Jubilee!: One Man's Big, Bold, and Very, Very Loud Celebration of Peace

Gr 2–4—After experiencing the horrors of the Civil War firsthand, one man was determined to celebrate the beauty of life through music. A native Irishman, Patrick Sarsfield Gilmore came to America in search of a better life. His deep love and appreciation of music led him to such an influential career as a bandmaster, composer, and musical arranger that he is credited as "Father of the American Band." At the war's end, Gilmore returned to Boston, welcoming the troops home with concerts, but none seemed grand enough—hence, his idea to organize a five-day music festival, the National Peace Jubilee of 1867, commemorating the end of the war and celebrating the power of music to unite people. Though most thought it overly ambitious, Gilmore felt too strongly about his idea to give up, proving how a little determination and hard work can make a seeming impossibility a reality. While Gilmore is not well-known among today's audiences, Potter offers a refreshing and episodic view of his life and contributions to American culture. An extensive author's note provides more depth to the legacy left by such an influential figure, whose musical contributions have unfortunately been overshadowed by the accomplishments of his contemporaries. Tavares's bright and cheerful artwork illustrates Gilmore's inspiration from everyday sounds while evoking the lighthearted ebullience of the power of music. This is both a tribute to one man's talent and an insightful look at a different period of history.—Rebecca Gueorguiev, New York Public Library