Finding Aid for Herbert L Clarke Music and Personal Papers, circa 1880-1945 | The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music

By Mary Miller, Betty Reed, and Reed Gallo

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Collection Overview

Title: Herbert L Clarke Music and Personal Papers, circa 1880-1945

ID: 12/9/54

Primary Creator: Clarke, Herbert L. (Herbert Lincoln) (1867-1945)

Extent: 21.0 cubic feet

Arrangement: The collection is organized in 7 series. Series 1, Music, ca.1851-1945, (Boxes 1-80, 89, & 92) is arranged sequentially by a unique catalog number used by Clarke to manage his performance library, music without these numbers was left in the order it was found, Series 2, Photographs, 1868-1945(Boxes 81-88), Series 3, Personal Papers, 1887-1953 (Boxes 81-84, 86, 89-90), is arranged alphabetically, Series 4, Awards, Medals, and Memorabilia, ca.1892-ca.1945 (Boxes 91, 97-99), Series 5, Phonodiscs, ca.1895-ca.1942 (Boxes 93-94), Series 6, Long Beach Municipal Band, ca.1936-1991, Boxes 95-96), and Series 7, Instruments, ca.1886-ca.1945, (Boxes 100-106). Microfilm of original manuscripts is on reels 106 - 112 in box 6 of the master negatives.

Subjects: Bands, Music, Sousa, John Philip

Formats/Genres: Papers

Languages: English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

Consists of Clarke's performance library of original and published music for band and orchestra music, scrapbooks, photographs, musical instruments, personal correspondence, news clippings, awards, and other memorabilia documenting his career as cornetist, a member of the Sousa Band, conductor for the Long Beach Municipal Band, composer and arranger, and music educator. Many of the methods included near the end of Series 1 are autographed by the respective authors.

Biographical Note

Herbert L. Clarke (1867-1945), cornetist, composer, bandleader and educator was considered the King of the cornet in his day. He first studied the violin at the age of 5 and at 13 began playing professionally in the Philharmonic Society Orchestra of Toronto. At the same time he began to study the cornet and soon began to play it professionally in a restaurant band and in the Queen's Own Regimental Band. After a move to Indianapolis, Clarke learned to play the viola and subsequently joined the England's Opera House Orchestra and played cornet in the When Clothing Store Band. It was with this band that in 1886 Clarke won a solo cornet contest and received a one-of-a-kind pocket cornet made by the famous instrument maker, Henry Diston, which can be seen at the Sousa Museum at the University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign.

Clarke moved to New York City in 1892 where he briefly played for the Gilmore Band. In 1893, Clarke became the solo cornet player for the John Philip Sousa Band and later became the assistant conductor, composer and arranger. He performed as soloist for 3 of the 4 European Tours and 1910-1911 World Tour. During the off-seasons Clarke pursued his own musical endeavors. These included conducting the Reeve's Concert Band in Providence, RI, recording his solo cornet compositions, duets, and quartets with the Victor Label, and playing 2nd Trumpet with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra and Principal Trumpet with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra.

After leaving Sousa's Band, he became the conductor of the Anglo-Canadian Leather Company Band in Huntsville, Ontario, Canada, and later moved to California and conducted the historic Long Beach Municipal Band until his death in 1945. Rarely after the age of 50 did he perform the cornet in public. He published several articles and books about the cornet and method books on cornet playing and of particular notice are his early drafts of these methods books and articles.

Subject/Index Terms

Bands
Music
Sousa, John Philip

Administrative Information

Repository: The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music

Accruals: unknown

Acquisition Method: The music and personal papers were donated to the University of Illinois in 1945.

Other Note: Pages

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Music],
[Series 2: Photographs],
[Series 3: Personal Papers],
[Series 4: Awards, Medals, and Memorabilia],
[Series 5: Phonodiscs],
[Series 6: Long Beach Municipal Band--Programs, News Clippings, and Photographs],
[Series 7: Instruments],
[All]

