Finding Aid for Otto Mesloh Music and Papers, 1871-1913 | The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music

By Adriana Cuervo and Mandi Goodsett

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Collection Overview

Title: Otto Mesloh Music and Papers, 1871-1913

ID: 12/9/131

Primary Creator: Mesloh, Otto (1867-1923)

Extent: 2.0 cubic feet

Arrangement: Organized in two series: Series 1, Original and Published Music, 1871-1902 and Series 2, Personal Papers, 1888-1913. Series 1 is arranged alphabetically by title and Series 2 is unarranged.

Date Acquired: 05/29/2013

Subjects: Band Musicians, Bands, Music - Instruction and study, Sousa, John Philip

Languages: English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

Consists of original and published music, photographs, correspondence, dairies, maps, cornet and flute method books, and a flute documenting Mesloh's career as a musician with the John Philip Sousa Band and the Elite Musical Four, music teacher between 1870 and 1913.

Biographical Note

Otto Friedrich Mesloh was born in New Bremen, Ohio on February 26, 1867 to John Henry and Wilhelmina (Boesel) Mesloh. Although a machinist by trade, according to Karl R. Mesloh, "his love of music won out and Otto became a professional musician." His mother and two sisters, Emma and Dora Mesloh, were all pianists. As a young musician Otto played both cornet, flute, piccolo, and saxophone with The Big Six Band of Springfield, Ohio, and traveled with the Waite Comedy Company and the Bubb and Bennett and Waite's Western Company ensembles. He performed as a cornetist with the John Philip Sousa Band between September 7 and December 4, 1898. He also played as the band's cornet soloist durng the ensemble's Manhattan Beach concerts between June 17 and September 4, 1899. Other military bands that Mesloh performed with included the 69th Regimental Band, Callahan's New York Marine Band, the British Bards Band, and Somerset's Military Band.

After departing the Sousa Band in 1899, Mesloh joined the Elite Musicial Four, considered at that time to be one of of the greatest musical vaudeville teams which performed a variety of popular music selections on cornets, flugelphones, saxophones, and xylophones. The quartet was involved in a serious train derailment on June 11, 1906 when it was returning to New York City from a performance in Atlantic City. The ensemble's manager, George Van Duzen, was killed and Mesloh was badly injured. Mesloh was eventually able to continue his career as a performer and teacher in 1908, the injuries that he sufferred from this train accident impacted his work as a musician for the rest of his life.

Subject/Index Terms

Band Musicians
Bands
Music - Instruction and study
Sousa, John Philip

Administrative Information

Repository: The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music

Acquisition Source: Susan Boecker Durnbaugh

Acquisition Method: Gift. The items donated by Susan Boecker Durnbaugh, Otto Mesloh's great niece, were made in memory of her mother, Margaret Henning Boecker, Otto Mesloh's niece, and her grandmother, Emma Mesloh Henning, Otto Mesloh's sister.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Original and published music, 1871-1902],
[Series 2: Personal Papers, 1888-1913],
[All]

Series 1: Original and published music, 1871-1902

Consists of original and published music for cornet, flute and band, and early flute and cornet method books that were used by Mesloh while both a student and a performing musician between 1871 and 1913. The music is arranged alphabetically by title. Of particular interest is an early edition of the Arban's Method for the Cornet and Saxhorn (1881) that was probably used by Mesloh to learn to play the cornet.

