[161-64] HORACE R. ANDERS, b Sept. 16, 1860; s David H. and Mary (Rosenberger) Anders [161-28]; m June 30, 1911, ISABELLA KELLOGG, bd Feb. 9, 1857; d May 31, 1922; dau Charles Kellogg of Detroit, Mich. Director of Music at Widener Home for Crippled Children, Phila.; Assistant director of band at Girard College, Phila. Res., 1527 N. 17th St., Phila., Pa. (1922.)
A worthy son of a worthy musical father, Horace R. Anders was reared in a musical atmosphere and began at an early age the study of brass band and orchestral instruments together with the piano and organ, becoming an instructor of music at the age of sixteen years.
Born in the vicinity of Skippack, Pa., his parents moved to Philadelphia, when Horace was eleven years of age. The principal of the school which young Anders attended, noticed the boy’s efforts at the piano and assigned him the regular duty of playing the opening march for each school session. In the meantime it is said that young Anders was surreptitiously practicing on his father’s piccolo, when the parent surprised the boy one day by walking into the room unannounced, and at once encouraged the lad.
The father’s occupation as an instructor of bands had by this time grown to such proportions that it was impossible for him to continue without assistance, particularly in the matter of arranging and copying parts, for at that time there was no means of duplicating parts as at present, and band teachers were obliged to copy the parts by hand. So at the age of twelve young Anders was set to work to duplicate parts for the various band instruments. This work gave the young musician an insight into the possibilities of the various instruments which stood him in good stead later on.
In 1880 Horace R. Anders organized the ‘“‘Weber Amateur Orchestra’’ which continued in existence for ten years and a number of its members became musically prominent.
In 1892 the Athletic Band of Philadelphia engaged him as director of that organization. The following year this band played for twelve weeks at the Lemon Hill Pavilion in Fairmount Park, Phila., and in 1894 filled a fifteen weeks’ engagement at Germania Park on the Delaware River, where Jules Levy, then premier cornet virtuoso of the world, was featured with the band. In 1895 the band became attached to the 3rd Regiment N. G. P., and henceforth was known as ‘‘Anders’ Third Regiment Band.” Prof. Anders was First Sergeant and Bandmaster of this regiment, and also leader of the First Brigade Band which was attached to Headquarters’ Staff under Gen. John G. Schall. Afterseven years with the National Guard, Prof. Anders applied for and received an honorable discharge. This was in 1903. It was with this 3rd Regiment Band that Prof. Anders filled long engagements at Atlantic City, N.J., Wilmington, Del., Asbury Park, N. J., and other places, in addition to the Phila. engagements.
Tn connection with the Peace Jubilee in 1898, Prof. Anders led the great chorus of three thousand voices with his band at the re-dedication of Independence Hall, Phila., and conducted the public concerts every night during the week of celebration of the victory over Spain. Again on Grand Army Day, Sept. 5, 1899, Prof. Anders led the big chorus of three thousand five hundred voices with his band on the City Hall Plaza, Phila., having personally written and harmonized every song used on both of the above occasions. He also conducted the big band of one hundred musicians in the Concert and promenade at the Export Exposition Building for the Knights Templar Tournoi, on May 20, 1903.
Prof. Anders has received many substantial testimonials and decorations during his career which are highly prized. In 1907 he was appointed instructor of Band at the Widener Memorial Industrial Training School for crippled children in Phila., and since 1911 has been Associate Instructor of the Cadet Band at Girard College, Phila.; prior to the World War he was director of the students’ band at me perl of Pennsylvania. [ Vid. “Famous Bandmasters in Brief,” in Jacob’s Orchestral Monthly, ec., 1921.
Parents’ family: [161-28] David H. Anders and Mary Rosenberger