George Rosenkrans
Biography
George Rosenkrans (17 January 1881, Penfield, Penn. - 18 August 1955, Penfield) was a noted American composer of band music.
Rosenkrans's father was the music director of the local Methodist church, and George sang with the choir and learned to play the organ there. His first compositions included organ music and hymns. He also played the baritone horn in the town band, and eventually became the conductor. He composed his first march at age 17, and was soon turning out as many as eight new marches each year. As interest in his music declined, he would sell new arrangements for as little as 50 cents, or give compositions away outright. In later life, he composed many works for the Grampian Band in nearby Grampian, Pennsylvania, his favorite group, including the Grampian March. He missed a 1948 tribute by the Navy Band because he didn't believe he had any suitable clothes. He died in poverty in Penfield on August 18, 1955.
Nevertheless, his music was well-thought-of. His march Triumphant Battalions was played at the liberation of Paris, and his dirge Immortal Heroes was played at the funerals of Franklin Roosevelt and Winston Churchill.
Works for winds
- Admiral Mayo
- All Honor to Old Glory
- American Soldier
- Auto Tourist
- American Veterans
- Approximate
- Around the Circle
- Athalia
- Autumn Gold
- Autumn Gold (arr. Gillet and Roche)
- Banner of Stars
- Beautiful Blossoms
- Beautiful Enchantress
- Bell Cow, The
- Bethany Community
- BR&P Railroad
- Bridal Bouquet
- Call for the Colors
- Calvary of the Clouds
- Capital City Band
- Challenger
- Chapel Organist Meditation for Band
- Chief of Staff
- Cinderella Overture
- Colonel Miner's
- Colonial Carnival
- Columbia's Sons and Daughters March
- Commandant, The
- Confederation
- Continental Congress (1920)
- Costonian Polka
- Culver Military Academy
- Dashing Yankee Boys
- Day of Glory
- Demonstration
- Depot Band
- Devoted Hearts
- Director Doughmans
- Director Fugler's
- Dixie Doodle Dandy
- Dorothea
- Down the Line
- Dream of the Valley
- Electorate
- Elk Capital
- Endless Chain
- Ensign, The
- Envoy
- Ethelinda
- Exemplar of Peace
- Fanfare #1 and #2
- Fantastic Parade
- Fifth Regiment N.G.P.
- Fireside Fancies
- Flag of America
- Fraternalist March
- From Alaska to Panama (Border to Border)
- From Maine to Manila
- From Pillar to Post March
- Funebe
- General Funston
- Glad Hand March
- Globe Dwellers
- Globe Girder
- Glorification
- Golden Anniversary March
- Governor Goethals
- Grace and Beauty
- Grampian
- Greeting to Bethlehem
- Greetings to Grampian
- Grieving Breezes
- Guest of the Nation
- Harmonia
- Heart and Home
- Heroes Trophy
- Illuminator, The
- Immortal Heroes
- In Royal Regalia
- In Starlight Vale
- International Conciliation
- Iron Brigade
- John Lewis Shade Post Band
- Jolly Coppersmith
- Jubilation
- Junior Musicians
- King Pin, The
- Lackawanna Band
- Legion Festival Queen
- Liberty Triumphant
- Lieutenant Santelmann's
- Loyal and True
- Loyal Citizen March
- Loyal Hearts
- Loyalty Brigade March
- Loyalty Day Parade
- Magic City March
- Maiden Blushes
- Mail Man March
- Majestic Pageant March
- Marcella
- March of the Grangers
- March of the Whippoorwills
- Margeretta
- Marian Mazurka
- Mary Marble
- Memory Bells
- Merry-Go-Round
- MMBC
- Mont-Lawn
- Montgomery Post
- My Lady Lindy
- N.B.C.
- Navigator, The
- Nittany Lion March
- Nomination
- Off to the Barracks
- On and On March
- On Guard for the U.S.A.
- On the Front Line
- On the Picket Line
- Our Glorious Flag
- Our Junior and Seniors
- Our New Governor
- Our Post on Parade-Bugles
- Our State Guardsman
- Our Welcome Guests
- P.M.C. Cadets
- Pan American Union
- Peach Messenger
- Penn State Band March
- Perambulator
- Police Band
- Princess Mary
- Protectorate, The
- Public School Band
- Radio Signal March
- Reconciliation
- Referee, the
- Rehabilitation
- Remembrance of Colonel Miner
- Ring the Bells of Freedom
- Royal Guest
- Royal Welcome Home
- Rule of the People
- Salute to Union City
- Sixteenth Regiment Band
- Slurrioso
- Sons of Sea
- Sons of the Flag
- Speedway
- Star of Freedom
- Star of the Films
- Stork Special
- Sweet Evening Bells
- Telephone Belles
- Tony Orsi's March
- Triumphant Battalions
- Trophy Winner
- Twilight Chimes
- Twilight in the Mountains
- U.S. Military Academy
- U.S. Naval Academy
- Under United Banners
- Up and Coming
- Valeria
- Victorious Legions
- Village Festival
- Visions of Yesterday
- Voyager, The
- White Ribbon Cadets
- With Bands and Banners
- Wreaths of Victory
- Wreaths of Wrath
- Yankee Skipper, The
Resources
- George Rosenkrans Historical Marker
- George Rosenkrans @ Scott Music Services
- George Rosenkrans, Wikipedia Accessed 4 July 2017
- Long, F. E. (1981) George Rosenkrans and the Grampian Band