C. L. Barnhouse

Photo of C. L. Barnhouse

Charles Lloyd Barnhouse was born March 20, 1865, in Grafton, West Virginia. As a youngster, he developed a keen interest in music and was given a second-hand cornet by an uncle. Barnhouse quit school at age 14 to work as a laborer in local factories, learning the machinist’s trade, but spent many hours teaching himself to master the cornet. His determination paid off, and at 16 he was elected leader of the Grafton town band, a post he held briefly until his decision to “see the world” and join up with various traveling show bands, first as a cornetist and later as the leader. Barnhouse established a favorable reputation as a bandleader and cornet soloist on the touring circuit, and during this period began to compose band music. His travels brought him to Mt. Pleasant, Iowa in 1888 where he decided to open his own band music publishing enterprise. Using his skills as a machinist, Barnhouse created his own music engraving tools to make printing plates for his own compositions. His first advertising bulletin introduced five marches, most of them designed for small-town bands and touring ensembles. Meeting with great success, the C. L. Barnhouse Co. was born in a 9′ x 12′ room, thus beginning a long and successful career as “The Iowa Music Publisher.”

Barnhouse accepted a position in 1890 as leader of the Burlington, Iowa Boat Club Band, and in 1892 settled permanently in Oskaloosa, Iowa, where he was hired as leader of the Knights of Pythias band. The publishing company moved with him, and for the remaining decades of his life, the C. L. Barnhouse Company flourished. In addition to Barnhouse compositions, the company’s catalog included works by leading composers of the day including Karl L. King, Fred Jewell, Russell Alexander, J. S. Taylor, W. H. Kiefer, George D. Barnard, and many more. Composer/soloist Clay Smith wrote, “Starting with no financial assistance in an environment which was anything but conducive to his artistic accomplishments, C. L. Barnhouse has done some might big things, musically.” Under his direction, the Oskaloosa band (later named the Iowa Brigade Band) became one of the finest semi-professional concert bands in the country. The publishing company which he founded continues its operation in Oskaloosa and is highly regarded as one of the premier band music publishers in the world.

Charles Lloyd Barnhouse died at the age of 64 on November 18, 1929.

Publications by C. L. Barnhouse

  • The Messenger March

    The Messenger March

    Barnhouse/arr. Susi

    Full set | Extra full score | Oversized, spiral-bound score | MP3 Download

    Grade: 3

    026-4914-00More Info This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
    026-4914-00
  • Record Breaker

    Record Breaker

    Galop

    Barnhouse/arr. Glover

    Full set | Extra full score | Oversized, spiral-bound score | MP3 Download

    Grade: 2.5

    011-4865-00More Info This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
    011-4865-00
  • Philomena

    Philomena

    Waltzes

    Barnhouse

    Expanded, 21st century concert band instrumentation

    Full set | Extra full score

    Grade: 2

    013-3952-00More Info This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
    013-3952-00
  • Adeste Fideles

    Adeste Fideles

    Barnhouse

    Trumpet solo with piano accompaniment

    Grade: 2.5

    080-0100-24More Info
    080-0100-24
  • Adeste Fideles

    Adeste Fideles

    Barnhouse

    Trumpet duet with piano accompaniment

    Grade: 2.5

    090-0100-24More Info
    090-0100-24
  • Adeste Fidelis

    Adeste Fidelis

    Barnhouse

    Full set

    016-0296-00More Info
    016-0296-00
  • America Invincible

    America Invincible

    Fantasia

    Barnhouse

    Trumpet solo with piano accompaniment

    080-6066-24More Info
    080-6066-24
  • America Invincible

    America Invincible

    Fantasia

    Barnhouse

    Trumpet duet with piano accompaniment

    Grade: 4

    090-6066-24More Info
    090-6066-24
  • Among the Roses

    Among the Roses

    Waltz

    Barnhouse/arr. von Lenz

    Full set

    016-0050-00More Info
    016-0050-00
  • The Argonauts

    The Argonauts

    A Musical Legend

    Barnhouse

    Full set

    016-0248-00More Info
    016-0248-00
  • The Argonauts

    The Argonauts

    A Musical Legend

    Barnhouse

    1920 edition

    Trumpet solo with piano accompaniment

    Grade: 3

    080-0045-24More Info
    080-0045-24
  • The Argonauts

    The Argonauts

    A Musical Legend

    Barnhouse

    Trumpet duet with piano accompaniment

    Grade: 4

    090-0045-24More Info
    090-0045-24
  • Argumentation

    Argumentation

    Barnhouse

    Trumpet duet with piano accompaniment

    Grade: 4

    090-0102-24More Info
    090-0102-24
  • Argumentation

    Argumentation

    Barnhouse

    Eb Alto and Bb Tenor Saxophone duet with piano accompaniment

    Grade: 4

    092-0102-51More Info
    092-0102-51
  • Argumentation

    Argumentation

    Barnhouse

    Baritone B.C. duet with piano accompaniment

    Grade: 4

    092-0102-38More Info
    092-0102-38
  • Argumentation

    Argumentation

    Barnhouse

    Cornet and Baritone duet with piano accompaniment

    Grade: 4

    092-0102-24More Info
    092-0102-24
  • Argumentation

    Argumentation

    Barnhouse

    Full set

    Grade: 3.5

    013-0968-00More Info
    013-0968-00
  • Argumentation

    Argumentation

    Barnhouse

    Trumpet solo with piano accompaniment

    Grade: 4

    080-0102-24More Info
    080-0102-24
  • Argumentation

    Argumentation

    Barnhouse

    Eb Alto Saxophone solo with piano accompaniment

    Grade: 4

    082-0102-20More Info
    082-0102-20
  • Argumentation

    Argumentation

    Barnhouse

    Bb Tenor Saxophone solo with piano accompaniment

    Grade: 4

    082-0102-22More Info
    082-0102-22
  • Argumentation

    Argumentation

    Barnhouse

    Baritone B.C. solo with piano accompaniment

    Grade: 4

    082-0102-38More Info
    082-0102-38
  • Autumn Colors

    Autumn Colors

    Barnhouse

    Trombone/Baritone B.C. solo with piano accompaniment

    Grade: 4

    080-0008-33More Info
    080-0008-33
  • Autumn Colors

    Autumn Colors

    Barnhouse

    Trumpet/Baritone T.C. solo with piano accompaniment

    Grade: 4

    080-0008-99More Info
    080-0008-99
  • Barbarossa

    Barbarossa

    Air Varie

    Barnhouse/arr. Buchtel

    1935 edition

    Tuba solo with piano accompaniment

    Grade: 3

    083-0071-39More Info
    083-0071-39
  • Barnhouse's Book of Cornet Duets

    Barnhouse’s Book of Cornet Duets

    Barnhouse

    1st & 2nd Cornets

    090-7071-24More Info
    090-7071-24