Royal Hawaiian Band
Encyclopedia
The Royal Hawaiian Band is the oldest and only full-time municipal band in the United States
. At present a body of the City & County of Honolulu
, the Royal Hawaiian Band has been entertaining Honolulu residents and visitors since its inception in 1836 by Kamehameha III
. It was thrust into global prominence under the leadership of Prussia
n Heinrich "Henri" Berger
, an officer of the imperial German army
loaned to the Kingdom of Hawaii
in 1872. Berger composed of many beloved marching tunes and other melodies, and would later be honored with the title of Father of Hawaiian Music. He collaborated with King Kalākaua
in creating Hawaii Ponoi
, the national anthem of Hawaii; it is still used today as the official state song.
During its long and distinguished history, the Royal Hawaiian band inspired the development of other brass bands in Hawaii, and possibly elsewhere in Polynesia and the Pacific. According to researcher Patrick Hennessey, the band may even be credited for originally introducing Hawaii's world-renowned song "Aloha 'Oe
" to the mainland USA.
, the Royal Hawaiian Band is composed of 40 full-time musicians. Under the baton of Bandmaster Clarke Bright, the band performs every Friday at noon on the grass grounds of the historic Iolani Palace in downtown Honolulu
and on Sundays at two o'oclock at the Kapiolani Park
Bandstand in Waikiki
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. At present a body of the City & County of Honolulu
Honolulu County, Hawaii
The City and County of Honolulu is a consolidated city–county located in the U.S. state of Hawaii. The municipality and county includes both the urban district of Honolulu and the rest of the island of Oahu, as well as several minor outlying islands, including all of the Northwestern Hawaiian...
, the Royal Hawaiian Band has been entertaining Honolulu residents and visitors since its inception in 1836 by Kamehameha III
Kamehameha III
Kamehameha III was the King of Hawaii from 1825 to 1854. His full Hawaiian name was Keaweaweula Kiwalao Kauikeaouli Kaleiopapa and then lengthened to Keaweaweula Kiwalao Kauikeaouli Kaleiopapa Kalani Waiakua Kalanikau Iokikilo Kiwalao i ke kapu Kamehameha when he ascended the throne.Under his...
. It was thrust into global prominence under the leadership of Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
n Heinrich "Henri" Berger
Henri Berger
Henry or Henri Berger was a Prussian Kapellmeister composer and royal bandmaster of the Kingdom of Hawaii from 1872 to his death....
, an officer of the imperial German army
German Army (German Empire)
The German Army was the name given the combined land forces of the German Empire, also known as the National Army , Imperial Army or Imperial German Army. The term "Deutsches Heer" is also used for the modern German Army, the land component of the German Bundeswehr...
loaned to the Kingdom of Hawaii
Kingdom of Hawaii
The Kingdom of Hawaii was established during the years 1795 to 1810 with the subjugation of the smaller independent chiefdoms of Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Lānai, Kauai and Niihau by the chiefdom of Hawaii into one unified government...
in 1872. Berger composed of many beloved marching tunes and other melodies, and would later be honored with the title of Father of Hawaiian Music. He collaborated with King Kalākaua
Kalakaua
Kalākaua, born David Laamea Kamanakapuu Mahinulani Nalaiaehuokalani Lumialani Kalākaua and sometimes called The Merrie Monarch , was the last reigning king of the Kingdom of Hawaii...
in creating Hawaii Ponoi
Hawaii ponoi
Hawaii Ponoī is the state song and former national anthem of Hawaii. The words were written in 1874 by King David Kalākaua with music composed by Captain Henri Berger, then the king's royal bandmaster. Hawaii Ponoī was one of the national anthems of the Republic of Hawaii and the Kingdom of Hawaii,...
, the national anthem of Hawaii; it is still used today as the official state song.
During its long and distinguished history, the Royal Hawaiian band inspired the development of other brass bands in Hawaii, and possibly elsewhere in Polynesia and the Pacific. According to researcher Patrick Hennessey, the band may even be credited for originally introducing Hawaii's world-renowned song "Aloha 'Oe
Aloha 'Oe
"Aloha ʻOe" is Liliʻuokalani's most famous song and a common cultural Leitmotif for Hawaii. The song was inspired by a horseback trip she took in 1877 to the windward side of Oʻahu...
" to the mainland USA.
, the Royal Hawaiian Band is composed of 40 full-time musicians. Under the baton of Bandmaster Clarke Bright, the band performs every Friday at noon on the grass grounds of the historic Iolani Palace in downtown Honolulu
Downtown Honolulu
Downtown Honolulu is the current historic, economic, governmental, and central part of Honolulu—bounded by Nuuanu Stream to the west, Ward Avenue to the east, Vineyard Boulevard to the north, and Honolulu Harbor to the south—situated within the larger Honolulu District...
and on Sundays at two o'oclock at the Kapiolani Park
Kapiolani Park
Kapiolani Regional Park is the largest and oldest public park in Hawaii, located in Honolulu, Hawaii on the east end of Waikīkī just beyond Kuhio Beach Park and the Waikiki residential neighborhood...
Bandstand in Waikiki
Waikiki
Waikiki is a neighborhood of Honolulu, in the City and County of Honolulu, on the south shore of the island of Oahu, in Hawaii. Waikiki Beach is the shoreline fronting Waikīkī....
.
External links
- Royal Hawaiian Band
- David Bandy: Bandmaster Henry Berger and the Royal Hawaiian Band. In: Hawaiian Journal of History, Volume 24, 1990
- Aloha 'Oe, the Song at Pier 10 (A Tall Tale), by John Tanaka