Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography/Hassler, Simon

HASSLER, Simon, musician, b. in Bavaria, 25 July, 1832. He came to this country with his parents, and settled in Philadelphia, Pa., in 1842. His father, Henry Hassler, a musician of the Mozart school, gave him his first instruction in music, and his education was continued under Keller, Wolsieffer, and Waldteuffel. In 1852 he made his first public appearance as a violinist. At about the same time his father and brother Mark established an orchestra, of which Simon became a member, and for over twenty-five years has been the leader. He has long been active as the conductor of musical concerts, and is widely known as the leader of bands and orchestras during the summer months at various seaside resorts. He is the author of numerous musical productions, including dramas, marches, waltzes, and quadrilles. He has composed music for many of the plays of Shakespeare, and a “Festival March,” which was played at the opening of the Permanent exhibition at Philadelphia in 1876.