The Christian Brothers Band (Memphis)
Encyclopedia
The Christian Brothers Band of Christian Brothers High School (Memphis, Tennessee)
is the oldest high school band in America, having a continuous existence since its founding in 1872. The band was founded in the fall of 1872 by Br. Maurelian, who served as the first band director. The first recorded performance of the group was in the Memphis St. Patrick's Day Parade of 1873, and the band has performed every year since. The band has an unbroken lineage of ten band directors.
) began the band and orchestra in 1872 and served as the first band director from 1872-1882. Under his direction the band performed in its first performance on record in 1873 at the Memphis St. Patrick's Day Parade performing "The Wearing of the Green
." Maurelian directed the band at public examinations, commencement ceremonies, parades, and through two epidemics of yellow fever that crippled the city of Memphis. On May 27, 1876 the band performed at the dedication of the Memphis Court Square Fountain closing the program with "Home, Sweet Home."
the night that President Abraham Lincoln
was assassinated. He directed the Christian Brothers Band from 1882 until 1892. The band under his direction performed at commencement ceremonies and parades. On October 14, 1887 the band performed for President Grover Cleveland
on his visit to Memphis, and on May 12, 1892 the band performed on the "Kate Adams" steamboat for the dedication of the Great Mississippi River Bridge
, the first bridge to cross the Mississippi from St. Louis to New Orleans.
While directing the band and orchestra, Schneider wrote a series of march books for the band that include Quickstep
s, Schottische
s, Waltz
s, Polka
s and Irish tunes.
Under the direction of Prof. Saxby, the band performed for parades and commencements, along with Christmas entertainment. On May 6, 1900 the band performed in a parade honoring Admiral George Dewey
, hero of the Spanish American War.
. He had the distinction of playing under such celebrated conductors as Richard Strauss
, Siegfried Wagner
, Oscar Fried, and Joseph Stransky. In Memphis he worked for the Memphis College of Music and was director of the Memphis Symphony Orchestra. During this time the band took part in the Memphis Preparedness Parade on June 3, 1916 and performed on Armistice Day in 1922 in Court Square.
. He served as band director at Christian Brothers from 1923 until 1931. By the time of Steuterman's direction, the band hand changed from a band that resembled a Local Town Band to a Jazz Orchestra style band, performing at dinners, college plays, and the first accounts of the band performing for the football team.
, the school band movement blossomed in Memphis, and most of the city's bands were founded during this time. Harrison became the band director of several bands throughout the city and held summer band camps at the fairgrounds. The Christian Brothers Band began to be known as the official band of the Cotton Carnival
, marching in the parade every year. On June 9, 1940, the band performed at the dedication of the new Christian Brothers College Campus at 650 East Parkway.
), the purple wave mascot was adopted, and the colors of purple and gold were officially made the school colors. A dance band and glee club were also started on the campus to accompany the largest concerts the school performed known as the "Cotton Capers." The band performed yearly for the graduation ceremonies and started to perform at Concert Festivals.
, and for President Richard Nixon
and Spiro Agnew
. The band received superior ratings at concert festival every year of his direction. In 1973 the band celebrated its 100th anniversary and was ranked in the top 100 bands in America. Ralph Hale was a composer of music for young bands with his brother Jack Hale.
and the Lincoln Center. The band has also performed in concert festivals from Hawaii to Washington D.C. In 2010 the band recorded at STAX
, and in 2011 the band received superior ratings at concert festival and toured the Midwest.
Christian Brothers High School (Memphis, Tennessee)
Christian Brothers High School ' is located in Memphis, Tennessee, at 5900 Walnut Grove Rd. It is an all-male college preparatory school and Catholic school that has a strong Lasallian tradition that can be traced back to John Baptist de La Salle...
is the oldest high school band in America, having a continuous existence since its founding in 1872. The band was founded in the fall of 1872 by Br. Maurelian, who served as the first band director. The first recorded performance of the group was in the Memphis St. Patrick's Day Parade of 1873, and the band has performed every year since. The band has an unbroken lineage of ten band directors.
