February 2023 Composer of the Month – Justin Holland

For Black History Month, we’re exploring one of the earliest American guitar virtuosos — Justin Holland. Holland built a steady musical career as an arranger, composer, and performer, all before the turn of the Civil War.

Many people say Holland was one of the most important guitarists of his generation, avidly endorsing Christian Frederick Martin, who built and distributed the ever-popular Martin Guitars.
Justin Holland’s Personal Life

Holland was raised in Norfolk County, Virginia, and was the son of a farmer. When he was young, he showed a clear talent for music, even though there were few musical opportunities in his area. Luckily, he attended church, where he was able to hone in on his musical abilities.

Holland moved to Boston after his parents passed away when he was 14, though ended up staying in Chelsea, Massachusetts for a few years. It was here that he met Spanish musician and guitarist, Mariana Perez, who taught Holland how to play the guitar.

Perez ended up being one of Holland’s most prominent musical influences, alongside Simon Knabel, who was one of the members of the Ned Kendall’s Brass Band, and William Schubert.

Holland noted that Schubert was a “brilliant” guitarist and performer, helping him make tons of progress on his instrument.

Because Holland was young and did not have the support of his parents any longer, he worked for many years as a laborer while perfecting his craft.

When he was 20 years old, he attended Oberlin College in Ohio, staying there for two years before traveling to Mexico to learn Spanish, as well as more about the Spanish guitar methods. It was during this time that Solomon Northrup, a fellow musician and fiddle player, was abducted by slave traders while in Washington D.C. Northrup was the man who wrote about his 12 years in bondage in Twelve Years a Slave.

In 1845, he returned to Oberlin and got married, becoming the “first black professional” in Cleveland.

He taught guitar lessons in Cleveland, seeing high demand for his services. During this time, he also wrote 20 pieces, including Flowers of Melody, Bouquet of Melodies, Gems for the Guitar, and Winter Evenings, all of which became nationally known. Beyond that, he arranged 30 duos for guitar and violin, as well as 30 duos for guitars.

Holland was very conservative in his approach to teaching, gathering a lot of influences and traditional techniques from European guitar masters. He later compiled his teachings into books, including Modern Method for the Guitar (1874) and Comprehensive Method for the Guitar (1876).

Beyond his time as a musician, teacher, composer, and arranger, he was very involved in the American Civil Rights movement. He helped many African Americans throughout the Underground Railroad and corresponded with European masonry groups for recognition and support.

Holland was eventually appointed assistant secretary to the National Negro Convention in 1848. He believed in emigration, similar to his colleague Frederick Douglass, which is why he relocated his family to the West Indies after Haiti offered assistance in 1858. However, after not finding many opportunities for himself in Haiti, he returned to Cleveland.

Holland passed away in 1887, achieving a remarkable measure of success in his short time on earth. His legacy was stamped on civil rights advancements and the development of American guitar playing.

The Influence of Justin Holland’s Music

While it was his playing that garnered him plenty of attention during his lifetime, it was his writing that helped him stand the test of time. After publishing Holland’s Method in 1876, which was the very first and one of the finest guitar instruction methods published during the nineteenth century, he solidified his place as one of the American greats.

Notable Facts

Holland was accepted into Oberlin after the college’s decision to allow African American students to attend in 1835. This was thanks to Asa Mahan, a renowned social reformer and clergyman who became the first president of the institution, arguing strenuously in favor of equal education for all.
Holland showed considerable talent at the young age of eight. He used a small book of verses as a foundation on which to write accompaniments for.
Holland’s set of Scraps from the Operas Arranged For Two Guitars became some of the biggest hits in the mid-1800s.