The 1933-1934 Worlds Fair was held in Chicago and is known as "A Century of Progress International Exposition." Clair Omar Musser organized a 100 piece Marimba Orchestra for the fair. Deagan produced 100 specially made marimbas for the performances, each marked with a plaque on the front with the player's name and serial number. To be part of the orchestra, each player needed to purchase the instrument that they would perform on. The Century of Progress marimba was the first to contain dummy resonators.
During his lifetime, Steve Weiss became very interested in Deagan and the marimba orchestra, and has started to collect the original Deagan marimbas (we still collect Deagan instruments), as well as any information regarding the performances. The names of all original player's appears to have been lost by history. The goal of this project is to research and publish the names of all 100 original players for the benefit of the percussion community.
A Century of Progress Marimba Orchestra Members
Clair Omar Musser (Conductor and Soloist)
Jimmy (James) Namaro (Assistant Conductor)
George Hamilton Green
Frank Bailey (Serial 44)
Lewis Wadsworth Gallagher (Serial 70)
Rosamond Golden
Leona Hubbard
Martha Jane Deisch
Violet Trede Endee
Gordon Shaffer Griffin
Ruth Stuber Jeanne
Eddy Kozak
Lorraine Adeline Krause
Clement F. Lochner
Lawrence Lacour
Mildred Lacour
Harold August Maves (Serial 78)
Patricia Ann Millington
Evelyn Marion Neal
Velma Arline Sandt
Kathryn Schmitz
Ruth Springborn
Johnny Blizzard
Catherine Porter
Albert Kette
Alice Tresler
Horace Berry
Flora Charlotte Bell
Lucretia Bair
Elisworth Bates
Ruth Buehler
Floyd Cooper
Mabel Sperry
Rudolph Willmann
Daniel Charles Forst (Serial 75)
Russell Terry Simmons (Serial 4A)
Mary Louise Witham (Serial 00)
Rudolph Robert Willmann (Serial 55)
Rose Mae Wise (Serial 73)
Burton Lynn Jackson
Novarino DeStefanis (Serial 00)
Mary Catherine Fishel
Dorothea Klema
June Gastineau
Chicago Tribune, Aug. 20, 1933
An unusual musical organization is now appearing nightly in the court of the Hall of Science. It is a marimba band of 100 pieces directed by Clair Omar Musser.
The marimba has an interesting history. Apparently it is one of the oldest musical instruments. There are records indicating it existed, naturally in a much cruder form, as long ago as 2000 B.C. In its modern form it becomes a tricky affair, a matter of careful workmanship, of tuning by mathematical devices that not only give the proper pitch to the fundamental tones but to their overtones, partials, harmonics as well.
The present band began its enrollment on Jan. 1, 1932. From the start it was planned as a feature of A Century of Progress, but not until now has it been able to appear in public. Several numbers have been specially composed for the organization, and all the others appear as special arrangements. Its membership is cosmopolitan to a high degree. One of the players, Kathryn Schmitz, comes from Berlin, Germany; another, Jimmy Namaro, is a native of London, England; George Hamilton Green comes from New York, Lorraine Adeline Krause from Washington, D.C.; Leona Hubbard from California. Some thirty other states are represented in the membership.
Chicago Tribune, Edward Moore, Aug. 22, 1933
An uncommonly entertaining musical organization is playing nightly in the court of the Hall of Science at A Century of Progress this week. It is a marimba band of one hundred pieces directed by Clair Omar Musser, and in many ways it is the most interesting group of music makers that has so far had any connection with A Century of Progress.
The marimba is one of the oldest musical instruments of which there is a record. Yet, this battery of one hundred, with their graduated, glistening resonating pipes, is startlingly in accord with modern ideas of line and mass. Not only that, but that have what will be to most people unexpected resources as makers of music.
As the marimbas are played under Mr. Musser's direction, the have inspiring rhythm, they are capable of almost anything in spacious harmonic chords, they make melody in all ways from the snappy staccato to long sustained curves of melody, the have a wide range of expression, and an equally wide range of tonal quality. In other words, they are capable of playing a program in a highly persuasive fashion.
In the Pilgrim’s chorus, for instance, out of Wagner's "Tannhauser" overture they produce a tone which for sheer loveliness you will hardly hear surpassed anywhere. It is like a group of ideal French horns ideally played, in fact better played than any other orchestra or band is able to play them. Mr. Musser leaves off conducting once in the program to turn to his own marimba and play a solo part in Thomas' "Mignon" orchestra. He is a virtuoso of the instrument, playing it as Horowitz plays the piano or Heifetz the violin.
Elsewhere you will hear some music specifically written for the group, Rosales' Bolero for one, which is not Ravel's famous work of the same name, but a good piece just the same, also an arrangement of a suite from "Carmen," also made with the organization in mind. The concerts are drawing enormous crowds, just as always happens when something musically attractive goes on at A Century of Progress. They are confidently recommended.
A Century of Progress Image Gallery
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If you have any information, pictures, videos, or audio associated with the Century of Progress Marimba Orchestra, please contact info@steveweissmusic.com.
3 comments
Bob Becker
Hi Steve, We think it’s very unlikely that George Hamilton Green took part in any of the Musser festival orchestras, including the COP, the newspaper promo notwithstanding. His name doesn’t appear on any programs or formal documents that I know of. FYI, Gilberto Serna of Century Mallet Instruments in Chicago currently has a beautiful, nearly mint COP F to F 4 octave marimba in the showroom. I stopped by there after PASIC in Indianapolis and saw and played it. It has very complete documentation from the original owner, including original newspapers, bill of sale and other memorabilia accompanying it. You should buy it! Bob Becker
Tom Vanarsdel
Musser Marimba Orchestra Project I would like to add the name Lucile Garner to the list. She was the only musician from Kentucky to participate. She was from Mayfield KY and also traveled to Europe with the group. I made copies of several newspaper clippings, as well as pictures, that her family had that mention her activities. When I was teaching at Murray State University (KY) (I’m retired now), a music student came to my office and told me about her relative who played marimba. At that time (several years ago) they still had her marimba, as well as the shipping trunks, but were not interested in selling them. I have no idea what kind of shape it’s in or if they still have it. If you are interested, I’ll see if I can track it down and get an address and phone number. If you want a copy of my copies, give me a contact person and address and I’ll be happy to send them. The family may still have the originals. Dr. Tom Vanarsdel tom.vanarsdel@murraystate.edu
Nicholaus Meyera
I own portions of one of the marimbas from the Century of Progress Marimba Orchestra. I have the original plaque packed away and will look for it and let you know the serial # and name on it.