Under the direction of Brother Maurelian 1872-1882
Br. Maurelian (George Valin Sheel), a LaSallian Christian Brother, founder and president of Christian Brothers College (later known as Christian Brothers University (Memphis, Tennessee) and Christian Brothers High School (Memphis, Tennessee)Christian Brothers High School (Memphis, Tennessee)
Christian Brothers High School ' is located in Memphis, Tennessee, at 5900 Walnut Grove Rd. It is an all-male college preparatory school and Catholic school that has a strong Lasallian tradition that can be traced back to John Baptist de La Salle...
) began the band and orchestra in 1872 and served as the first band director from 1872-1882. Under his direction the band performed in its first performance on record in 1873 at the Memphis St. Patrick's Day Parade performing "The Wearing of the Green
The Wearing of the Green
"The Wearing of the Green" is an anonymously-penned Irish street ballad dating to 1798. The context of the song is the repression around the time of the Irish Rebellion of 1798. Wearing a shamrock in the "caubeen" was a sign of rebellion and green was the colour of the Society of the United...
." Maurelian directed the band at public examinations, commencement ceremonies, parades, and through two epidemics of yellow fever that crippled the city of Memphis. On May 27, 1876 the band performed at the dedication of the Memphis Court Square Fountain closing the program with "Home, Sweet Home."
Under the direction of Professor Paul Schneider Sr. (1882-1892)
Professor Paul Schneider was a bugler in the Union Army and played violin in many touring orchestras after the Civil War including performing in Ford's TheatreFord's Theatre
Ford's Theatre is a historic theater in Washington, D.C., used for various stage performances beginning in the 1860s. It is also the site of the assassination of U.S. President Abraham Lincoln on April 14, 1865...
the night that President Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
was assassinated. He directed the Christian Brothers Band from 1882 until 1892. The band under his direction performed at commencement ceremonies and parades. On October 14, 1887 the band performed for President Grover Cleveland
Grover Cleveland
Stephen Grover Cleveland was the 22nd and 24th president of the United States. Cleveland is the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms and therefore is the only individual to be counted twice in the numbering of the presidents...
on his visit to Memphis, and on May 12, 1892 the band performed on the "Kate Adams" steamboat for the dedication of the Great Mississippi River Bridge
Frisco Bridge
The Frisco Bridge, previously known as the Memphis Bridge, is a cantilevered through truss bridge carrying a rail line across the Mississippi River between West Memphis, Arkansas and Memphis, Tennessee.-Construction:...
, the first bridge to cross the Mississippi from St. Louis to New Orleans.
While directing the band and orchestra, Schneider wrote a series of march books for the band that include Quickstep
Quickstep
The quickstep is a light-hearted member of the standard ballroom dances. The movement of the dance is fast and powerfully flowing and sprinkled with syncopations. The upbeat melodies that quickstep is danced to make it suitable for both formal and informal events...
s, Schottische
Schottische
The schottische is a partnered country dance, that apparently originated in Bohemia. It was popular in Victorian era ballrooms as a part of the Bohemian folk-dance craze and left its traces in folk music of countries such as Argentina , Finland , France, Italy, Norway , Portugal and Brazil , Spain ...
s, Waltz
Waltz
The waltz is a ballroom and folk dance in time, performed primarily in closed position.- History :There are several references to a sliding or gliding dance,- a waltz, from the 16th century including the representations of the printer H.S. Beheim...
s, Polka
Polka
The polka is a Central European dance and also a genre of dance music familiar throughout Europe and the Americas. It originated in the middle of the 19th century in Bohemia...
s and Irish tunes.
Under the direction of Professor William Wallace Saxby, Jr. (1892-1916)
William Wallace Saxby was a graduate of Christian Brothers College of Memphis and a student of Paul Schneider. After graduation he went to New York and Chicago to study violin and returned to teach at Christian Brothers at the age of nineteen. During his time as band and orchestra director from 1892-1916, he organized the Memphis Philharmonic Orchestra Association and was instrumental, along with Paul Schneider, in the reorganization of the Memphis Federation of Musicians. Saxby later became the band director of the Memphis Municipal Park Band.Under the direction of Prof. Saxby, the band performed for parades and commencements, along with Christmas entertainment. On May 6, 1900 the band performed in a parade honoring Admiral George Dewey
George Dewey
George Dewey was an admiral of the United States Navy. He is best known for his victory at the Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish-American War...
, hero of the Spanish American War.
