Claudio S. Grafulla
Encyclopedia
Claudio S. Grafulla was a composer in the United States
during the 19th Century, most noted for martial music for regiment
al bands during the early days of the American Civil War
.
Grafulla was born in 1810 on Minorca
, an island off the coast of Spain
that was occupied by the British after the Napoleonic wars
. At the age of 28, he emigrated to the United States
, where he became a French horn player in Napier Lothian's New York Brass Band in New York City
. This band was attached to the 7th Regiment of the New York National Guard, which was honored in 1922 by John Philip Sousa
's The Gallant Seventh march. In 1860, he added woodwinds to a reorganized band and continued to serve as its director until his death in 1880.
Grafulla was a quiet, unassuming man who never married; his whole life centered around his music. His remarkable technical and musical skills allowed him to become well known as a composer, often writing music to order, and as an arranger. The hallmark Port Royal Band Books were composed and arranged for the 3rd New Hampshire Regiment
Band, when it was formed for service during the Civil War. As a director of the 7th Regiment Band, his fame spread widely.
Grafulla composed Washington Grays in 1861 for the 8th Regiment, New York State Militia. This work has been called a march masterpiece, a band classic, and the prototype of the concert march. Showing the stylistic influence of both German and Italian marches, the march has a marvelous balance of technique and melody in a continuous flow of musical ideas. It dared to break the old formulas, however, because it has no introduction, no break strain, and no stinger.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
during the 19th Century, most noted for martial music for regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
al bands during the early days of the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
Grafulla was born in 1810 on Minorca
Minorca
Min Orca or Menorca is one of the Balearic Islands located in the Mediterranean Sea belonging to Spain. It takes its name from being smaller than the nearby island of Majorca....
, an island off the coast of Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
that was occupied by the British after the Napoleonic wars
Napoleonic Wars
The Napoleonic Wars were a series of wars declared against Napoleon's French Empire by opposing coalitions that ran from 1803 to 1815. As a continuation of the wars sparked by the French Revolution of 1789, they revolutionised European armies and played out on an unprecedented scale, mainly due to...
. At the age of 28, he emigrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, where he became a French horn player in Napier Lothian's New York Brass Band in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. This band was attached to the 7th Regiment of the New York National Guard, which was honored in 1922 by John Philip Sousa
John Philip Sousa
John Philip Sousa was an American composer and conductor of the late Romantic era, known particularly for American military and patriotic marches. Because of his mastery of march composition, he is known as "The March King" or the "American March King" due to his British counterpart Kenneth J....
's The Gallant Seventh march. In 1860, he added woodwinds to a reorganized band and continued to serve as its director until his death in 1880.
Grafulla was a quiet, unassuming man who never married; his whole life centered around his music. His remarkable technical and musical skills allowed him to become well known as a composer, often writing music to order, and as an arranger. The hallmark Port Royal Band Books were composed and arranged for the 3rd New Hampshire Regiment
3rd New Hampshire Volunteer Regiment
3rd New Hampshire Volunteer Regiment was an infantry regiment in the Union army during the American Civil War.It was organized at Camp Berry in Concord and mustered in on August 23, 1861, for three years service, 1047 officers and men. The regiment served most of its time on the Atlantic coast in...
Band, when it was formed for service during the Civil War. As a director of the 7th Regiment Band, his fame spread widely.
Grafulla composed Washington Grays in 1861 for the 8th Regiment, New York State Militia. This work has been called a march masterpiece, a band classic, and the prototype of the concert march. Showing the stylistic influence of both German and Italian marches, the march has a marvelous balance of technique and melody in a continuous flow of musical ideas. It dared to break the old formulas, however, because it has no introduction, no break strain, and no stinger.