Arbuckle, Matthew

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Arbuckle, Matthew

Arbuckle, Matthew, Scottish–American cornetist and bandmaster; b. Lochside, 1828; d. N.Y., May 23, 1883. At 13, he joined the 26th Regiment of the British Army and served in India and China. After playing in a military band in Canada, he deserted his regiment and went to Troy, N.Y., as a bandmaster in 1857. Shortly afterward, he became a bandmaster in Worcester, Mass. In 1860 he joined the Gilmore Band, which was attached to the 24th Mass. Infantry Regiment in 1861 and saw service in the Civil War. In later years, he continued to perform with Gilmore and other bandmasters. In 1880 he was made bandmaster of the 9th Regiment of N.Y. In 1883 he founded his own band. Arbuckle won considerable distinction as a master of the cornet, and wrote a method for his instrument.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire