Customer Reviews

Hallelujah Trombone

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Hallelujah Trombone is a very thorough study of the life and work of Henry Fillmore, a publisher and composer of music for bands and wind ensembles. He was best known for writing ragtime tunes featuring the trombone which used the glissando, or smear, to humorous effect. He also wrote a number of excellent marches which are still played frequently across America and all over the world.

Most high school and college musicians have no trouble recognizing his music, but few know about the composer who wrote it. Paul Bierley has done a spectacular job of bringing us a portrait of one of the most jovial and unforgettable composers of band music who ever lived. His efforts will be particularly appreciated by band directors, because Mr. Bierley has put forth considerable effort to catalogue the many works which Fillmore composed and arranged: however, professional, amateur, and student musicians will also enjoy reading this book to learn the background of Fillmore's music. Mark Jones

As one of thousands who owe their college education to Henry Fillmore and his life's work, I knew many of the stories about "Uncle Henry". I only saw Uncle Henry perform/conduct once. That was when I was a very new and inexperienced trumpet student in what was then known as Junior high (middle school for you kids). I had already and unknowingly performed many of Fillmore's compositions as the Bennett Band Book was the text for beginning bands. I think it was better than what I have seen used to teach my daughter and now grandson.
I participated in what turned out to be Henry's last University of Miami Summer Band Camp. The Camp was organized by Fred McCall, the then Director of the Band of the Hour and a good friend of Henry's. Henry lead one of the more experienced bands of the camp which was a full featured summer camp for middle and high schoolers except it focused on music and bands. My memories are wonderful of watching Henry's performance. Mr, Bierley's book confirmed what I have often thought were exaggerated memories of a young person.
The book confirmed those and many others which were often shared over the years as I eventually went to the University of Miami as a student.
This book brought out so many memories of people and events that have been a part of my life and stories. Henry Fillmore had a tremendous impact on my life that is still with me today. This book is recommended for anyone that ever heard a march or played in a band. It is a picture of life in the US and World of the early 20th Century through Henry's death in the iddle 1950's. That said he continues to impact lives with his music and his legend. Sousa once said, Henry Fillmore "worte marches He (SOusa) wished he could have put his name on."
Henry Fillmore's life would make a great movie for today's audiences!

That is not an exagerration.

In addition to the informative content, this biography of Henry Fillmore is interesting because of Paul Bierley's description of how he went about the process of collecting and organizing the information about the life of Henry Fillmore.