Box 1

Folder 1: Believe Me, if all those endearings; The Last Rose of Summer; Sing, Smile, Slumber; Killarny (P), undated: Cornet solos.; Composer/arranger: unknown
Folder 2: The Holy City (P), undated: Composer/arranger: Adams, Stephen; arr. Prendville, Harry
Folder 3: Jung Werner's Parting Song (P), undated: Composer/arranger: Nessler, V. E.; arr. Boettger, E.
Folder 4: Let Me Dream Again (P), undated: Composer/arranger: Sullivan, A.
Folder 5: The Lost Chord (P), 1916: Composer/arranger: Sullivan, A.; Beyer, F.
Folder 6: Love's Old Sweet Song; In Old Madrid (P), 1889: Composer/arranger: Molloy; Trotere, H.; arr. Laurendeau, L. P.
Folder 7: Marriage Bells (P), undated: Composer/arranger: Boettger, E.
Folder 8: Non e ver; Sing, Smile, Slumber (P), undated: Composer/arranger: Mattei, T.; Gounod, Ch.; arr. Tobani, Theo. M
Folder 9: Pretty Peggy (P), undated: Composer/arranger: unknown
Folder 10: The Ratcharmer's Song; Asthore; Can I Forget?; For All Eternity (P), 1901: Composer/arranger: Neuendorff, A.; Trotere, H.; deKoven, R.; Mascheroni, A.; arr. Thomas, L.
Folder 11: Sally in Our Alley; Alice, Where Are You?; The Low-Backed Car; A Day Dream (P), undated: Composer/arranger: Ascher; Lorer, S.; White, Fred; arr. White, Fred
Folder 12: Serenade, Am Meer, undated: Composer/arranger: Schubert, F.; arr. Greissinger, F. H.
Folder 13: Swiss Boy (P), 1879: Composer/arranger: arr. Bent, B. F.

Box 2

Folder 1: Arban's Method for the Cornet and Saxhorn, 1881
Folder 2: Collection of Short Exercises, 1912-1913
Folder 3: Cornet Instructor, undated
Folder 4: Excelsior, 1882: Composer/arranger: Prediville, Harry
Folder 5: The "Howe" Method of Flue Instruction by Mail, undated
Folder 6: How to Triple-Tongue: A Treatise on Staccato, Tongueing, Single, Double, and Triple Form, 1880
Folder 7: Ouverges' Conservatory Method for the Bochm Flute, 1893

Box 3

Folder 1: Alice (P, PS), undated: Composer/arranger: unknown
Folder 2: Blue Bells of Scotland Grand Fantasia (P, PS), undated: Composer/arranger: St. Jacome
Folder 3: Blue Bells of Scotland Grand Fatasia (P), undated: Composer/arranger: Sabon-Coyon
Folder 4: Caprice de Concert (P, PS), undated: Composer/arranger: Terschak, Adolph
Folder 5: Carnival of Venice (P), undated: Composer/arranger: Mesloh, F. O.
Folder 6: Christmas Song (P), undated: Composer/arranger: Adam
Folder 7: Die Perlen, Concert-Polka (P, PS), undated: Composer/arranger: Kling, H.
Folder 8: Fantasisa on Popular Irish Airs (P, PS), 1886: Composer/arranger: Lax, Fred
Folder 9: Fantasie sur des themes de Bellini (P, PS), undated: Composer/arranger: Terschak, Adolph
Folder 10: Fantasie uber das Lied "Wie Schon bist Du" (P, PS), undated: Composer/arranger: Lufer, Bernh.
Folder 11: Galoubet Polka (P), undated
Folder 12: German Air (PS), undated: Composer/arranger: possibly Brahms
Folder 13: The Harp of Fara (P), undated: Composer/arranger: Rogers
Folder 14: Handel's Largo, Reverie Traumerei (P), undated: Composer/arranger: Handel
Folder 15: Impromptu Cadenza for Flute Alone, 1902: Composer/arranger: Norrito, Gioachino
Folder 16: Le Chanteur du Printemps (P), 1887: Composer/arranger: Lax, Fred
Folder 17: Le Pre aux Clercs, Fantasie por la Flute (P, PS), 1875: Composer/arranger: Herold, F.
Folder 18: Miserere (P), undated
Folder 19: Nightingale and Thrush (P), 1897: Composer/arranger: Kling, Henry
Folder 20: Pickwick Polka (P, PS), 1888: Composer/arranger: Lax, Fred
Folder 1890: Polka Caprice (P, PS), 1890: Composer/arranger: Damm, August
Folder 22: Rondo Polka (P, PS), 1888: Composer/arranger: Donjon, J.; arr. Catlin, E. N.
Folder 23: Six Transcriptions for Flute and Piano (P), 1885: Composer/arranger: Steckwest, Henri
Folder 24: The Trilby Song, Ben Bolt (P), undated
Folder 25: Two Little Bullfinches (P, PS), undated: Composer/arranger: Kling, H.
Folder 26: Untitled fragment and exercise (P), undated
Folder 27: Variations surn un air Tyrolien (P, PS), undated: Composer/arranger: Bohm, Th.
Folder 28: What are the Wild Waves Saying (FS), undated
Folder 29: Whirlwind Polka (PS), undated: Composer/arranger: Levy, J.
Folder 30: Yankee Doodle Fantasie and Variations (P, PS), undated: Composer/arranger: Popp, G.

