May 31, 1909
PLAYED ROUND WORLD
WITH GENERAL GRANT.
PEDRO MEYRELLES ALSO LED
PATTI'S ORCHESTRA.
End Comes to Noted Musician, Who
for Many Years Was Musical
Director at Leavenworth
Soldiers' Home.
Pedro C. Meyrelles, the bandmaster who accompanied General U. S. Grant around the world, who led Patti's orchestra for ten years, long musical director of the Leavenworth Soldiers' home and once one of the most distinguished musicians and conductors in this country, died yesterday morning at his hime, 2321 Harrison street, after a protracted illness.
Mr. Meyrelles was born of a family of musicians in Oporto, Portugal. He first began the systematic study of music at the age of 11. when a young man he graduated from the best musical school in Lisbon and at 28 came to America.
ROUND WORLD WITH GRANT.
He landed in Boston, where he gave lessons. When a bandmaster was wanted to accompany General U. S. Grant in his triumphal tour around the world. Meyrelles was honored with the position. He was enlisted in the army for three years and was made a first lieutenant in order to accept this post. The king of Portugal himself decorated Meyrelles with a medal and the empress of China had him to sup with her and afterwards gave him a decoration.
When the trip was over Meyrelles found himself a national figure. Upon his return to Boston he was chosen by Patti to lead her orchestra and remained with the great singer for ten years, making two trips abroad with her. It was at this time that Meyrelles met the woman who afterwards became his wife. She was Miss Georgia Follensbee, a member of an old Boston family and a singer in Patti's company.
They were in the company together for several years, but it was not until twenty-one years ago that they were married. The event occurred immediately after Meyrelles left Patti's company to accept a governor appointment as director of music at the Soldiers' home, Leavenworth, Kas. Meyrelles remained in this position until May 20 of last year, when his failing health made it necessary for him to retire.
WELL KNOWN AS COMPOSER.
Meyrelles, besides being a master of every musical instrument played in either band or orchestra, was a composer of many well known pieces. His arrangement of the Stabat Mater is a classic and his "Governor Owen's March" is still widely used. In addition he composed all the music used in the Priests of Pallas festivals for the last five years and all used in the Kansas building at the Louisiana Purchase exposition. For his own use, his favorite instrument was the clarinet.
Meyrelles was a Mason, a member of the B. P. O. E. and the Theatrical Mechanical Association. A Roman Catholic by training and practice for many years, he had fallen away from his faith, but in his last hours he asked for a priest and was given the rites of the church. The cause of his death was principally heart trouble.
The body will be taken to the Old Soldiers' home near Leavenworth and will be given military burial tomorrow.
He leaves a widow.
Labels: death, immigrants, Leavenworth, military, music, veterans
