Vincent Bach

He was born as Vincent Freiherr von Schrottenbach in Baden bei Wien[1] near Vienna, Austria.

That was followed by a period as an elevator operator before being called up a second time during which he served as a military musician in the Austrian Marine Band.

Vincent Schrottenbach toured Europe performing on an Alexander cornet, but while in England in 1914 became entangled in the politics of World War I finding it necessary to escape confinement as an enemy alien.

[4] During his first 3 years in the US, Bach pursued many musical ventures including composing solos, recording on the Edison label, writing a short pamphlet version of his later The Art of Trumpet Playing and endorsing Holton instruments.

[2] Bach also realized the need for a higher quality instruments when he served as bandmaster of the 306th Field Artillery band as a result of finding himself inducted once again, this time in the American military during World War 1.

[8] The last time Vincent Bach took a job as a performer was during 1926, one year after attaining his US citizenship when he accepted one more orchestral position for only a matter of months.

[12] Two of Bach's bugles figured prominently in the funerals of US presidents: One played for John F. Kennedy, Dwight Eisenhower and Lyndon Johnson, and is on display at Arlington National Cemetery;[13] A second one played at the funeral of Ronald Reagan and was subsequently retired to the Reagan Library.