Claudio S. Grafulla (1812–1880) was a composer in the United States during the 19th Century, most noted for martial music for regimental bands during the early days of the American Civil War."The President's Own" United States Marine Band, Hall of Composers

Biography

Grafulla was born on 31 October 1812 on Menorca, 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 The New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs (NYS DMNA) is responsible for the state's New York Army National Guard, New York Air National Guard, New York Guard and the New York Naval Militia. It is headed by Adjutant General of New ...

, 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 at New York on 2 December 1880. Grafulla was a quiet, unassuming man who never married; his whole life centered on 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. As a director of the 7th Regiment Band, his fame spread widely. Grafulla was a member of William Magear "Boss" Tweed's exclusive Americus Club. He performed regularly at Americus Club events, and his close relationship with Tweed is expressed on the cover of his sheet music for "Solid Men to the Front," which features a portrait of Tweed with the legend "composed and dedicated to Hon. William M. Tweed." 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. Curiously, long after Grafulla's death, during the presidential contest of 1896, while McKinley and Bryan were debating the burning issue of a silver vs. gold monetary standard, his publishers issued a ''Solid Money March'' under the palindrome, "C.S.Allufarg". Some of Grafulla's works, including "Parade" and "Freischutz Quickstep", were heard in the 1990

Ken Burns Kenneth Lauren Burns (born July 29, 1953) is an American filmmaker known for his documentary film, documentary films and television series, many of which chronicle United States, American History of the United States, history and Culture of the ...

PBS miniseries, '' The Civil War''.

References

External links

*
Works of Claudio S. Grafulla
on the Library of Congress
U.S. Marine Band Hall of Composers
on ''marineband.usmc.mil''
Grafulla's Favorites
on ''newworldrecords.org'' {{DEFAULTSORT:Grafulla, Claudio People from Menorca American male composers People of New York (state) in the American Civil War 1812 births 1880 deaths Spanish emigrants to the United States Musicians from the Balearic Islands 19th-century American composers 19th-century Spanish male musicians United States military musicians