Among the nearly three hundred band compositions by Ohioan Karl L. King (1891-1971) is the march McKinley’s Own. The title refers to Canton’s Grand Army of the Republic Band, which King served as conductor in 1919. Published in 1923 by Fillmore in Cincinnati, the march was dedicated by King to his predecessor Emil Rinkendorf and the band, which had performed at gubernatorial and presidential campaign appearances by Canton native William McKinley in the 1890s. The OSU Symphonic Band, conducted by Professor Scott A. Jones, will mark the centennial of King’s directorship of the Grand Army Band by performing this rarely heard work, using Alan Green’s new edition based on the original 1923 parts.

This performance is offered as part of the Public Domain Project at OSU. More information on the project and upcoming events is available at go.osu.edu/PublicDomainDay.

Images (unknown photographers): 1919 Grand Army of the Republic Band of Canton; Karl King is seen with a moustache in the back row slightly left of center (Top). Karl L. King, Bandmaster of the Sell-Floto Shows, 1914-1916 (Left).