Napoli (Cornet Solo)
At the end of the 19th and the start of the 20th century, Herman Bellstedt was a well-known American cornet soloist. His debut performance was at the tender age of 15 and he quickly began to perform across the country with different bands and orchestras earning himself the nickname “The Boy Wonder”.
He developed strong relationships with a number of the leading reed bands of the day including a two-year engagement with the John Philip Sousa band between 1904 and 1906 where he shared the soloist spot with Herbert L. Clarke and Walter B. Rogers.
After leaving Sousa’s band he co-founded and conducted his own ensemble, the Bellstedt-Ballenger Band with Louis Ballenberger, and held the post of Professor of Wind Instruments at the Cincinnati Conservatory.
In addition to performing, Bellstedt composed for band, orchestra, piano, violin, and cornet. His solo works remain popular with trumpeters and cornetists today and include Fantasia No.1, La Coquette, Capriccio Brilliante, La Mandolinata, Variations on the Carnival of Venice and this title Napoli which is a set of variations based on an old Neapolitan song.