Vincent Bach
Encyclopedia
Vincent Bach was a musician
and instrument
maker, who founded the Vincent Bach Corporation
.
He was born as Vincent Schrotenbach in Baden bei Wien
near Vienna, Austria. He received training on the violin
and bugle as a youth switching to trumpet
at age 12. At age 15, he purchased his first instrument, a rotary valve trumpet. Bach desired to be a musician, but that career was not supported by his family.
Bach graduated from Maschinenbauschule with an engineering
degree, at the age of 20. During his subsequent compulsory military service he served in the Austro-Hungarian Imperial Navy
. That was followed by a period as an elevator operator before being called-up a second time during which he served as a military musician in the Austrian Marine Band.
His military experience inspired him to go against his family’s wishes and pursue a career in music. Vincent Schrotenbach toured Europe performing on an Alexander
cornet
, but while in England
in 1914 became entangled in the politics of World War I
finding it necessary to escape confinement as an enemy alien. He changed his name to Vincent Bach and fled to the United States.
instrument, he wrote to Karl Muck
, conductor of the Boston Symphony, who employed him. A year later, he was performing as principal trumpet with the Metropolitan Opera
. During his first 3 years in the US, Bach pursued many musical ventures including composing solos, recording on the Edison label, writing a short pamphlet version of his later ‘’The Art of Trumpet Playing’’ and endorsing Holton instruments.
While touring in Pittsburg, Bach’s mouthpiece was destroyed by a repairman’s attempts to rework it. On his return to New York, Bach began experimenting with brass
mouthpieces
. Bach also realized the need for a higher quality instruments when he served as bandmaster
of the 306th Field Artillery
band as a result of finding himself inducted once again, this time in the American military during World War 1.
The last time Vincent Bach took a job as a performer was during 1926, one year after attaining his US citizenship, when he accepted one more orchestral position for only a matter of months. His only other public performances were as a soloist on the radio and records between 1927 and 1929 promoting his instruments.
)
Starting with a mouthpiece business in the back of the Selmer music store in New York after being released from the military in 1918, Bach expanded to the production of trumpets and cornets under the “Stradivarius” name (to project an image of quality) in 1924. By 1928, he relocated to a Bronx factory adding trombones to his product line. The company survived the depression and by 1953 moved to Mount Vernon New York. Collaborating with Georges Mager
, during World War II, Bach developed the large bore C Trumpet that would become the standard of symphonic trumpeters in America. In 1961, at 71 years of age, Bach sold his company to the Conn-Selmer
corporation even though some of the other 13 bids he received were higher.
Bach’s instruments attained the reputation for quality he aspired to with the name and became widely used. Two of Bach’s bugles figured prominently in the funerals of US Presidents, one being played for John F. Kennedy
, Dwight Eisenhower and Lyndon Johnson which now resides on display at Arlington National Cemetery
and a second which was used at the funeral of Ronald Reagan
after a week long process in which the Reagan family, Bach’s grand-nephew, the military and the bugler involved decided not to use the Kennedy bugle in favor of that the performer had used for two decades, which was subsequently retired to the Reagan Library.
in Valhalla, New York
.
group of Steinway
Musical Instruments at http://www.bachbrass.com/
The Bach Loyalist at http://www.bachloyalist.com/
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
and instrument
Musical instrument
A musical instrument is a device created or adapted for the purpose of making musical sounds. In principle, any object that produces sound can serve as a musical instrument—it is through purpose that the object becomes a musical instrument. The history of musical instruments dates back to the...
maker, who founded the Vincent Bach Corporation
Vincent Bach Corporation
The Vincent Bach Corporation was an American manufacturer of brass musical instruments that began early in the twentieth century and still exists as a subsidiary of Conn-Selmer. The company was founded in 1918 by Austrian-born trumpeter Vincent Schrotenbach .-Vincent Bach:Vincent Schrotenbach was...
.
Vincent Schrotenbach
Baden bei Wien
-Points of interest:The town offers several parks and a picturesque surrounding, of which the most frequented is the Helenental valley. Not far from Baden, the valley is crossed by a widespread aqueduct of the Vienna waterworks...
near Vienna, Austria. He received training on the violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
and bugle as a youth switching to trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
at age 12. At age 15, he purchased his first instrument, a rotary valve trumpet. Bach desired to be a musician, but that career was not supported by his family.
Bach graduated from Maschinenbauschule with an engineering
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
degree, at the age of 20. During his subsequent compulsory military service he served in the Austro-Hungarian Imperial Navy
Austro-Hungarian Navy
The Austro-Hungarian Navy was the naval force of Austria-Hungary. Its official name in German was Kaiserliche und Königliche Kriegsmarine , abbreviated as k.u.k. Kriegsmarine....
. That was followed by a period as an elevator operator before being called-up a second time during which he served as a military musician in the Austrian Marine Band.
His military experience inspired him to go against his family’s wishes and pursue a career in music. Vincent Schrotenbach toured Europe performing on an Alexander
Gebr. Alexander
Gebr. Alexander, of Mainz, Germany, is a manufacturer of instruments, founded in 1782 by Franz Ambros Alexander and still in business today. The company claims to be the oldest musical instrument manufacturing company in Germany.-History:...
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...
, but while in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in 1914 became entangled in the politics of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
finding it necessary to escape confinement as an enemy alien. He changed his name to Vincent Bach and fled to the United States.
Vincent Bach, American
Upon his arrival with a BessonBesson (company)
Besson is a manufacturer of brass musical instrument. It is owned by Buffet Crampon, which bought Besson in 2006 from The Music Group.The company was formed in 1837 by Gustave Auguste Besson, who at the age of 18 produced a revolutionary design of cornet which surpassed all contemporary models. His...
instrument, he wrote to Karl Muck
Karl Muck
Karl Muck was a German-born conductor of classical music. He based his activities principally in Europe and mostly in opera. His American career comprised two stints at the Boston Symphony Orchestra. He endured a public outcry in 1917 that questioned whether his loyalties lay with Germany or the...
