Harry J Lincoln

From Wind Repertory Project
Harry J. Lincoln

Biography

Harry J. Lincoln (13 April 1878, Shamokin, Penn. - 19 April 1937, Philadelphia, Penn.) was an American composer and conductor.

Like many other communities in Pennsylvania, Lincoln's hometown had its own band, sponsored by the Shamokin Dye and Print Works and organized in 1875. Lincoln presumably became interested in instrumental music as a boy and probably performed with that group—appropriately named “Our Band.”

Lincoln became an arranger for the Vandersloot Music Publishing Co. in Williamsport, Pennsylvania—the home of the famous Repasz Band. He also served as pianist and manager of the local symphony orchestra and organist and choirmaster of the First Church of Christ. Around 1915 he organized the 26 member Lincoln Ladies Band. He founded the Harry J. Lincoln Music Co. in Philadelphia. Following the death of F. W. Vandersloot in 1929, the two firms were combined in Philadelphia and later became part of Mills Music Co. Lincoln died of a heart attack at his home in Philadelphia in April 1937. He was survived by his wife and a son, Harry J. Lincoln, Jr.

Lincoln composed a variety of concert band music (as well as under pseudonyms such as Abe Losch ("Losch" was the maiden name of his mother), Carl Loveland, and Harry Jay) including: Alameda; Angels of Night Reverie; Babbling Brook Reverie; Buffalo Flyer; A Dream of the South; The Fight is On; Garden of Dreams; General Pershing; Great American; Heaven’s Artillery; Our Sammies; A Southern Dream Waltz; and Which Way Did My Momma Go? His marches include: Blaze of Honor; Baldwin Commandery; The Captain; The Crater; The Fire Drill; For All and Forever; Midnight Fire Alarm; Our Band; and The Wolverine.


Works for Winds


Resources

  • Smith, Norman E. (2002). Program Notes for Band. Chicago: GIA Publications. pp. 380.