A Tribute to Robert Browne
Hall
from Band Fan, Spring
1977
The destiny of Robert Browne Hall was
revealed early in his life. While a mere lad, he had already
displayed an affinity for the cornet and by the age of 16, was widely
sought after as a featured soloist in New England.
He was born on June 30, 1858 at Abagadasset
Point, Bowdoinham, Maine. So intense was his desire to play the
instrument that he took a job as a stock boy and shipping clerk in a
shoe factory in order to pay for his lessons. Since his father had
passed away while he was still a youth, he was obliged to contribute
heavily to the support of his widowed mother and sisters.
When he was 19, he was appointed leader,
arranger and soloist of the Richmond Cornet Band and from there he
joined Thomas Baldwin's Band of Boston and played along side of the
famous Allesandro Liberati and in the First Corps Cadet Band of
Boston which was formerly the Patrick S. Gilmore Band.
As his reputation grew, so did the demand for
his services grow. At one time or another, he played with just about
every fine musical organization in New England, including the bands
of Jean Missud, David Wallace Reeves, Mace Gay, and the Germania Band
of Boston.
During this same period, Hall rebuilt the
Bangor (Maine) Band and wrote his first marches there. He was called
Albany, New York to perform a similar service- rebuilding the Tenth
Regiment Band-which the Colonel of the Regiment called "musically
bankrupt". That Hall did his task well was evidenced by the
invitations that band received to perform. It became a featured
attraction at the Pan American Exposition in Buffalo under his
direction.
In composition, Hall's marches began to sell
throughout the country. Publisher Harry Coleman brought our march
after march and the John Church Company and Carl Fischer all
published his works. Among his great marches are, "Fort
Popham", "New Colonial",
"Independentia", "Veni, Vidi, Vici", "Tenth Regiment", "Exalted
Ruler". "Officer of the Day", published by Lyon and Healy is probably
his best known march.
His style of march writing is unique and he
displayed a distinct quality of lift in his compositions which has
given him a prominent place in the annals of American music. He
published 62 marches in all. He had fine royalties from some of them-
"Officer of the Day" in particular which sold some 300,000 copes in
Europe alone, with his royalty being $.02 per copy. His funeral march
"March
Funebre" has been played at more
military funerals than any other piece.
John Philip
Sousa had an extremely high regard
for his march writing talents for the played one of Hall's marches at
the opening concert at the Paris Exposition in 1900.
This recognition has been preserved in
Waterville, Maine where there is a display in theWaterville
Historical Society's Redington
Museum showing many of the artifacts
of Mr. Hall's, including his "Boston 3 Star cornet".
Much of the information for this
article came from the late Thomas
C. Bardwell Sr. of Vineyard
Haven, Massachusetts.
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