Box 4

Folder 1: Unidentified music sketches, undated
Folder 2: Bugles (P), undated: Composer/arranger: Mesloh, Otto
Folder 3: Collection of cornet solos (P, PS), 1885
Folder 4: Cornet in Orchestra (P), undated: Composer/arranger: Mr Kimmelovichsky
Folder 5: Carnival of Venice; Star-Spangled Banner; Coach Horns (P), undated: Composer/arranger: Mesloh, O.
Folder 6: Nellie (P), undated: Composer/arranger: "Elite Musical Four"
Folder 7: Salve Maria, Christmas Song, undated: Composer/arranger: Mercandante; Adams
Folder 8: Saxophones, Grand Fantasie-"Old Black Joe"; Intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana; Serenade; Serenade (P, PS), 1909: Composer/arranger: Mesloh, O.; Cary, E. L.; Mascagni, P.; Moszkowski, M.; Schubert, F.
Folder 9: The Seraph; American Patrol; The Mockingbird (P), 1886-1898: Composer/arranger: Chambers, W. P.; Meacham, F. W.; Innes, F. N.
Folder 10: Souvenir of Naples; Tyroliene; Attila; cornet solos with orchestral parts (P, PS), undated: Composer/arranger: Rogers-Zanichelli; Arban
Folder 11: Thirty Duets for B-flat Cornets, 1878
Folder 12: Yankee Doodle (P), undated: Composer/arranger: Levy, J.

Box 5

Folder 1: 4 Grand Polkas (P, PS), undated
Folder 2: Angel's Serenade (P, PS), 1891: Composer/arranger: Braga, G.; Moses, Theo.
Folder 3: Brothers in Arms (P, PS), 1893: Composer/arranger: Corbin, A.; arr. by Laurendeau
Folder 4: Columbia (P, PS), 1893: Composer/arranger: Rollinson, T. H.
Folder 5: The Commodore (P, PS), 1897: Composer/arranger: Chambers, W. Paris
Folder 6: Easylina Polka (P, PS), 1895: Composer/arranger: Strassberger, C.
Folder 7: "Fatherland" Fantasy (PS), undated
Folder 8: Fifty Choice Duets for Cornet and Piano (P, PS), undated: Composer/arranger: Hoffman, R.; Michaels, Th.; Samuels, E. A.
Folder 9: Flora Waltz (P, PS), undated: Composer/arranger: Cunard, F. W.
Folder 10: Grand Fantasie, "Francis" (P, PS), undated
Folder 11: Grand Polka, "Amphion" (P, PS), 1880: Composer/arranger: Cary, E. C.
Folder 12: Just We Two (P, PS), undated: Composer/arranger: Ascher, Emil
Folder 13: Kindred Souls (P, PS), undated
Folder 14: Miserere (P, PS), 1884: Composer/arranger: Verdi, G.; arr. Bent, B. C.
Folder 15: The Monarch Polka (P, PS), 1897: Composer/arranger: Knoll, A. H.
Folder 16: The Palms; Love's Old Sweet Song; Old Folks at Home; Non e ver (P), 1989: Composer/arranger: Faure; Molloy; Foster; Mattei
Folder 17: Polka, "Two Friends" (P, PS), 1897: Composer/arranger: Lozes; arr. Carey, E. C.
Folder 18: O Promise Me (P, PS), 1894: Composer/arranger: de Koven, Reginald; arr. Franko, Nahan
Folder 19: The Rivals (P, PS), 1888: Composer/arranger: Read, L. C.
Folder 20: Sea Flower Polka (PS), 1876: Composer/arranger: Rollinson, T. H.
Folder 21: The Seraph (PS), 1898: Composer/arranger: Chambers, W. Paris
Folder 22: Le Secret (P), undated: Composer/arranger: Hazel, John
Folder 23: Le Secret (PS), 1893: Composer/arranger: Hazel, John
Folder 24: Serenade and Ballad (P, PS), 1871: Composer/arranger: arr. Koppitz, C.
Folder 25: Short and Sweet (P, PS), undated: Composer/arranger: Short, T. V.
Folder 26: Sing, Smile, Slumber (P), undated
Folder 27: Souvenir of Naples (P), undated
Folder 28: The Swiss Boy (P, PS), 1898: Composer/arranger: Davis, G. F.
Folder 29: The Volunteer (P, PS), 1887
Folder 30: The Water Lilly Polka (P, PS), 1891: Composer/arranger: Thomas, W. H.

