Edwin and Ezra Bagley May 23 2012, 0 Comments

Contributed By: Jack Kopstein This year  marks the 90^th year of the passing of one of America’s greatest march writers Edwin Bagley of National Emblem fame. Without any question, the two best known American marches, throughout the world are Sousa’s Stars and Stripes Forever and Bagley’s National Emblem. Many bands have only these two in their libraries. Certainly National Emblem is second only to the Stars and Stripes Forever in the number of times recorded, both in the U.S. and abroad. Edwin  Bagley was  a baritone- trombone player who wrote marches. He was born in Craftsbury, Vermont in 1857 and died in Keene, New Hampshire in 1922. During his life, he played with many bands and orchestras in the New England area, and spent his last years directing New Hampshire school bands.  The trio to the march National Emblem is often used for the advancement of the National Colors during ceremonies, as well as for the entrance of the National Colors for indoor events. His older brother Ezra Bagley was a very famous cornetist who was born in 1853 in Albany, Vermont and died in 1886 in Liverpool, England. 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.. It appears that there was only the one march of the quality of National Emblem among the works of the two brothers. Edwin however did write several other marches listed  below. 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) Altissimo has for purchase 22 recordings which contain the march National Emblem . The march is a national treasure. Order a copy today performed by a GREAT SERVICE band of AMERICA. Not Sousa Vol. 1 50 American Patriotic Military Songs American Spirit