, conductor of the Boston Symphony, who employed him. A year later, he was performing as principal trumpet with the Metropolitan Opera
Metropolitan Opera
The Metropolitan Opera is an opera company, located in New York City. Originally founded in 1880, the company gave its first performance on October 22, 1883. The company is operated by the non-profit Metropolitan Opera Association, with Peter Gelb as general manager...
. During his first 3 years in the US, Bach pursued many musical ventures including composing solos, recording on the Edison label, writing a short pamphlet version of his later ‘’The Art of Trumpet Playing’’ and endorsing Holton instruments.
While touring in Pittsburg, Bach’s mouthpiece was destroyed by a repairman’s attempts to rework it. On his return to New York, Bach began experimenting with brass
Brass instrument
A brass instrument is a musical instrument whose sound is produced by sympathetic vibration of air in a tubular resonator in sympathy with the vibration of the player's lips...
mouthpieces
Mouthpiece (brass)
On brass instruments the mouthpiece is the part of the instrument which is placed upon the player's lips. The purpose of the mouthpiece is a resonator, which passes vibration from the lips to the column of air contained within the instrument, giving rise to the standing wave pattern of vibration in...
. Bach also realized the need for a higher quality instruments when he served as bandmaster
Bandmaster
A bandmaster is the leader and conductor of a band, usually a military band, brass band or a marching band.-British Armed Forces:In the British Armed Forces, a Bandmaster is always a Warrant Officer Class 1 . A commissioned officer who leads a band is known as the Director of Music...
of the 306th Field Artillery
Field artillery
Field artillery is a category of mobile artillery used to support armies in the field. These weapons are specialized for mobility, tactical proficiency, long range, short range and extremely long range target engagement....
band as a result of finding himself inducted once again, this time in the American military during World War 1.
The last time Vincent Bach took a job as a performer was during 1926, one year after attaining his US citizenship, when he accepted one more orchestral position for only a matter of months. His only other public performances were as a soloist on the radio and records between 1927 and 1929 promoting his instruments.
Bach company
(Main Article Vincent Bach CorporationVincent Bach Corporation
The Vincent Bach Corporation was an American manufacturer of brass musical instruments that began early in the twentieth century and still exists as a subsidiary of Conn-Selmer. The company was founded in 1918 by Austrian-born trumpeter Vincent Schrotenbach .-Vincent Bach:Vincent Schrotenbach was...
)
Starting with a mouthpiece business in the back of the Selmer music store in New York after being released from the military in 1918, Bach expanded to the production of trumpets and cornets under the “Stradivarius” name (to project an image of quality) in 1924. By 1928, he relocated to a Bronx factory adding trombones to his product line. The company survived the depression and by 1953 moved to Mount Vernon New York. Collaborating with Georges Mager
Georges Mager
Georges C. Mager was a French musician, and principal trumpet with the Boston Symphony Orchestra from 1919 until his death in 1950. He was a renowned trumpeter in Paris before the First World War, playing at the Paris Opera, Concerts Lamoureux, and the Concerts of the Society of the Conservatory...
, during World War II, Bach developed the large bore C Trumpet that would become the standard of symphonic trumpeters in America. In 1961, at 71 years of age, Bach sold his company to the Conn-Selmer
Conn-Selmer
Conn-Selmer, Inc. is a manufacturer and distributor of concert band, marching band, and orchestral instruments. It is a subsidiary of Steinway Musical Instruments and was formed after Steinway bought musical instrument manufacturers The Selmer Company and C.G. Conn.-Founding:In the late 1800s,...
corporation even though some of the other 13 bids he received were higher.
Bach’s instruments attained the reputation for quality he aspired to with the name and became widely used. Two of Bach’s bugles figured prominently in the funerals of US Presidents, one being played for John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
, Dwight Eisenhower and Lyndon Johnson which now resides on display at Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States of America, established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, formerly the estate of the family of Confederate general Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna Lee, a great...
and a second which was used at the funeral of Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
after a week long process in which the Reagan family, Bach’s grand-nephew, the military and the bugler involved decided not to use the Kennedy bugle in favor of that the performer had used for two decades, which was subsequently retired to the Reagan Library.
Later years
After the sale of the business, Vincent Bach stayed on as a researcher continuing to work until at least 1974. Bach died 8 January 1976 in New York. He is buried in Kensico CemeteryCemetery
A cemetery is a place in which dead bodies and cremated remains are buried. The term "cemetery" implies that the land is specifically designated as a burying ground. Cemeteries in the Western world are where the final ceremonies of death are observed...
in Valhalla, New York
Valhalla, New York
Valhalla is an unincorporated hamlet and census-designated place that is located within the town of Mount Pleasant, New York, in Westchester County. Its population was 3,162 at the 2010 U.S. Census...
.
External links
Vincent Bach Division of Conn-SelmerConn-Selmer
Conn-Selmer, Inc. is a manufacturer and distributor of concert band, marching band, and orchestral instruments. It is a subsidiary of Steinway Musical Instruments and was formed after Steinway bought musical instrument manufacturers The Selmer Company and C.G. Conn.-Founding:In the late 1800s,...
group of Steinway
Steinway
Steinway may refer to:* Steinway & Sons, an American and German piano manufacturer* Steinway Hall, a building housing concert halls, showrooms and sales departments for Steinway & Sons pianos* Steinway D-274, the concert grand piano by Steinway & Sons...
Musical Instruments at http://www.bachbrass.com/
The Bach Loyalist at http://www.bachloyalist.com/