Edwin Eugene Bagley
Encyclopedia
Edwin Eugene Bagley was born in Craftsbury, Vermont
on May 29, 1857 and died in Keene, New Hampshire
on January 29, 1922. He is famous for composing the National Emblem.
Edwin began his music career at the age of nine as a vocalist and comedian with Leavitt’s Bellringers, a company of entertainers that toured many of the larger cities of the United States
. He began playing the cornet
, traveling for six years with the Swiss Bellringers. After his touring days, he joined Blaisdell’s Orchestra of Concord
, New Hampshire
.
In 1880, he came to Boston
as a solo cornet player at The Park Theater. For nine years, he traveled with the Bostonians, an opera company. While with this company, he changed from cornet to trombone
. He also performed with the Germania Band of Boston and the Boston Symphony Orchestra
.
Edwin Eugene Bagley is best known for composing marches
and in particular for the famous march National Emblem. This piece is played as a patriotic tune on Independence Day
celebrations in the United States and features an excerpt of The Star-Spangled Banner
. It's also used by the U.S. military when presenting and retiring the colors. A theme from this march is popularly sung with the words "and the monkey wrapped his tail around the flagpole".
Edwin was married to Jannette S. Hoyt (1855–1927). His brother Ezra M. Bagley (January 3, 1853-July 8, 1886) was first trumpet in the Boston Symphony Orchestra 1880-1884 and also composed marches for bands.
Edwin died at the Elliot Community Hospital in Keene, New Hampshire and is buried at the Greenlawn Cemetery in Keene. The Victorian Bandstand in Keene is named in his honor.
Craftsbury, Vermont
Craftsbury is a town in Orleans County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,136 at the 2000 census. The town includes the four unincorporated villages of Craftsbury Common, Mill Village, North Craftsbury and East Craftsbury.-Town:...
on May 29, 1857 and died in Keene, New Hampshire
Keene, New Hampshire
Keene is a city in Cheshire County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 23,409 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Cheshire County.Keene is home to Keene State College and Antioch University New England, and hosts the annual Pumpkin Fest...
on January 29, 1922. He is famous for composing the National Emblem.
Edwin began his music career at the age of nine as a vocalist and comedian with Leavitt’s Bellringers, a company of entertainers that toured many of the larger cities of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He began playing the cornet
Cornet
The cornet is a brass instrument very similar to the trumpet, distinguished by its conical bore, compact shape, and mellower tone quality. The most common cornet is a transposing instrument in B. It is not related to the renaissance and early baroque cornett or cornetto.-History:The cornet was...
, traveling for six years with the Swiss Bellringers. After his touring days, he joined Blaisdell’s Orchestra of Concord
Concord, New Hampshire
The city of Concord is the capital of the state of New Hampshire in the United States. It is also the county seat of Merrimack County. As of the 2010 census, its population was 42,695....
, New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
.
In 1880, he came to Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
as a solo cornet player at The Park Theater. For nine years, he traveled with the Bostonians, an opera company. While with this company, he changed from cornet to trombone
Trombone
The trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
. He also performed with the Germania Band of Boston and the Boston Symphony Orchestra
Boston Symphony Orchestra
The Boston Symphony Orchestra is an orchestra based in Boston, Massachusetts. It is one of the five American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five". Founded in 1881, the BSO plays most of its concerts at Boston's Symphony Hall and in the summer performs at the Tanglewood Music Center...
.
Edwin Eugene Bagley is best known for composing marches
Marches
A march or mark refers to a border region similar to a frontier, such as the Welsh Marches, the borderland between England and Wales. During the Frankish Carolingian Dynasty, the word spread throughout Europe....
and in particular for the famous march National Emblem. This piece is played as a patriotic tune on Independence Day
Independence Day (United States)
Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain...
celebrations in the United States and features an excerpt of The Star-Spangled Banner
The Star-Spangled Banner
"The Star-Spangled Banner" is the national anthem of the United States of America. The lyrics come from "Defence of Fort McHenry", a poem written in 1814 by the 35-year-old lawyer and amateur poet, Francis Scott Key, after witnessing the bombardment of Fort McHenry by the British Royal Navy ships...
. It's also used by the U.S. military when presenting and retiring the colors. A theme from this march is popularly sung with the words "and the monkey wrapped his tail around the flagpole".
Bagley's Marches
- l'Agresseur March (1915)
- Ambassador March (1907)
- America Victorious March (1908)
- American Salute
- Arbitrator March (1908)
- Bagley's Imperial March (1901)
- Col. Estey March (1908)
- Counselor March (1917)
- Father of His Country March (1931)
- Federation March
- Front Section March (1909)
- Holy Cross Commandery March (1902)
- Knight Templar March (1911)
- The Morning Light March (1900)
- National Emblem (1906)
- Our Republic March (1908)
- Patriot March (1902)
- Post 68 G.A.R. (1902)
- Regent March
- Royal March (1902)
Edwin was married to Jannette S. Hoyt (1855–1927). His brother Ezra M. Bagley (January 3, 1853-July 8, 1886) was first trumpet in the Boston Symphony Orchestra 1880-1884 and also composed marches for bands.
Edwin died at the Elliot Community Hospital in Keene, New Hampshire and is buried at the Greenlawn Cemetery in Keene. The Victorian Bandstand in Keene is named in his honor.
External links
- Find a Grave http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Bagley&GSby=1857&GSbyrel=in&GSdy=1922&GSdyrel=in&GSob=n&GRid=22212410&
- imdb http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2021174/
See also
- March music composers