Alexander Owen (29 April 1851 – 29 July 1920) was an English brass band conductor, arranger and

cornet The cornet (, ) is a brass instrument similar to the trumpet but distinguished from it by its conical bore, more compact shape, and mellower tone quality. The most common cornet is a transposing instrument in B, though there is also a sopr ...

player. It was said that he "bestrode the banding world for over 50 years.""The Top 10 Most Successful MD’s at the Open: Alexander Owen", ''4Barsrest.com''
Retrieved 5 April 2017 Owen was born in Manchester, and grew up in an orphanage in Swinton. He learned to play the cornet, and by the age of 16 had become principal cornet player and conductor of the

Stalybridge Stalybridge () is a town in Tameside, Greater Manchester, England, with a population of 23,731 at the 2011 Census. Historic counties of England, Historically divided between Cheshire and Lancashire, it is east of Manchester city centre and no ...

Old Band. By 1875 he was regarded as the best cornet player in the country, and joined the Meltham & Meltham Mills Band, leading them to three consecutive wins at the British Open brass band championships between 1876 and 1878. The following year, he joined the Black Dyke Mills Band as professional conductor, again winning the Open championships with the band in 1880 and 1881. "Owen, Alexander", ''Besses.co.uk''
Retrieved 5 April 2017 Although he remained involved with the Black Dyke Mills Band until 1888, he also became involved with the

Besses o' th' Barn Band Besses o' th' Barn Band is an English brass band that has been in existence in the Besses o' th' Barn area of Whitefield, Greater Manchester since at least 1818. A junior section, Besses Boys' Band, was established in 1943. Origins Besses o' th ...

, working on new arrangements of works by

Rossini Gioachino Antonio Rossini (29 February 1792 – 13 November 1868) was an Italian composer who gained fame for his 39 operas, although he also wrote many songs, some chamber music and piano pieces, and some sacred music. He set new standards f ...

and Beethoven that allowed them to win further national championships over the next decade. In 1903, Owen conducted 7 of the 21 bands at the national championships, gaining first prize with the Besses o' th' Barn Band and second place with the Rushden Temperance Band. In 1906, Owen led the Besses o' th' Barn Band on an international tour that took them to the U.S., Canada, Fiji, New Zealand, Australia and South Africa, touring with them again between 1909 and 1911. He continued to perform with various bands until 1919. Owen died in Chorlton-on-Medlock, Manchester, Lancashire, in 1920.

References

1851 births 1920 deaths Brass bands {{England-musician-stub