Patrick Sarsfield Gilmore

(born Dec. 25, 1829, County Galway, Ire.died Sept. 24, 1892, St. Louis, Mo., U.S.) Irish-born U.S. bandmaster. He immigrated to the U.S. at age 19. In 1859 he took over the Boston Brigade Band (later known as Gilmore's Band). During the Civil War, the entire band enlisted in the Union army. A flamboyant showman, Gilmore organized extravaganza performances in 1869 and 1872 with more than 10,000 performers; the first featured cannon fire and 100 firemen beating anvils, and the second employed a chorus of 20,000. From 1872 until his death he led the New York 22nd Regiment Band, giving 150 concerts in Europe in 1878. His innovations reduced the heavy reliance on brass instruments in favour of the higher proportion of reeds characteristic of modern concert bands.