Under the direction of Joseph Henkel, Jr. (1916-1923)
In 1916, Joseph Henkel, Jr. joined the faculty as band director during World War I. He studied violin in Germany, a pupil of Joseph JoachimJoseph Joachim
Joseph Joachim was a Hungarian violinist, conductor, composer and teacher. A close collaborator of Johannes Brahms, he is widely regarded as one of the most significant violinists of the 19th century.-Origins:...
. He had the distinction of playing under such celebrated conductors as Richard Strauss
Richard Strauss
Richard Georg Strauss was a leading German composer of the late Romantic and early modern eras. He is known for his operas, which include Der Rosenkavalier and Salome; his Lieder, especially his Four Last Songs; and his tone poems and orchestral works, such as Death and Transfiguration, Till...
, Siegfried Wagner
Siegfried Wagner
Siegfried Wagner was a German composer and conductor, the son of Richard Wagner. He was an opera composer and the artistic director of the Bayreuth Festival from 1908 to 1930.-Life:...
, Oscar Fried, and Joseph Stransky. In Memphis he worked for the Memphis College of Music and was director of the Memphis Symphony Orchestra. During this time the band took part in the Memphis Preparedness Parade on June 3, 1916 and performed on Armistice Day in 1922 in Court Square.
Under the direction of Frank J. Steuterman, Sr.(1923-1931)
Frank Steuterman came to Memphis with his family where he was a professional harpist with the St. Louis Symphony. He was strongly tied to the Memphis Musicians' Union, was a very active musician in Memphis, and ran a school of music from his house. Many famous musicians could be found at his home including W. C. HandyW. C. Handy
William Christopher Handy was a blues composer and musician. He was widely known as the "Father of the Blues"....
. He served as band director at Christian Brothers from 1923 until 1931. By the time of Steuterman's direction, the band hand changed from a band that resembled a Local Town Band to a Jazz Orchestra style band, performing at dinners, college plays, and the first accounts of the band performing for the football team.
Under the direction of Captain Charles Harrison (1931-1941)
In 1931 the band was reorganized by Captain Charles Harrison into a modern day school band. The band received new instruments and uniforms. Thanks to the Melody Music Shop and the Cotton CarnivalCarnival Memphis
Carnival Memphis , is a series of parties and festivities staged annually since 1931 in Memphis, Tennessee by the centralized Carnival Memphis Association and its member krewes during the month of June...
, the school band movement blossomed in Memphis, and most of the city's bands were founded during this time. Harrison became the band director of several bands throughout the city and held summer band camps at the fairgrounds. The Christian Brothers Band began to be known as the official band of the Cotton Carnival
Carnival Memphis
Carnival Memphis , is a series of parties and festivities staged annually since 1931 in Memphis, Tennessee by the centralized Carnival Memphis Association and its member krewes during the month of June...
, marching in the parade every year. On June 9, 1940, the band performed at the dedication of the new Christian Brothers College Campus at 650 East Parkway.
Under the direction of Brother Joseph Raphael (1941-1947)
Brother Joseph Raphael (Edmund Jack Humphrey) came to the campus in 1941 and was the band director until 1947. Under his direction, the band began to perform halftime shows for the football team. A dance band was also formed. It was during this time that the school fight song was selected (Aggie War HymnAggie War Hymn
The Aggie War Hymn is the official fight song of Texas A&M University.-History:It was written by J.V. "Pinky" Wilson, one of many Aggies who fought in World War I...
), the purple wave mascot was adopted, and the colors of purple and gold were officially made the school colors. A dance band and glee club were also started on the campus to accompany the largest concerts the school performed known as the "Cotton Capers." The band performed yearly for the graduation ceremonies and started to perform at Concert Festivals.
Under the direction of Doctor Ralph Hale (1947-1983)
Ralph Hale arrived on the campus in 1947 and served as band director until 1983 (with Mike Krepper from 1980 until 1983). Under the baton of Ralph Hale, the band became notable on a national level. The band performed for the Midwest Clinic, the dedication of St. Jude Children's Research HospitalSt. Jude Children's Research Hospital
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, founded in 1962, is a leading pediatric treatment and research facility focused on children's catastrophic diseases. It is located in Memphis, Tennessee. It is a nonprofit medical corporation chartered as a 501 tax-exempt organization under IRS regulations.In...