Box 6

Folder 1: Arbucklenian Polka (P, PS), undated

Folder 2: Alexis, Grand Fantasia (P, PS), undated

Composer/arranger: Hartmann, J.

Folder 3: A Bunch of Roses (P, PS), 1896

Folder 4: Carnival of Venice (PS), undated

Folder 5: De Beriot's 5th Concerto (PS), undated

Composer/arranger: De Beriot

Folder 6: "Emersonian" Polka (PS), 1895

Folder 7: Farewell Polka (PS), undated

Folder 8: The Favorite (PS), undated

Folder 9: First "Life Guards" (PS), 1881

Composer/arranger: Innes, F. N.

Folder 10: Fra Diavolo (PS), undated

Folder 11: Grand Concert Valse, "Ocean View" (PS), undated

Folder 12: Cornet solos (P), 1884

1. Hutchins Polka, Composer/arranger: Thiele, H. H.

2. My Guiding Star

3. Cour de Lion, Composer/arranger: Bellstedt, H.

4. Old Helicon, Composer/arranger: Brooks, E.

5. Cornet Polka, "Hornet", Composer/arranger: Holden, A. P.

6. Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep, Composer/arranger: Brooks, E.

7. In saecula saeculorum, Composer/arranger: Riano, J.

8. Salute Polka, Composer/arranger: Liberati, A.

9. Original Pastoral Melodies, Composer/arranger: Frick, John

10. Where the Silver Wavelets Dance, Composer/arranger: Liberati, A.

Folder 13: Killarney; Killarney (P, PS), 1893

Composer/arranger: Balfe, M. W.; arr. Chambers, W. Paris

Folder 14: Kinloch of Kinloch (PS), undated

Folder 15: The Lost Chord (PS), undated

Composer/arranger: Carey, E. C.

Folder 16: Marlborough (PS), undated

Folder 17: My Lodging is on the Cold, Cold Ground (PS), undated

Folder 18: My Old Kentucky Home (P, PS), 1893

Composer/arranger: Masten, I. J.

