The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1879-12-31
THE FIRST BRASS BAND.
John Holloway. the Famous "W0od UI
Qujckstep.o and the Boston Brass Band.

1t jumped at once into full fame, and
what is very remarkable, after lapse
of more than forty-five years, It's still a
standard favorite. Our mind was par
ticularly called to this inspiriting piece
of music few days ago by seeing its
authorship credited to the wrong man
and as it's talented composer still lives
and fiourishes among us, we feel that
he ought not to be thus robbed of the
lust L onor that is due him. Ever since
we were boy we have had a respect
for John Holloway in proportion to our
love for Wood Up;" and how great
that has been may be judged from the
fact that we would accompany the IA
nous old brass band all day through
the streets of Boston, and to the then
popular suburban resorts for the mill
tary, just u hear them o OCCASIONALLY
play that luickstep, with the glorious
solo by Ned Kendall, which was al
ways sure to bring out enthusiastic ap-
plause from the crowded throngs on
the sidewalks, and the clapping of
hands and waving of handkerchiefs by
the ladies Mt the windows. No other
piece of military music has ever caused
such scenes, and we do not believe that
any future composition will do so.
1t was our pleasure to meet Mr. Hol-
loway short time ago at the residence
of his son. Mr.. VIM. H. Holloway, Lau-
rel street, and the interview was to us
one Of lively interest. He is now but in
the sixty-eighth year Of his age, with
the same tall. erect form as of old, the
same clear, vigorous mind, and only
bearing the natural silvery signs of ad-
vancing years. We learned some facts
concerning the origin OF the immortal
quickstep, which were new to US, and
which we feel sure will interest our
readers. Mr.. Holloway came from
New York to Boston in September, 1888,
and became the leader OF the orchestra
at the fremont theater, which was then
under the management of the late
Thomas Barry. In 1884, by invitation,
he became member of the old Boston
Reed band, several of the prominent
members of which, including the two
Kendalls, Flagg and Sibley, were travel
ing with a circus. His first parade
with this band was on the fourth of
July OF that year. Shortly after this the
Washington Light Infantry, then a
very popular Boston company. under
the command of Joseph l.. Ross, went
on an excursion to Portland, Me-, &C
companied by the Reed band. We NAV
here remark that the steamer upon
which this excursion was made, the
Chancellor Livingstone, was the first
large steamer that run from Boston,
and this was her first season. Besides
the Chelsea ferryboats, there had b cen
only the little G;n. Lincoln, which ran
to bingham, and these were brought
hele from Philadelphia by Thomas
Holloway, an uncle of John. The w.
L. |. were received by the Portland
rifle company, and at n dinner given to
their guests, the exclamation Wood
up!" was frequently made by members
OF the rifle company, and this was p
signal to engage in what was then very
common, social drink. A glee which
had been composed for the Rifles ex-
! planned the origin of this expression,
which glee they sang for their guests.
1t seems that in 1882 the Rifles char
tered small steamer which ran from
Portland to Fort Preble to go on camp
duty down the Kennebec river. The
boat could not take wood enough for
the whole trip, and in those days there
were docks along the river, with wood
piled up for sloops to take to Boston
A necessary institution on those docks
was Jiquor-shop; and when it was as
certained that there would be time to
get drink while the steamer was re-
plenishing her stock ofwood, the signal
" Wood up" would be given. and a
time of smiling would take place. The
words of the glee were very good, but
the music was execrable, and the w
l.. |. wished Mr.. Holloway to compose
n new melody for the words. He in
formed them that it was more difficult
to compose music for words, rs the
thoughts did not flow so easily, but that
lIe would compose quickstep and call
1t wood up" which much pleased
them. Mr.. Holloway was then board
ing in Brattle street, with the mother
of Charlotte Cushman, and one beauti-
full moonlight night, soon after his re-
turn from the Portland trip, he took a
stroll on the common, ard then and
there composed the quickstep. and went
home and committed it to paper. Early
in the morning, he was surprised to see
Miss Cushman enter the room, as she
did not usually arise until much later.
She seemed much interested, and asked
Mr.. Holloway what he was playing.
lie informed her of the name of the new
auickstep and its origin, which both
surprised and delighted her.
When the quickstep had been ar
ranged for the band, and was played in
public, its effect was electric, as we
have before described. If Mr.. Hol-
loway had done nothing in the way of
composition but produce this quickstep,
! it were enough to make his name i'm
morral. His great mistake was that he
did not copyright it; had he done SO,
it would have yielded him fortune.
To Mr.. Holloway belongs the honor
of having really created the first brass
band. Soon after the Portland trip
above referred to, he conceived the idea
of organizing band composed entirely
of brass instruments, and consulted
with some other musicians, agreeing to
arrange or COMPOSE the musi for it. At
! first he met with but little encourage
ment, but his ardor was not to be
quelled, and he persevered until some
twenty were got together, and the Bos-
ton Brass band was formed, with Ned
Kendall as leader. This was formed in
January. 1895. and most of the memb
of the Boston Reed band joined it,
causing the disbanding of that band.
| The making of instrum ents for this