, and for President Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
and Spiro Agnew
Spiro Agnew
Spiro Theodore Agnew was the 39th Vice President of the United States , serving under President Richard Nixon, and the 55th Governor of Maryland...
. The band received superior ratings at concert festival every year of his direction. In 1973 the band celebrated its 100th anniversary and was ranked in the top 100 bands in America. Ralph Hale was a composer of music for young bands with his brother Jack Hale.
Under the direction of Gabriel Michael Krepper (1980-2000)
Mike Krepper was conductor the Christian Brothers Band from 1980 until 2000. Under his direction the band received superior ratings at concert festival, and began to record their concerts on Compact Disc. In 1995 the band was featured at the Tennessee Band Masters Meeting held at TMEA All-State festival. Mr. Krepper was also instrumental in developing the schools Jazz Band program and began the Historic Band Program, a band that replicates the first bands at Christian Brothers in attire and instrumentation.Under the direction of Patrick Bolton (2000-present)
Patrick Bolton was a student of the band program under the direction of Mike Krepper. In 1995 he graduated and was recipient of the Ralph Hale Band Award. His first year of teaching was in 2000, and under his direction the band has performed in Carnegie HallCarnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
and the Lincoln Center. The band has also performed in concert festivals from Hawaii to Washington D.C. In 2010 the band recorded at STAX
Stax Records
Stax Records is an American record label, originally based in Memphis, Tennessee.Founded in 1957 as Satellite Records, the name Stax Records was adopted in 1961. The label was a major factor in the creation of the Southern soul and Memphis soul music styles, also releasing gospel, funk, jazz, and...
, and in 2011 the band received superior ratings at concert festival and toured the Midwest.
Notable band members
- Henry Loeb Sr. (1873) - Owner of Loeb Laundry Business, Philanthropist
- John J. Shea, Sr. (1873) - Secretary of the City of Memphis in 1891
- Leo Kremer (1875) - Professional Pianist
- George Randolph (1884) - Lawyer, Federal Judge
- William Wallace Saxby, Jr. (1888) - Founder of the Memphis Philharmonic Orchestra, Director of the Memphis Municipal Park Band, Band Director at Christian Brothers
- Eugene Nowland (1888) - Professional European Musician, Owner of Eugene Nowland & Company, Paris
- James Saxby (1899) - Professional Musician, Orchestra Leader, Assistant Director of Band at Christian Brothers
- Zachary H. Curlin (1904) - Sports Coach, first coach of what is now the University of Memphis Football and Basketball teams
- Frank Olita, Sr. (1905) - Professional Trumpeter and Violinist
- Lester Bruch (1905) - Professional Trumpeter, Director of the Memphis Federal Band and the Memphis Municipal Park Band
- Adolph Steuterman (1908) - World renown Organist, Organist for Calvary Episcopal Church
- Harry Steuterman (1909) - Professional Organist
- Philip Canale (1912) - Senior Member of Canale, Glankler, Little, Boone & Loch and the John S. Montedonico Law Firm, Philanthopist
- Lawrence Patrick Cooney (1935) - Composer of the original Memphis State fight song, Messick High School Director, Supervisor of music education for Memphis City Schools
- Louis Joseph Pierini (1936) - Professional Trombonist, Band Leader
- Father Leonard Oglesby, Jr. (1937) - Priest
- Frank J. Glanker (1940) - Lawyer, founder of Glankler Brown PPLC
- Bill JustisBill JustisWilliam E. "Bill" Justis Jr. was an American pioneer rock and roll musician, composer, and musical arranger, best known for his 1957 Grammy Hall of Fame song, "Raunchy."-Biography:...
(1944) - Sun Studio Recording Artist, Producer, Film Composer - Br. John Johnston (1951) - Former Superior General of the Brothers of the Christian Schools
- James Richens (1954) - Resident Composer for the Memphis Symphony Orchestra, Professor of Composition at the University of Memphis
- Br. Joel McGraw (1963) - Assistant Principal of Christian Brothers High School
- William "Bill" McKee (1965) - Former band director at Central High School, Christian Brothers Jazz Band "Walnut Groove" director
- Craft Beck (1975) - Conductor of the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra