Clarke, Ernest

Ernest Clarke was born in Woburn, Massachusetts into a musical family, the son of a composer, organist and organ builder. All three of his brothers became prominent musicians, however brother Herbert L. Clarke, the cornet soloist and bandmaster, would gain international fame as one of the greatest brass performers of all time. As a professional musician, Ernest’s career began as a performer, touring with some of the leading concert bands and orchestras of the era: the Innes Band, Neyer’s 7th Regiment Band (1887-1898), Victor Herbert’s Orchestra, Sousa’s Band (1915-1916) and Patrick Sarsfiel Gilmore’s band of 100 musicians, reputedly the best in the USA. He also performed as Principal Trombonist with the Walter Damrosch Symphony Orchestra (also known as the New York Symphony Orchestra) from 1898 to 1918.Clarke’s other great musical achievement was as a teacher, teaching at the Institute of Musical Arts (the precursor to the Juilliard School of Music) in New York City for 25 years, from 1922 until his death in 1947. His student Davis Schuman succeeded him. Clarke’s teaching became so legendary that; it was thought by many musicians that he turned out more fine trombone players than any other teacher in the Eastern United States during the first part of the 20th century. In addition to the Method for Trombone, Clarke also composed the following works for Trombone:                        Orchestral Studies for Trombone (1908)

In Rank and File March - solo for Trombone (1934 Carl Fischer)<BR>             At the Shrine - Prayer for solo Trombone (1934 Carl Fischer)<BR>                        Devotion for Trombone (1934 Carl Fischer)<BR>                       Strolling Minstrels - Serenade for solo Trombone (1934 Carl Fischer)