Music of the Carlisle Indian School Band performed by the Carlisle Town Band

On November 17, 2024, in Carlisle, PA, the Carlisle Town Band performed a program featuring music connected to the Carlisle Indian Industrial School (operated from 1879 to 1918). As Band Director Dave Rohrer explains in this recording, the concert included four pieces—two originally played by the Carlisle Indian School Band and two composed by Dennison Wheelock, a former student and Band Master at the school.

• "In Storm and Sunshine" – March by John Clifford Heed, edited by Frederick Fennell
• "Raymond Overture" – From the opera Raymond, composed by Ambroise Thomas, arranged by V. F. Safranek
• "Dance of the Red Man" (Movement III of Aboriginal Suite) – Composed by Dennison Wheelock, arranged by David Kammerer
• "Carlisle Indian School March" – Composed by Dennison Wheelock, arranged by David Kammerer

For the entire concert program, visit the Carlisle Indian School Digital Resource Center.

About the Carlisle Indian School Band

The Carlisle Indian School Band was one of the most renowned and accomplished musical ensembles of its time, gaining national recognition for its exceptional performances. Established as part of the Carlisle Indian Industrial School’s broader assimilationist agenda, the band symbolized Indigenous resilience and musical excellence. It performed at major national events, including World Fairs, presidential inaugurations, and high-profile sporting events, showcasing the talents of Indigenous musicians to audiences across the country. Under the leadership of figures like Dennison Wheelock, the band not only entertained but also demonstrated the deep musical traditions and adaptability of Native students. Its legacy endures as a testament to the complex and often contradictory history—where music was both a tool of assimilation and a means of cultural expression and artistic achievement.

About the Carlisle Town Band

Originally founded in 1844 as the Carlisle Brass Band, the Carlisle Town Band has been performing continuously since 1900.

References & Additional Resources

In Lily Sweeney’s first talk, she references the poem "Alarum" from Amanda Gorman’s Call Us What We Carry.

In her second talk, Sweeney discusses Derek Baron’s article, "Opera and Land: Settler Colonialism and the Geopolitics of Music at the Carlisle Indian Industrial School." Baron, in turn, cites Dylan Robinson’s book, Hungry Listening: Resonant Theory for Indigenous Sound Studies, regarding how music functions as a legal and historical tool for Indigenous communities.

Sweeney also references Lawrence Hauptman’s chapter, "From Carlisle to Carnegie Hall: The Musical Career of Dennison Wheelock," from the book The Oneida Indians in the Age of Allotment, 1860-1920.

Audio Recording

Dr. Amanda Cheromiah (Laguna Pueblo) recorded the concert using the Voice Memos app on her iPhone.