Charles Trussell aka Carlile Vernon,[1] (1860,
London, England – 1946,
Bauple, Queensland, Australia[2]) was a prominent musician in
brass bands (British style) both in
Australia and
New Zealand during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. He served as band master of a number of bands in both countries and was a significant composer and arranger of brass band music. He also was an adjudicator at brass band contests. He is also believed to have written vocal music.[1] He is not to be confused with American banjoist and composer H. C. Trussell (of Quincy, Ill.) who was also active in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
In 1887, after 13 years service in the army, Trussell followed relatives to Australia and settled in
Maryborough, before moving to
Tasmania. Shortly thereafter he was appointed conductor of the Latrobe Brass (later Federal) Band.[5] He also became conductor of the Deloraine Band, conducted a church choir, and later on entertained as part of a group called the Federal Minstrels. In 1895 he was married to Minnie Ada Biggins (b.1863 in Tasmania)[6]
New Zealand
In 1895, Trussell moved to New Zealand settling in
Auckland where he was appointed band master of the
Newton (later Auckland Battalion) Band. He also judged band contests, the first being the 1897 Goldfields Band Contest in
Te Aroha.[7] He was a prominent member of the North Island Brass Band Association. During this time, he played cricket for the St. Albans Cricket Club in Auckland.[8]
By 1900, he had moved to
Nelson and was band master of the
Nelson Garrison Band. It was about this time he had composed the Alexandra Dance.[9] In 1901 he composed the march Joys of Life for the national band contest held that year in
New Plymouth.[10]
In November 1903 Trussell moved back to the North Island, to
Waihi.[11] As band master of the
Waihi Federal Band he improved the standard of the band to one of the best in the country.[12]
During this time his compositional output increased, with several marches written each year (including Rimutaka (1905), Mount Egmont (1905), N. I. B. B. A. (1907)), arrangements of operatic selections for contests (including L’ Ebreo (1904) and La Traviata (1906)) and a fantasias Concordia (1903) and The Tournament (1906).
He also competed in
lawn bowling competitions in the region.[13]
In April 1907 Trussell hosted the prestigious
Besses o' th' Barn Band from England as part of their world tour. Shortly after this, in May 1907, he and his wife were farewelled from Waihi where the town presented him with a marble clock in recognition of the contribution made to the town. Silver hair brushes were presented to his wife. In the press and in band circles, Trussell had become known as "the New Zealand March King".[14]
Confusion has arisen about a later band master of the Waihi Federal Band. Between 1910 and 1914, and again in 1925, the band master was a Mr. T. Russell.[15] It has been assumed that Trussell and Russell were in fact the same person with Trussell's name being a contraction of T. Russell used for composing purposes. It seems this is a misunderstanding and that Charles Trussell and T. Russell appear to be two different people, as both apparently were conducting different bands in different places at the same time. Mr. T. Russell, like Trussell, appears to have originally come from England, but when he returned in 1925, he is recorded as having come back from England. He also apparently returned to England due to ill health. Charles Trussell would have been both coming from and returning to Australia rather than England at this time.[original research?]
Return to Australia
In 1907 Trussell moved back to Australia, this time settling in
Ipswich, Queensland. He was appointed conductor of the
Ipswich Vice-Regal Band, a position he held until his retirement in 1923. His wife died aged 58 in 1925 after an illness.[16]
He then moved to live near
Bauple, Queensland. He continued playing with bands and was active composing and arranging (mostly contest pieces for brass bands) during this time receiving high praise for the quality of his music, especially his various selections from Verdi operas[4]
This list is most likely incomplete. All works listed are composed or arranged for brass band unless otherwise stated. Included are works by the pseudonymous Carlile Vernon. These works are indicated and are believed to be composed by Charles Trussell,[1] but it has also been suggested they are works by Welsh composer William Carlile Bawden (b.1857, d.1925).[17]
Capiscolus (March) c. 1896[24][21] This is probably not an original composition by Trussell as reported. It is most likely Trussell conducting a performance the piece Capiscolus (Quickstep) by American William E. M. Petee, 1883.[25] A copy of this piece with Trussell's name stamped on it is held in the Kerepehi Brass Band Library.
L’Ebreo (Selection) (
Apolloni arr. Trussell) 1902, Arranged specially as test piece for the
New Plymouth Contest 1902[32][43][44]
La Mia Speranza (Fantasia) c. 1901 arr. Trussell) (Some publications spell Speranizo rather than Speranza)[45][46]
La Traviata (Selection) (
Verdi arr. Trussell) 1906, Test Piece
Waihi Band Contest.,[47][21] Re-arranged to suit
Lismore Contest Test piece (sometime between 1907 and 1914)[48]
N I B B A (
North Island Brass Band Association) (March) c. 1907, Composed as the A Grade Test March (quickstep) for the
New Plymouth Contest, 1908[39][14][56][57]
Rimutaka (March) 1903, Composed as the A Grade Test March (quickstep) for the
Masterton Contest, 1903,[39][69][21] Wanganui wins quickstep at Masterton Contest Rimutaka March listed as being specially composed for the event)[70][71]
Verdi (Grand Selection) (arr. Trussell), Quite likely another of his selections composed by Verdi.[81]
Victorine (Intermezzo?) (March?) c. 1903.[9][43][21] A March entitled Victorine composed by
William Rimmer (music) exists[82] stamped with C. Trussell. So this is likely to have been mistaken as a composition by Trussell.
^
ab"Papers Past"Archived 22 March 2017 at the
Wayback Machine Trussell described as New Zealand March King and N. I. B. B. A. as even better than Rimutaka and Mt Egmont
Otago Witness, Dunedin, 11 December 1907
^"Papers Past"Archived 22 March 2017 at the
Wayback Machine Various Frequently used in Broadcasts by the St Kilda Band on Radio 4YA Dundedin in 1927/28
^"Papers Past"Archived 22 March 2017 at the
Wayback Machine "March sent to a Nelson Citizens band" by C Trussell (composer / Waihi Fed) they are to get new uniforms and give a concert in about a month,
The Star, Christchurch, 24 June 1905
^"Papers Past"Archived 22 March 2017 at the
Wayback Machine "Wanganui and Kaikorai play Garden Party" (Part of Auckland Contest) at the Auckland Domain Cricket Ground "Waihi" Trussell’s Annexation March, over 7000 present.
Wanganui Herald, Whanganui, 16 February 1905
^p68, p72, Challenging Brass, 100 Years of Brass Band Contests in New Zealand, by S. P. Newcomb, 1980 Powerbrass Music Co. Ltd, Takapuna.
Bierley, Paul E.; Rehrig, William H. The heritage encyclopedia of band music: composers and their music. Edited by Paul E. Bierley; William H. Rehrig. Westerville, Ohio: Integrity Press, 1991