The Illinois University Bands, famed not only for size but also for
the excellent quality of their playing, owe their reputation to Doctor
Albert A. Harding, for so long a time their leader. Through many years
his was the outstanding name among college band conductors in the
United States.
“Austin” was born in Georgetown, Illinois, but after his mother’s death
when he was a small boy, he lived with his grandparents in the little
town of Paris, Illinois.
He acquired his first musical training by tooting a cheap brass cornet
in a practice room which was actually an old barn. His music rack was
the dashboard of an antiquated sleigh.
His grandfather, a loyal Democrat, was quite disgusted when his
grandson played his horn in a Republican rally for William McKinley.
“Aus,” as the boy was called, was asked to learn the fife and play
in a fife and drum corps organized by the Illinois State Republican
Committee. Instead the boy bought a piccolo and became such an expert
player that he was appointed leader of the high school band. After his
graduation young Harding became leader of a dance orchestra, playing
for dances in Champaign and Urbana, Illinois; Terre Haute, Indiana and
the surrounding area.
Upon entering the University of Illinois, Harding majored in
Engineering and also kept on with his musical activities. He played in
the University band as well as in several local organizations. In 1905,
his senior year, Harding was asked to direct the University band of
about fifty pieces. This position Harding held for forty-three years,
building--according to John Philip Sousa--“the greatest college band in
the country.”
Harding was a kindly, sympathetic man, always friendly and helpful to
his students. He originated the popular Band Clinics, now grown to
state, regional and national scope. Another of Dr. Harding’s creative
ideas was the use of a-capella singing without instruments on the
football field. The “March of the Illini” sung in this way always ended
the half-time show in a football game. He also introduced the popular,
marching-type glockenspiel, called the “bell-lyra,” because of its
lyre-shaped frame.
From the time Harding began with the band in 1905, he trained it in
accordance with his belief that a university band should reflect the
quality and dignity of the university itself. He always had the theory
that the band should play the same type music that is played by the
orchestra. He insisted that at least a part of the program should
consist of symphonic music.
Dr. Harding received many honors during his years of service in the
University. His fame was widespread. In 1936 the music publishers of
Great Britain paid Harding’s expenses to England and Europe to obtain
his advice and counsel on music publication matters. He was treated
with the honors usually accorded a visiting ruler.
In 1941 at the first University and College Band Conference, Harding
was unanimously elected Honorary President for life. He was given the
high military honor of a Colonel in the Illinois National Guard on the
Governor’s staff. Both the Phillips University of Oklahoma and Davidson
College of North Carolina awarded Harding the honorary degree of Doctor
of Music. He has been guest conductor of many of the most famous bands
ever assembled in the United States, and has served as adjudicator of
thirty state band contests and four National meets.
Doctor Harding not only directed the vast activities of the University
bands and orchestra, but during his years of service he put in
countless hours of night work, transcribing, composing and arranging
music for these groups. There is little music published with parts for
an organization of more than 350 men. But Harding’s knowledge of the
range and quality of every variety of instrument and his great talent
enabled him to provide much original material for his great band.
Because of his deep admiration for Harding, John Philip Sousa
bequeathed his huge band library to the University of Illinois.
This band department now possesses one of the most complete musical
libraries in this country.