Education
His funeral was attended by Grand Army of the Republic comrades, and the Masonic Ritual was held at his graveside.
His funeral was attended by Grand Army of the Republic comrades, and the Masonic Ritual was held at his graveside.
In 1858, at the age of 14, he joined the Richmond Cornet Band and soon became its leader. He left this band in 1864 to join the 9th Vermont Infantry as a musician during the American Civil War. In 1878 he organized, with much coaxing from the citizens of Burlington, Sherman"s Military Band, made up of musicians from the dormant Queen City Band.
This band came to be well known all over the East as one of the finest touring Military Bands.
After Sherman retired from the band in 1917, the group became known as the Burlington Military Band under the exceptional directorship of Doctor Joseph Lechnyr, a renowned and influential Vermont musician. George continued to live on Sherman street (which many erroneously believe to be named after him) until November 3, 1927 (as many will recognize as the date of the great flood).
On that day, while crossing the street near his home at the corner of Sherman and Battery Street (on the park side of Battery Street) at the age of 83, he was struck by a car and died two hours later of multiple lacerations and a fractured skull. He left three children at the time of his death.
Although Sherman is well remembered as one of the first leaders of what is known today as the Burlington Concert Band, he is also remembered for his fine marches, some of which were used by John Philip Sousa in his concert tours.
A complete list of his compositions follows. The Burlington Concert Band has only three of Sherman"s pieces, as many were lost in a fire in the same year as his death. Listed in the Daily Free Press, January 26th 1888
Salute To Burlington
Free Press March
Stannard Post March
Published by Jean Missud of Salem, Massachusetts
Listed in the Daily Free Press, March 28 1891
Rock Point Cadets
The Watchman
The Independent
Published by Oliver Ditson & Company
Listed in the Daily Free Press, March 31 1892
General William Wells
General William Greenleaf
Vermont University
Cecilian March dedicated to the Ladies Quartette of Saint Johnsbury
The Belle of America (listed as "American Belle" HEBM VII) Seitz 1893
Sherman Military Band
Listed in the Heritage Encyclopedia of Band Music Volume(s) II, October 1991
American Union (Coleman, 1894)
The Body Guard (John Church Company, 1903)
the Brownie"s Reception (Church, 1895)
Burlington Commandery Knight of the Order of the Thistle (Gay, 1893)
Cavalcade (Church, 1895)
Coleman"s March (Coleman, 1893)
Evangeline (Seitz, 1893)
The Floral Ball (Church, 1896)
The Herald (Missud, 1889)
Hero"s Command (Church, 1895)
Hope Beyond, dirge (Church, 1895)
Invitation to the Wedding (Coleman, 1894)
The King"s Daughters, grand march (Church, 1895)
The Millionaires (Church, 1896)
Olive Branch (Barnhouse, 1907)
Pilot (Missud, 1888)
Prima Donna (Gay 1893)
Remembrance of Stave Island (Church, 1895)
Saint Valentine (Church, 1896)
The Stranger (Coleman, 1894)
Vermont National Guards (Coleman, 1894)
With Majesty (Colena, 1893)
Algonquin Overture (Church, 1897)
Cupid"s Captive, waltz (Church, 1895)
Dance of the Flower Girl (Coleman, 1895)
Fleur de Luce, schottische (Church, 1898)
Message of Love Waltz (Coleman, 1893)
Rainbow Mazurka (Barnhouse, 1895)
Scamper Galop (Coleman, 1894).
