Herman Bellstedt

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

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

Early life

He was born in Bremen, Germany but 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

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
  1. Schwartz, Richard I. "Herman Bellstedt". angelfire.com. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
  2. "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. "Herman Bellstedt Music Manuscripts" (PDF). library.illinois.edu. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
  5. 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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