Chicago Tribune March: Study score

Chambers wrote and published nearly ninety marches as well as several brilliant cornet solos. His band compositions have been called "some of the finest and most difficult works in the American march repertoire." Today, he is mainly known for two of his marches, Boys of the Old Brigade and the present work. The Chicago Tribune March was written in 1892 for the iconic Chicago newspaper company which was founded in 1847. Over the past one and a half centuries, a number of major (and well as smaller regional) newspapers have commissioned band pieces for special events, a tradition that still continues today, and has greatly enriched the American march band repertoire.

The The Chicago Tribune March was first performed at "Music Day" at the Illinois State Fair in Peoria on Friday, September 30, 1892. The Tribune reported that four of the best bands in the state, plus a 100-strong chorus, had been engaged for that year's event. The first feature of the day was the "March of the Nations" with each of the four bands entering the arena with music, 'soldiery' and colors representing France, Germany, Great Britain and the United States. The four bands then massed in a hollow square in front of the grand stand, and directly in front of the chorus, to perform America, with a single band performing the first stanza, then a second band joining them for the second stanza, and a third for the third stanza, then all four bands and chorus joined together in unison to perform the last stanza. After the bands had conducted their military back to their starting places all four bands then formed again in front of the grand stand and performed The Chicago Tribune March to great applause.

Richard Sargeant's new edition retains the grandeur of the first performance, and includes the composer's original instrumentation which was often reduced in later editions. It is scored for extended woodwinds (including E-flat clarinet), full brass, basses, snare drum, cymbals and bass drum. The B-flat bass clarinet and saxophones have been added by the editor as these instruments were present in the bands directed by Chambers.

Wind Band ; ISMN: 979-0-58042-038-1