The Allentown Band, the oldest civilian band in America (founded in 1828) has been honored with an original composition dedicated to it.

The Allentown Band premieres “The Firehouse” at its annual “Holiday Dinner Concert,” 7 p.m. Nov. 25, this year at University Center, DeSales University.

Dr. James Moyer, an Associate Professor at Texas A&M International University, was a percussionist for the Allentown Band from 2000 to 2012.

After having written many music arrangements and instructional books, Moyer has published his first original piece, “The Firehouse” (Concert Band Score and Parts, $55, J.W. Pepper Sheet Music, 2025), dedicated to the Allentown Band.

“Jamie is an extraordinary percussionist. We were so fortunate to have him as a member of the band before he moved to teach at Texas A&M. I plan to give the band’s premiere performance of this piece dedicated to the band at our annual ‘Holiday Dinner Concert,’” says Ronald Demkee, Allentown Band Conductor.

Speaking from his home in Laredo, Tex., location of a Texas A&M regional campus, Moyer says of “The Firehouse,” written for about 40 musicians:

“It is meant to show off the band. I wanted to capture the spirit of that level of excitement. It’s a barnstorming type of piece.

“The published piece is a bit less complicated in the woodwind section than the one the band uses.”

Moyer hopes to have “The Firehouse” added to the Texas Prescribed Music List of the Texas University Interscholastic League, the repertoire guide for music students and performing organizations in the state.

The Allentown Band uses the former Keystone Fire Company, 1914-16 Greenleaf St., Allentown, as its headquarters and rehearsal hall, which inspired the name for “The Firehouse.” Moyer mentions that the band has retained the building’s original brass pole that firefighters would use to slide down to the ground floor.

Moyer calls the work “circus music,” an energetic form that would accompany the performers:

“The music was mostly brass, very spirited to keep people’s attention. It could be ridiculously difficult, fast, and using keys that were hard to play in. You couldn’t do it in a parade because it was too fast.

“Circuses like Ringling Brothers and Cole Brothers would have some of the best players in the country. They were phenomenal.”

Moyer moved to the Lehigh Valley to work for Apple as an account executive for higher education. He was successively Administrator of Music, Marywood University, Scranton; associate professor, Lafayette College, and Director of Bands, Palisades High School, Kintnersville, Bucks County.

During that time, he was one of the three percussionists in the Allentown Band, playing tympani and xylophone. He recalls:

“The band would play 35 to 40 concerts a year. On the year of its 175th anniversary, it did 75 concerts. The full band has 65 to 70 members, but we would generally tour with 40 people on one bus.

“The biggest concerts were at Symphony Hall,” says Moyer who remembers venues ranging from nursing homes and churches to a 2018 tour of France; Fourth of July concerts for thousands at Souderton; commencement ceremonies at Lehigh University and Muhlenberg College; the Kutztown Fair; Carnegie Hall, New York City, and the Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C.

“Allentown is known as ‘Band City.’ It also has the Municipal Band, the Pioneer Band and the Marine Band. West Park in Allentown is home to all of them,” says Moyer.

Moyer has been teaching for more than 40 years. He has written transcriptions for marimba and xylophone, two books for four mallet marimba, and a college percussion methods coursebook.

Dr. James Moyer’swebsite:

https://jamoyer.wixsite.com/bandconductorpercuss

Annual “Holiday Dinner Concert,” The Allentown Band, 7 p.m. Nov. 25, University Center, DeSales University, 2755 Station Avenue, Center Valley. Tickets: https://allentownband.com/event/annual-holiday-dinner-concert/