Orion Farrar

Orion R. Farrar (b. Indianapolis, 1866 – d. California, 1929?) – Bandmaster, composer, and cornetist. Although Indianapolis born, Farrar grew up in Warren, Ohio, where he studied at the Dana Musical Institute, which was absorbed by Youngstown College (now University) in 1941. After graduating, he was the brass instructor and band director at Dana for seven years. Starting in 1896, he was back in the Hoosier state for a two-year stint with the Indiana State Band, which he organized. He then established the Ohio State Band and later conducted the Youngstown Military Band and the Lima (Ohio) Municipal Band (starting in 1915). Although little is known about the last several years of his life, he left behind plenty of evidence of his skill as a march composer. Of his twenty plus published marches (many with Carl Fischer), “Bombasto” (1895), “Indiana State Band,” (1896), and “Hi Henry’s Triumphal” (1900) have been the most popular. In addition to “Indiana State Band,” other works – “Ohio State Band” (1897), “DMI” (Dana Musical Institute March) March” (1898), and “YMB” (Youngtown Military Band, 1903) – are named for bands that he led.