Herbert L Clarke

HERBERT LINCOLN CLARKE was born September 12th, 1867 in Woburn, Massachusetts, the fourth son of Dr. William Horatio Clarke, who was one of the most celebrated organists and composers in this country. Born in a musical atmosphere, Clarke developed musical tendencies at an early age, and showed marked ability, studying the violin and viola while quite young, taking up the viola with such success that he took his place as second viola in the Toronto Philharmonic Society of Toronto, Canada. Clarke...See more

HERBERT LINCOLN CLARKE was born September 12th, 1867 in Woburn, Massachusetts, the fourth son of Dr. William Horatio Clarke, who was one of the most celebrated organists and composers in this country. Born in a musical atmosphere, Clarke developed musical tendencies at an early age, and showed marked ability, studying the violin and viola while quite young, taking up the viola with such success that he took his place as second viola in the Toronto Philharmonic Society of Toronto, Canada. Clarke was also attracted to the cornet, and began studying this "prince of brass instruments; at the age fourteen he had joined the Queens's Own Band and Bugles, of Ontario, Canada, as second chair cornetist. During his musical career, he has been the cornet soloist of many celebrated organizations, among which were the bands led by P. S. Gilmore, Victor Herbert, Fred Innes and later with John Philip Sousa, with whom he was associated for more than twenty years. Clarke made numerous transcontinental tours, playing many times in every large city throughout the United States and Canada; several tours to Europe, playing before the royalty of many countries. His experience in the orchestral field has also been varied and large, playing in symphony orchestras, as well as the New York Metropolitan Grand Opera, and under celebrated conductors such as Anton Seidl, Walter Damrosch, Luigi Mancinelli, Enrico Bevignani, Alfred Herz, M. Pauer, Engelbert Humperdinck, Adolf Neuendorff, Vigna and others. Clarke has been leader of many bands, among them Reeves' American Band at Providence, Rhode Island, First Light Infantry, Naval Brigade of Massachusetts, and was commissioned while bandmaster of the 2nd Regiment, of Rhode Island. For five years, Mr. Clarke was conductor of the famous Huntsville Band of Huntsville, Ontario, Canada, and from 1923 to 1943 he conducted the Long Beach Municipal Band of Long Beach, California. See less