Folder 19: Le Petit Suisse (PS), undated

Folder 20: "Tyroliene" Air Varie (PS), undated

Folder 21: "Un Ballo" Fantasie (P, PS), undated

Folder 22: Venetian Love Song (P), undated

Folder 23: Weber's Last Waltz (PS), undated

Folder 24: Cornet solos (P, PS), undated

1. Welcome Pretty Primrose, Composer/arranger: Pinsuti; arr. Moses, Theo.

2. Take Back the Heart, Composer/arranger: Claribel; arr. Moses, Theo.

3. Only a dream, Composer/arranger: Wallace; arr. Moses, Theo.

4. Coming Thro' the Rye, Composer/arranger: Scotch melodie; arr. Moses, Theo.

Folder 25: Yankee Doodle, (P, PS), undated

Box 7

Folder 1: Answer; Manzanillo (P), 1899: Composer/arranger: Robyn, Alfred G.; arr. Meyer, L.
Folder 2: Cornet Quartets by Eduard Kiesler, undated: 2 pieces by Eduard Kiesler (1840-1929): No. 17: Fantasie, as well as No. 27: Gebet des Eremiten, Lied ohne Worte
Folder 3: I Love You in the Same Old Way (P), undated
Folder 4: I'm Wearing My Heart Away; Instructions for Trumpet and Drum (P), c. 1900
Folder 5: Nearer my God to thee; Some Day; That I Alone Can Know (P), 1886: Composer/arranger: Wellings, Milton; Riegg, Carl; arr. Ramsdell, E. C.
Folder 6: The Theodore Hoch Collection of Quartets for Brass Instruments; Violets, c. 1902: Composer/arranger: arr. Hoch, Theodore; Wright, Ellen; arr. Prendiville, Harry

Box 8

Folder 1: Carnival of Venice (P), undated: Composer/arranger: Emerson, Walter
Folder 2: Columbia (P), 1893: Composer/arranger: Rollinson, T. H.
Folder 3: Emmet's Lullaby (P), undated: Composer/arranger: Short, T. V.
Folder 4: "Fatherland" Fantasy (P), undated: Composer/arranger: Hartmann, John
Folder 5: Galoubet Polka (P), undated: Composer/arranger: Lagard, A.; arr. Claus, J. B.
Folder 6: Glenn Island (P), undated: Composer/arranger: Short, T. V.

Box 9

Folder 1: Grand Russian Fantasia (P), undated: Composer/arranger: Levy
Folder 2: L'Elegant (P), undated: Composer/arranger: Damare; arr. Browne, J. Lewis
Folder 3: Pretty Jane (P), undated: Composer/arranger: Hartmann, John; arr. Prendiville, Harry
Folder 4: Sextette from Lucia (P), undated

Box 10

Folder 7: Selected Popular Songs (P), 1885

1. Buringtonian Polka, Composer/arranger: Carey, E. C.

2. Die Post im Walde, Composer/arranger: Schaffer, A.

3. Nachruf an a Methfessel, Composer/arranger: Hoch, Theodore

4. Old Helicon, Composer/arranger: Brooks, E.

5. Christmas Chimes, Composer/arranger: Brooks, E.

6. Harlow Polka, Composer/arranger: Brooke, T. P.

7. I'll Await My Love, Composer/arranger: Howard, Frank; arr. Brooks, E.

8. Sweet Spirit Hear My Prayer, Composer/arranger: arr. Hoch, Theodore

9. Some Day, Composer/arranger: arr. Hoch, Theodore

10. How Can I Leave Thee, Composer/arranger: transc. Hoch, Theodore

11. The Last Rose of Summer, Composer/arranger: arr. Hoch, Theodore

12. The Heart Bowed Down, Composer/arranger: arr. Hoch, Theodore

13. When the Swallows Homeward Fly, Composer/arranger: arr. Hoch, Theodore

14. Bonnie Blue Flag, Composer/arranger: arr. Hoch, Theodore

15. Dixie Land, Composer/arranger: arr. Hoch, Theodore

16. How Fair Art Thou, Composer/arranger; arr. Hoch, Theodore

17. In Childhood I Dallied, Composer/arranger: arr. Hoch, Theodore

18. Scandanavian Romance, Composer/arranger: arr. Hoch, Theodore

19. Home Sweet Home, Composer/arranger: arr. Hoch, Theodore

20. When I Behold, Composer/arranger: arr. Hoch, Theodore

21. Sleep Well Sweet Angel, Composer/arranger: arr. Hoch, Theodore

22. Good Night My Own Dear Child, Composer/arranger: arr. Hoch, Theodore

23. Nearer My God to Thee, Composer/arranger: arr. Hoch, Theodore

24. Beloved Star, Composer/arranger: arr. Hoch, Theodore

25. Killarney, Composer/arranger: arr. Hoch, Theodore

26. Comin' Thro' the Rye, Composer/arranger: arr. Hoch, Theodore

27. Robin Adair, Composer/arranger: arr. Hoch, Theodore

Folder 8: L'Art de Chanter Applique au Cornet (P), undated

Composer/arranger: Verdi, G.; arr. Arban, J. B.

