National Peace Jubilee

The National Peace Jubilee was a celebration that commemorated the end of the American Civil War, organized by Patrick Gilmore in Boston from June 15–19, 1869. It featured an orchestra and a chorus, as well as numerous soloists. More than 11,000 performers participated, including the famous violinist Ole Bull as the orchestra's concertmaster,^[1] and Carl Zerrahn as director of the choral forces.^[2] The Jubilee became the "high-water mark in the influence of the band in American life".^[3] Along with the World's Peace Jubilee and International Musical Festival in 1872, it made Gilmore a famous composer and bandmaster. For the Jubilee, a newly commissioned "Hymn of Peace" was written by Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes, set to the music from "American Hymn" by Matthias Keller (1813-1875) and performed on the opening day.^[4]

Peace Jubilee, Boston, 1869

Peace Jubilee, Boston, 1869

Participants included:

• 100 choral groups with a total of 10,926 singers^[1]
• 525 musicians with the orchestra^[1]
• 486 musicians with the wind band^[1]

See also

• Handel and Haydn Society

References

• Crawford, Richard (2001). America's Musical Life: A History. W. W. Norton & Company. ISBN 0-393-04810-1.
• Hall, Roger L. (2019), Angel of Peace: Music in Old Boston, PineTree Press.
• Hansen, Richard K. (2005). The American Wind Band: A Cultural History. GIA Publications. ISBN 1-57999-467-9.