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Ringgold Band, Inc

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The Ringgold Band is a civilian concert band based in Laureldale, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is the third oldest civilian concert band in the United States, having been in continuous existence since its first documented performance on July 4, 1852.[1]

The Ringgold Band didn’t settle on its current name right away. Here are some noteworthy dates that define the journey:

June 28, 1852 – A musical group organizes under the name Independent American Brass Band of Reading, in Berks County, PA.

November 1852 – Band members unanimously agree to play for the Ringgold Light Artillery (a military company that would become the first to answer President Lincoln’s call for volunteers during mobilization for the Civil War).

June 1853 – The Independent American Brass Band changes its name to the Ringgold Artillery Brass Band and becomes attached to the U.S. Army’s 25th and 99th regiments.

June 21, 1862 – Ringgold Artillery Brass Band, along with other regimental bands, is mustered out by order of the federal government. The City of Reading receives widespread recognition for the band’s loyal and patriotic service.

September 1866 – The Ringgold Artillery Brass Band is incorporated under the name Ringgold Cornet Band. Joseph Winter is elected leader and holds that position until 1901, when the band consolidates with the Germania Band.

WWI Ringgold Band1917 (photo at right) – The band provides fitting music at a World War I rally for employees of the Carpenter Steel Co. of Reading, PA. This row of employees is getting ready to ship out for the armed forces. Band members, in military-style caps and uniforms, peer out from behind the business-suited recruits.

1901-1923 – Monroe A. Althouse (pictured) is the next leader of the Ringgold Cornet Band. He would eventually become known as Reading’s “March King” because of the marches he crafted to commemorate special occasions or organizations throughout Berks County. [Today, Ringgold Band opens each concert with an Althouse march - our way of honoring his musical legacy.]

March 6, 1932 – Renowned “March King” John Philip Sousa conducts the last march of his life. Slated to appear as guest conductor at the Ringgold Band’s 80th Anniversary Concert, Sousa rehearses the band in one of his best-known marches, “The Stars and Stripes Forever.” Later that day, he attends a banquet and poses for this photo with Ringgold Band director Eugene Weidner (Sousa’s on the right). After dinner, Sousa retires to his room at the Abraham Lincoln Hotel in Reading and suffers a fatal heart attack. As a tribute to the late, great March King, the Ringgold Band concludes nearly every concert with a rousing rendition of “The Stars and Stripes Forever.”

Although economic and political times have changed since the band first put down roots in 1852, enjoyable music remains timeless. Audiences of all ages continue to enjoy marches, old chestnuts, Broadway medleys, and other contemporary works by talented composers and arrangers.

Today, under the direction of James Seidel, the band maintains its dedication to upholding the time-honored traditions of concert band music, as well as providing music to satisfy any audience. We look forward to continuing to grow with you – both musically and geographically – throughout the 21st century.

Contents

1 Conductors 2 Discography 3 See also 4 References 5 Further reading 6 External links

Conductors

Who led the band over the years? These talented directors provided leadership to the Ringgold Band throughout the 20th century, an exciting period in U.S. history that included world wars, the Great Depression, the space race and the dawn of the computer age:

Robert Mattern – 1923-1924, 1936-1943 Eugene Z. Weidner – 1924-1936 Fred Cardin – 1936-1960 Walter Gier – 1960-1980 James S. Seidel – 1980-present

Discography

Our Band Heritage, Volume 1: Revisited Our Band Heritage, Volume 2: Revisited Our Band Heritage, Volume 3 Our Band Heritage, Volume 4 Our Band Heritage, Volume 5 Our Band Heritage, Volume 6: A Tribute to John Philip Sousa Our Band Heritage, Volume 7: A Tribute to Patrick Sarsfield Gilmore Our Band Heritage, Volume 8: Remembrance of Switzerland Our Band Heritage, Volume 9: Salute to Bert Meyers Our Band Heritage, Volume 10: America's Oldest Our Band Heritage, Volume 11: Salute to Martin Klinger Our Band Heritage, Volume 12: Band Concert Our Band Heritage, Volume 13: Spectacular Our Band Heritage, Volume 14: Ye Ancients Our Band Heritage, Volume 15: Virtuoso! The Rare and Glorious Sound of Frank Kaderabek Our Band Heritage, Volume 16: Americans We   Our Band Heritage, Volume 17: Seasons Greetings Our Band Heritage, Volume 18: Band on Broadway Our Band Heritage, Volume 19: Sesquicentennial: The Music of John Philip Sousa Our Band Heritage, Volume 20: A World of Marches Our Band Heritage, Volume 21: Blockbusters - The Allentown Band & Allen Organ

See also

Reading, Pennsylvania Community band Concert band Berks County, Pennsylvania

References

Whelan, Frank (June 29, 2003), "'Band' plays on words and pictures to tell informal history", The Morning Call: E.! Salter, Rosa (April 20, 2003), "Two in tune with the times ** At 175, Allentown Band, America's oldest, preserves best of tradition.", The Morning Call: E.! Whelan, Frank (September 1, 1985), "Martin Van Buren Slept Here Allentown, Easton Hosted President", The Morning Call: B.03 Willistein, Paul (September 10, 1999), "Band In Demand Historic Allentown Group Is Booked Until The Millennium And Beyond.", The Morning Call: D.01 Whelan, Frank (June 8, 2005), "Bridge named after musician ** Albertus L. Meyers also was conductor of Allentown Band.", The Morning Call: B.07 Whelan, Frank (May 29, 2005), "West Park the iconic home for Allentown bands.", The Morning Call: E.1 Lawler, Sylvia (July 2, 1991), "CBS Finds Right Key To Capturing The Spirit Of The Allentown Band.", The Morning Call: A.56

Further reading

Demkee, Ronald (2003), The Band Plays On!: The Allentown Band's 175th Anniversary, Publishing Plus PA, ISBN 0-9726158-1-4

External links

Website of The Ringgold Band, Inc at www.ringgoldband.com

Categories:

1852 establishments in the United States Culture of Reading, Pennsylvania Concert bands Musical groups established in the 1850s