Folder 9: The World's Method for Cornet and Saxhorn, 1886

Composer/arranger: White, Jean

Series 2: Personal Papers, 1888-1913

Consists of newspaper clippings, post card images and Meslohs detailed description of the 1906 Jersey Central Railroad train wreck, travel dairies, measurments for a Sousa Band uniform, scrapbook, travel maps, and a portrait documenting Mesloh's music career between 1888 and 1913. The materials are unarranged. Of particular interest is Mesloh's detailed account of the 1906 train accident that nearly ended his career as a musician.

Box 10

Folder 1: Program, 1905
Folder 2: Postcards and photographs of 1906 train accident, 1906
Folder 3: Personal account of train accident, c. 1906
Folder 4: Newspaper clipping-photo of Sousa Band in Philadelphia, undated
Folder 5: Tailor measurements, 1896
Folder 6: Newspapers, 1908-1913

Box 11

Folder 1: Travel diary, 1888-1894
Folder 2: Travel diary; Musical Mutual Protective Union diary, 1898-1899
Folder 3: Musical Mutual Protective Union diaries, 1899-1900
Folder 4: Musical Mutual Protective Union diaries, 1901-1902
Folder 5: Musical Mutual Protective Union diary, 1903
Folder 6: Musical Mutual Protective Union diary, 1904
Folder 7: Musical Mutual Protective Union diary, 1905

Box 12

Folder 1: Oversized maps, 1891-1906

Boston, 1895. Matthews-Northrup.

Boston, 1894. J. F. Murray.

Brooklyn, 1895. Matthews-Northrup.

Chicago, 1894. Matthews-Northrup.

Chicago, 1898.Rand, McNally, and Co.

Chicago, 1898. Rufus Blanchard.

Cincinnati, 1893. Matthews-Northrup.

Cleveland, 1894. Rand, McNally, and Co.

Cleveland, 1894. Matthews-Northrup.

Columbus, 1897. R. L. Polk and Co.

Denver, 1906. Geo. S. Clason.

Minneapolis, 1895. Matthews-Northrup.

Milwaukee, 1891. Matthews-Northrup.

Milwaukee, 1896. Rand, McNally, and Co.

Folder 2: Oversized maps, 1886-1896

Kansas City, 1893. Rand, McNally, and Co.

New Jersey, 1893. Rand, McNally, and Co.

New York, 1895. Matthews-Northrup.

New York, 1893. Matthews-Northrup.

New York, 1892. Rand, McNally, and Co.

New Orleans, 1893. Matthews-Northrup.

Niagara Falls, 1893. Matthews-Northrup.

Pennsylvania, 1886. Matthews-Northrup.

Pittsburg, 1895. Matthews-Northrup.

Philadelphia, 1893. Matthews-Northrup.

San Francisco, 1895. Matthews-Northrup.

St John, 1896. J. S. Knowles.

St Louis, 1893. Matthews-Northrup.

St Louis, 1896. Woodward and Tiernan Printing.

St Paul, 1895. Matthews-Northrup.

Toledo, 1892. Rand-McNally and Co.

United States, 1891. Matthews-Northrup.

Washington City, 1893. Matthews-Northrup.

Box 13

Folder 1: Photocopies of Mesloh scrapbook, undated
Item 1: Mesloh portrait, undated

Item 1: Berteling Flute (New York) [2013.1209131.001], c. 1890

Boehm model flute used by Otto Mesloh after leaving the Sousa Band. Made from Grenadilla with nickel-plated keys, good condition.

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Original and published music, 1871-1902],
[Series 2: Personal Papers, 1888-1913],
[All]