Series 5: Phonodiscs

Box 93: Phonodiscs

Folder 1: "Bride of the Waves", 4263, Undated: Clarke with Sousa Band; Composer/Arranger: Clarke
Folder 2: Showers of Gold, Gondolier and Nightingale, 17153, 1904: Clarke and Barone with orchestra; Composer/Arranger: Clarke, Langey
Folder 3: Oh, the Women, Rondo Caprice, 16300, 1904: Clarke with Victor Orchestra; Composer/Arranger: Lincke, Clarke
Folder 4: Good Night, Good Night, Beloved!, Southern Cross, 17109, 1904: Victor Brass Quartet, Clarke with Victor Orchestra; Composer/Arranger: Pinsuti, Clarke
Folder 5: Ah! Cupid! from "Prince Ananias", Birds in the Forest, 16296, 1903: Clarke with Victor Orchestra; Composer/Arranger: Herbert, Strange
Folder 6: Tilt's Serenade, Carnival of Venice, 16088, 1903: Clarke with Victor Orchestra; Composer/Arranger: Titl, Clarke
Folder 7: La Veta Caprice, Tipica Polka, 16332, 1895: Clarke with Victor Orchestra; Composer/Arranger: Clarke, Curti
Folder 8: Largo, Russian Fantasie, 16313, 1895: Clarke with Orchestra; Composer/Arranger: Handel, Levy
Folder 9: From an Indian Lodge from "Woodland Sketches", Oloha oe, 17035, 1904: Sousa Band, Clarke with Sousa Band; Composer/Arranger: MacDowell, Lilaiokalini
Folder 10: Tesora Mio Waltz, Once Upon a Time, 16447, 1904: Pryor Band, Clarke with Sousa Band; Composer/Arranger: Becucci, Lincke
Folder 11: Carnival of Venice, Stars in a Velvety Sky, Undated: Clarke with Orchestra; Composer/Arranger: Arban (Clarke, arr.), Clarke
Folder 12: Washington Grays March, National Emblem March, A1025, 1901: Prince's Band; Composer/Arranger: Grafulia, Bagley
Folder 13: Birth of the Dawn, FR10C1, 1940: Composer/Arranger: Clarke
Folder 14: Rondo Caprice, Russian Fantasie, Valse Brilliante, Showers of Gold, Bride of the Waves, La Veta Caprice, The Debutante, The Southern Cross, Carnival of Venice, Ah! Cupid, Stars in a Velvety Sky, S450, 1979: Rerelease by RCA records, produced by the International Trumpet Guild; Composer/Arranger: Clarke, Levy, Herbert, Arban (Clarke, arr.)
Folder 15: Aires Andaluces, C-2613, 1913: Banda de Policia Mexicana; Composer/Arranger: Gomez
Folder 16: Fra Diavolo Overture, 1746, ca. 1902: Clarke's Providence, RI Band
Folder 17: First Brigade March, 1751, ca. 1902: Clarke conducting American Band of Providence, RI
Folder 18: Up the Street March, 1768, ca. 1902: Clarke conducting American Band of Providence, RI
Folder 19: Estrelita, Violin Concerto, Undated: Rafael Mendez, New York Symphony; Composer/Arranger: Mendelssohn
Folder 20: Oh, Dry Those Tears, 5346, Undated: Pryor with band; Composer/Arranger: Del Riego
Folder 21: Original Fantasie, 86, Undated: Composer/Arranger: Mantia
Folder 22: Cornet and Trumpet Instruction, Lessons 1-2, R-2206, 1939: music integrated into Series 1; Composer/Arranger: Del Staigers
Folder 23: Cornet and Trumpet Instruction, Lessons 3-4, R2244, 1939: music integrated into Series 1; Composer/Arranger: Del Staigers
Folder 24: Cornet and Trumpet Instruction, Lessons 5-6, R-2603, 1939: music integrated into Series 1; Composer/Arranger: Del Staigers
Folder 25: Cornet and Trumpet Instruction, Lessons 7-8, R-2260, 1939: music integrated into Series 1; Composer/Arranger: Del Staigers
Folder 26: Cornet and Trumpet Instruction, Lessons 9-10, R-2245, 1939: music integrated into Series 1; Composer/Arranger: Del Staigers
Folder 27: Bohumir Kryl, Du Du - German Air, 1903: Victor Monarch 2595, Berliner, 10" Disc.; Composer/Arranger: Kryl
Folder 28: Laughing Song, 52004, 1903: Composer/Arranger: Klauser
Folder 29: Rigoletti, Fantasy for Clarinet,Sylvatones, ca. 1909-19: Schmidt - solo clarinet of Sousa Band and Minneapolis Symphony; Composer/Arranger: Verdi (Bassi, Schmidt, arrs.), Spencer
Folder 30: Pilgrims' Chorus from "Tannhauser", Grand March from "Don Carlos", 17133, 1904: Victor Brass Quintet, Sousa Band; Composer/Arranger: Wagner, Verdi
Folder 31: On the Sea, undated: Damaged 10" Disc
Folder 32: Pacific Echoes, Nymph's Frolic, 1940: Long Beach Municipal Band; Composer/Arranger: Tyler, Clarke
Folder 33: Carnival of Venice, 1941: Composer/Arranger: Unidentified
Folder 34: A Musical Joke on Bedelia, 4181, Undated: Sousa's Band; Composer/Arranger: Bellstedt
Folder 35: Prayer Neath Palm/John Anderson, undated: Damaged 10" Disc.
Folder 36: Pechin's Elementary Artist 1,2, Undated: Composer/Arranger: Pechin
Folder 37: Pechin's Elementary Artist 3,5, Undated: Composer/Arranger: Pechin
Folder 38: Pechin's Elementary Artist 4,7, Undated: Composer/Arranger: Pechin
Folder 39: Pechin's Elementary Artist 6,8, Undated: Composer/Arranger: Pechin
Folder 40: Fantasia, Broken Dreams, Octet, selection from "Maritana", Polka, ca. 1942: Long Beach Municipal Band
Folder 41: Marches: Now Listen, Starlight, Sylvia, ca. 1942: Long Beach Municipal Band; Composer/Arranger: Pryor
Folder 42: Sunrise from "Grand Canyon Suite", 36052, Undated: Paul Whiteman Orchestra; Composer/Arranger: Grofe
Folder 43: Painted Desert from "Grand Canyon Suite", 36053, Undated: Paul Whiteman Orchestra; Composer/Arranger: Grofe
Folder 44: On the Trail and Sunset from "Grand Canyon Suite", 36054, Undated: Paul Whiteman Orchestra; Composer/Arranger: Grofe
Folder 45: Cloud Burst from "Grand Canyon Suite", 36055, Undated: Paul Whiteman Orchestra; Composer/Arranger: Grofe