Arthur Wellesley Hughes
Arthur Wellesley Hughes was born in Kingston, Ontario, Canada about 1870. He separated from his family at a young age, spending many years in the United States as an itinerent circus musician. He was a performer on piano, calliope, and alto horn. His circus associations on record include Mighty Haag, Downie & Wheeler Circus (1912); Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus (1922),Sells-Floto Circus 1923, Ringling Bros & Barnum & Bailey Combined Shows (1924-26).He was with Robbins Bros Circus (1928-29)whence his Robbins Bros. Triumphal March arose, and Miller Bros. 101 Ranch Wild West Show, and Walter L. Main Circus (1930-31).
Hughes worked as composer and arranger for the Waterloo Music Co., Waterloo, Ontario, Canada from 1932-1935. At other times, Hughes worked as arranger in the Whaley, Royce and Cundy-Bettoney publishing houses. According to his own account, A W Hughes wrote band music in the USA for much of his life, under various pen names, including Arthur Wellesley and H W Arthur. In his 70's, Hughes returned to Kansas, which he considered his home. It is reported that he died in an indigent ward in a New York City hospital in 1950.
Works composed by A W Hughes ( names in parentheses are publishers w/ copyright dates ) Aces High Galop ( unpublished manuscript ) Ambassador March ( Mace Gay 1897) Aquitania March (Cundy Bettoney 1915) Belle of Coontown Dance ( Mace Gay 1895 ) Canada, Land of Liberty Medley Canadian Patriots Medley ( Waterloo 1930) Carry On March ( Cundy Bettoney 1940 ) Chain Lightning Galop (unpublished manuscript ) Champlain March (Cundy Bettoney 1923) Charter of Liberty March ( Cundy Bettoney 1921 ) Circus Echoes Galop ( C L Barnhouse 1928 ) Comrades All March (Cundy Bettoney 1921) Corinthian March (Mace Gay 1895) Darkey's Connundrum - song & dance (Mace Gay 1895 ) The Dawn of Peace March (Cundy-Bettoney 1920) Del Rio March ( Cundy Bettoney 1925) Dufferin March ( Whaley, Royce 1910) Echoes from the Harem ( Cundy-Bettoney 1917 ) Eventide ( Walter Jacobs 1923 ) Fond du Lac March ( Cundy-Bettoney 1913 ) Fort Garry March (Whaley, Royce 1911 ) Fraternity March (unpublished manuscript ) Greater Boston March ( unpublished manuscript ) Hail Edward VII Hospitality March (Waterloo 1930) In the Lead March (Waterloo 1930) In Old Quebec March (Whaley, Royce 1908) Italia Giovinezza March Medley (Cundy-Bettoney 1928) Little Bugler ( Karl King 1930) Mediterranean March (H C Miller 1925) Novelette ( Cundy-Bettoney 1917 ) Novelty Overture ( Karl King 1930) Our Commonwealth March (Cundy-Bettoney 1940) Our Pilot March ( Cundy-Bettoney 1940) The Proclamation March ( Cundy-Bettoney 1918) Red Deer March(Whaley,Royce 1911) Reign of Peace March (Whaley, Royce 1894) The Rosedale Three Step Rose Festival Waltz ( Waterloo 1931 ) St Augustine March ( Mace Gay 1895 ) St Julien March ( Cundy-Bettoney 1918) Salute to the Adjutant March ( Ditson 1927) Salute to Buffalo March (Whaley, Royce 1901) Salute to Mars March ( Mace Gay 1895 ) Spark Plug Galop ( unpublished manuscript ) Tipperary Tommy March ( Whaley, Royce 1916) The Tournament March ( Whaley Royce 1894 ) Unique Overture ( Karl King 1929 ) United Empire March ( Whaley, Royce 1897 ) Utility March (Karl King 1929) Veteran Brigade March ( Cundy-Bettoney 1940) Ye Old Tyme March ( unpublished manuscript )
Composed under name of O.A. Gilson Robbins Bros. Triumphal March ( C L Barnhouse 1928 ) Vindicator Concert March ( unpublished ms )
REFERENCES: Rehrig, William H., HERITAGE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BAND MUSIC, Westerville, Ohio: Integrity Press 1991 pp. I 359; Sup 390.
Smith, Norman, MARCH MUSIC NOTES, Lake Charles, LA:Program Notes Press 1986 pp 210-211
