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Herman Bellstedt

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Herman Bellstedt
Born(1858-02-12)February 12, 1858
Free and Hanseatic City of Bremen
DiedJune 8, 1926(1926-06-08) (aged 68)[1]
San Francisco, United States
GenresRomantic, Band music, cornet solos
Occupation(s)Cornetist, Conductor, Composer
InstrumentCornet
Years active1873–1926

Herman Bellstedt (February 12, 1858, Bremen – June 8, 1926, San Francisco) was a well-known American cornet soloist.

Early life

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He was born in the Free and Hanseatic City of Bremen. He immigrated to Cincinnati, Ohio at age nine.[1] He studied the cornet with his father, who was also a cornetist,[2] and Mylius Weigand.[1] As a young boy, he performed with local bands.[2]

Career

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After giving his first performance on May 10, 1873[1] at the Atlantic Garden[2] at age 15, he quickly began performing across the country in various bands and orchestra and was nicknamed the "Boy Wonder".[3] In 1874, he began his career with the Cincinnati Reed Band until 1879.[4] In 1879, he started performing with the Red Hussar Band on Manhattan Beach[4] and returned to the Cincinnati Reed Band in 1883.[1] From 1904 to 1906, he performed with the John Philip Sousa Band, sharing solos with Herbert L. Clarke and Walter B. Rogers.[1][4][5] He also performed with the Frederick N. Innes Band from 1906 to 1909.[1][4] He also performed with Gilmore's Band, orchestras conducted by Theodore Thomas, Frank Van der Stucken, and Henry Schradieck.

He co-founded the Bellstedt-Ballenger Band in Denver in 1892[4] with Louis Ballenberger[2] and served as its conductor until 1912.

Bellstedt served as Professor of Wind Instruments at the Cincinnati Conservatory.[4]

In addition to performing, Bellstedt composed for band, orchestra, piano, violin, and cornet. His cornet solos remain popular with today's trumpeters and include Napoli[6] (Variations on a Neapolitan Song), Fantasia No.1, La Coquette, Capriccio Brilliante, La Mandolinata,[5] and Variations on the Carnival of Venice.

On June 8, 1926, Bellstedt died in San Francisco.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Schwartz, Richard I. "Herman Bellstedt". Angelfire. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
  2. ^ a b c d "Herman Bellstedt biography" (PDF). University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
  3. ^ Jacobson, Sam L. "Eminent Cornet Virtuosi, Past and Present." Music: An Illustrated Magazine of Art, Science, and Technic of Music. Volume XV, No. 1. Nov. 1898. p. 62.
  4. ^ a b c d e f "Herman Bellstedt Music Manuscripts" (PDF). library.illinois.edu. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
  5. ^ a b Bauer, Nate (18 January 2009). "Review: Soloist mixes history with smooth sounds". Rockford Register Star. Archived from the original on 1 February 2013. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
  6. ^ Spies, Jessica (7 October 2010). "Churchville-Chili High School musicians selected for All-State". gateschilipost.com. Archived from the original on 23 January 2013. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
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