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Many musicians know John Philip Sousa composed the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine March, but few people know about the Shrine Bands raising money for the Shriners Hospitals for children.
There are 22 Shriners Hospitals who treat children, regardless of their ability to pay for that care. This includes the four Shriners Burns Hospitals, which are world famous for their groundbreaking work in treating burned children.
Every time people see a parade with all the many different Shrine units pass by, from the Shriners riding tiny little motorcycles, to the mounted patrols on horses, they are raising money to operate those hospitals.
Among those colorful and fun units, are several different bands and musical groups. If the mind can conceive something musically, the Shriners can make it into a Shrine unit, and put it in their parades, either marching or riding. Some of the many types of musical groups they have range from four or five members to over a hundred.
Shrine musical units vary from Shrine to Shrine, but often have a Dixieland Band, Steel Drum Unit, Pipes and Drum Unit, String Band, Hillbilly Band, Clown Band, Calliope Band, and Chanters (a singing unit).
The most common is what they traditionally call a brass band, which is often not a brass band, at all. It can contain a full compliment of woodwinds, but the name lingers on, from an earlier day. But make no mistake, they can play. Their ability level ranges anywhere from professionals in the musicians union and music teachers to former high school and college band members. They might march, or today, usually ride a special-made "rolling bandstand."
The first Shrine Band was thought to be the Lu Lu Shrine Band of Philadelphia, whose 90 members made their presence known as they marched in a procession on October 2, 1889 in Washington, D.C. The Lu Lu Shriners were chartered on June 4, 1884 and were the sixteenth Shrine to be chartered.
Another very old continuously operating Shrine Band is the Rajah Shrine Band of Reading, Pennsylvania, who has held pops concerts for the last 40 years and was chartered in 1896. The Sphinx Shrine Band of Newington, Connetticut, which was formed in 1899, is also among the first Shrine Bands.
Many...