (Rothermel 1900)
- The New Dominion (Carl Fischer MusicCarl Fischer MusicCarl Fischer Music is a major publisher of sheet music based in New York City that has been in business since 1872. As one of the few remaining family-owned music publishers, it supplies educational materials to professional and beginning musicians of all ages, as well as new music works.Notable...
1902) - Ohio State Band (Coleman 1897)
- Old Erie (Carl Fischer MusicCarl Fischer MusicCarl Fischer Music is a major publisher of sheet music based in New York City that has been in business since 1872. As one of the few remaining family-owned music publishers, it supplies educational materials to professional and beginning musicians of all ages, as well as new music works.Notable...
1895) - St John Commandery (Harry Coleman 1899)
- Sergeant Ficken's March (Farrar & Heyser 1891)
- Tampa Club (Carl Fischer MusicCarl Fischer MusicCarl Fischer Music is a major publisher of sheet music based in New York City that has been in business since 1872. As one of the few remaining family-owned music publishers, it supplies educational materials to professional and beginning musicians of all ages, as well as new music works.Notable...
1901) - The Telegram (Harry Coleman 1900)
- Trumbull Club (Harry Coleman 1897)
- Vindicator (Harry Coleman 1897)
- Y M B (Youngstown Military Band )(J G Richards 1903)
See also
- American March MusicAmerican march musicAmerican march music is march music written and/or performed in the United States.-History:The true "march music era" existed from 1850 to 1940s as it slowly became shadowed by the coming of jazz. Earlier marches, such as the ones from George Frideric Handel, Wolfgang Mozart, and Ludwig van...
- Screamer (march)Screamer (march)A screamer is a descriptive name for a circus march, in particular, an upbeat march intended to stir up the audience during the show.- History :...