"Gold Bugs" McKinley March - Score and Parts
"Gold Bugs" was composed in 1896, the year of the presidential election between William McKinley and William Jennings Bryan. One of the main campaign issues of the election was currency and the use of the gold standard. McKinley favored Gold and Bryan wanted to include silver, with gold, in the money system. Supporters of McKinley would wear gold colored clothing and objects to show their support of McKinley. Among the items were small "gold bug" pins that included a photo of the candidate. McKinley would go on to win the 1896 election and was easily reelected in 1900. On September 6, 1901, he was shot while entering the Temple of Music at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, NY. On September 14, 1901, McKinley died.
Joseph S. Peckham was born in Newport, RI in 1848. He served in the Navy achieving the rank of Musician 1st Class and was a member of the first Naval Training Station Band in Newport in the late 1800s. He was the choir director at Channing Memorial Church in the city and a member of the church's vocal quartet. "He was a singer of much merit, having a fine bass voice, and has won much reputation as a composer." (Newport Mercury, Saturday, December 3, 1904.) He composed over 30 marches before his death in 1904.
"Gold Bugs" was composed in 1896, the year of the presidential election between William McKinley and William Jennings Bryan. One of the main campaign issues of the election was currency and the use of the gold standard. McKinley favored Gold and Bryan wanted to include silver, with gold, in the money system. Supporters of McKinley would wear gold colored clothing and objects to show their support of McKinley. Among the items were small "gold bug" pins that included a photo of the candidate. McKinley would go on to win the 1896 election and was easily reelected in 1900. On September 6, 1901, he was shot while entering the Temple of Music at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, NY. On September 14, 1901, McKinley died.
Joseph S. Peckham was born in Newport, RI in 1848. He served in the Navy achieving the rank of Musician 1st Class and was a member of the first Naval Training Station Band in Newport in the late 1800s. He was the choir director at Channing Memorial Church in the city and a member of the church's vocal quartet. "He was a singer of much merit, having a fine bass voice, and has won much reputation as a composer." (Newport Mercury, Saturday, December 3, 1904.) He composed over 30 marches before his death in 1904.
"Gold Bugs" was composed in 1896, the year of the presidential election between William McKinley and William Jennings Bryan. One of the main campaign issues of the election was currency and the use of the gold standard. McKinley favored Gold and Bryan wanted to include silver, with gold, in the money system. Supporters of McKinley would wear gold colored clothing and objects to show their support of McKinley. Among the items were small "gold bug" pins that included a photo of the candidate. McKinley would go on to win the 1896 election and was easily reelected in 1900. On September 6, 1901, he was shot while entering the Temple of Music at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, NY. On September 14, 1901, McKinley died.
Joseph S. Peckham was born in Newport, RI in 1848. He served in the Navy achieving the rank of Musician 1st Class and was a member of the first Naval Training Station Band in Newport in the late 1800s. He was the choir director at Channing Memorial Church in the city and a member of the church's vocal quartet. "He was a singer of much merit, having a fine bass voice, and has won much reputation as a composer." (Newport Mercury, Saturday, December 3, 1904.) He composed over 30 marches before his death in 1904.
