The New York herald., 1874-07-20
BR ASS DIS.
Military Music in the
Metropolis.
The aesthetics Of Blowers and IdioSyn-
craSies Of Itinerant TOOterS.
THE PLAGUE OF The WANDERING HORNISTS

to some thing Ike respectable standard. For q
long time our military bands were in o state OF
lnefficency that would be considered disgrace In
the smallest German duchy, and there was little
difference between "St. Patrick's Day'' and the
National Guard Grand March, as far as the play
ing was concerned. Now that lew OF the regl-
ments Of our National Guard have taken up the
subject in proper spirit OF libera!ity and earnest
ness, 1t may be hoped that In short time New
York can boast OF a military band equal to any OF
the renowned organizations OF Europe. The Sew
enth, Ninth and Twenty-second regiments are
foremost In this enterprise, and the bands Of
Grafulla, Downing and Gilmore, have already ac-
quired distinction In musical circles. The time
hon0red organization OF DOdworth. which may be
regarded as the;parent Of our present bands. also
holds high place In the affections OF the visitors
to the Park. TIE principal obstacle in the path Of
improvement In this line has been and is at the
present time the pernlciOus system OF substitutes.
As long as bandmasters ore at the mercy OF the
rules OF the Musical Protective Union, which eec-
tually emancipates member from all allegiance
to employers, and permits him to violate an en-
Ragement at his own pleasure no hopes can be
entertained OF having an efficient military band In
this CRY. 1t IS not unusual to have dozen sub.
stitutes at concert although they may never
have played any Of the works on the programme
who may be innocent OF knowledge OF all music
above the "Mulligan Guards' standard In
Europe the members of military
band are usually enlisted soldiers, and as
they have abundant practice together it is not
surprising that they acquire that delcacy OF ex-
preston and precision of tone that nothing but
experience can give. This Is the secret OF the
greatness Of Thomas orchestra. In that Organl-
cation there Is no such word as substitute. When
the leaders OF military bands here equally for
tunate IN expunging such an offensive feature,
then it is time enough to speak OF progress anu
discipline.
MILITARY MUSIC IN EUROPE.
In Europe military music Is cultivated to the
highest degree OF perfection A regiment is as
proud OF its band as OF Its coors. and when
friendly contest is held and prizes are offered
the excltement IN the public mind is most
intense. The French bands. as a general rule,
rank the first, as might be expected from
the countrymen OF Hector Berlloz, in whom the
"lnstlnct OF instrumental effects" was so marvel
ious. The Belgian bands are 80 closely allied to
the French that they are often placed ON the same
wO ID wide renOWn, being principally recruited
from Bonemia and Hungary, countries of eminent
those of the Royal Artillery. at Wooiwich; the
Coldstreams, tue Grenaaier Guards and the Fu-
sileers, are also famous IN the world of military
music the influence OF The brothers Godfrey tend
ing considerably toward such an end. The Ger
man bands are too fond o. grand crashes and noise
generally TO be cassed with those OF the countries
we have just named. Even the well known Vie
precnt in his arrangements OF band music, catered
too much TO this inartistic spirit.
INFLUENCE OF MILITARY MUSIC
The influence OF military music on soldiers
mind cannot be 0veresumated. Who does not
played BY military band previous to or pending
an engagement An eminent writer says
"fnere Is no ieellng implanted in mans nature
ana winch so VeriSaDly deserves the name Of in
stlnct as love or music 10 tae soldier especial
ly ia time OF war, It is grateful beyond measure.
distant chimes 1t snatches HIM to his hOme and in
the hour Of battle it incites him to courage and
1t has been the soldiers companion and aid from
time immemoria The trumpet and CLARION OF
Casar's armies and the nute drum and cymbal OF
the Egyptians, Arablans and ancient TeutOns,
even tue rude instruments Of Oriental nations
were all designed for the same end-tO inspire the
soidler. When our government bestows q share
OF its attention on this beneficial addendum to
military improvement the results will outweigh
the expense and trouble. Those who attended the
Boston jubilee two ears ago Will not forget the
humiliation endured wnen representative Ameri.
can band was heard in presence OF those grand
specimens sent oyer from Europe: The high, ar.
tislc training OF the Garde Republicaine Band, OF
Paris, aud velvety soitness OF tone OF Godfrey's
men, from London. could and no adequate parallel
here. Since that time the progress In military
music has been going on steadily. aid when the
substitute nuisance Is abolished more rapid I'm
prOVemcnb may De expected.
BRASS BANDS VIEWED FROM VARIOUS sTANDPOINTs.
In the Park, Dodworth every Saturday attracts
hundreds Of citizens glad to get away from the
dust and turmoil OF the city to that beautiful sum-
mer retreat to least on sweet strains and pocket
ful OF peanuts, candies or oranges. When q visit
ing regiment Is 20 be received. or the Governor
taxes a run down to the city to inspect his boys
from the armories the brass band is the cynosure OF
all eyes the delight OF the girls and the envy small
Guards" or the ''Ueatlemen's Sons'' on their Way
to shoot the traditional hat without the inspr-
ing strains OF the horn blowerss Not even the son
OF sunny AIrica who bears aoft the target tucks
under his arm the mysterious bucket, could give
days enjoyment TO these children OF Mars, were 1t
not for the brass band. When at the picnic, where
fair women and brave men dine on the
grass and lager beer and ham sandwiches appease
the raging appetite, where squallng children
get into all Sorts OIL scrapes, and gentlemen with
died mustaches and craped hats endeavor to ex.
plain to the unwary the Whereabouts OF the little
tooters are guardian angels and peace regns
around them, except when there Is trouble about
ayment or Fourth ward sculptor offers to put
head on them.
THE PLAGUE OF THE WANDERING HoRN1srs.
But there Is one feature OF the brass band which
belongs to the genus nuisance. At early morn and
dewy eve bands, each consisting OF five exies
from Mecklenburg-Schwerin or SAKE -COburg. .GOtha,
may be seen on some OF our principal thorough.
tntrenchments IN front OF an In0f1ensive citzen's
house, consisting OF rusty music stands, plant
their siege artlery-dilapidated instruments, with
weather-beaten tubes on which, to Judge from ap-
pearances, they occasionally sit down-and open
fre. The instruments are never in tune, and there
Is an independent style OF playing INDUCED in oy
the individual members OF this band that produces
Jrightui results. Among the numerous causes ad-
duted for the prevalence OF hydrophoba TINS should
not be lightly passed over. The laws OF the State
are severe against homicide else the existence Of
such quintet would not be worth days span
The body OF tone Is feeble and uncertain In the
morning, owing 10 the want OF breakfast and con-
sequenS absence OF lung power; but when they
emerge from lager beer saloon aud commence to
blow a.waltz general stampede sometimes takes
place In that nelghbornood alarming policemen
and causing cry OF "Ftre ~ TO be raised. In the
winter they may be known by their huge mufiiers
old country mttens and cowhide boots, and In
GUNNER their homespun suits and greasy hats
1fnS attract attention. But before the below OF
their no,ns the Modoc yell OF the mkman or the
csdenza or the nsh vender become dulcet strains.
Alderman M0fTiS would earn the thanks OF the
community BY opestng new pound for the espe-
cial benefit Of thQse wandering hornists. "OIt In
Q Silly night" when f6slpG couple arrive at
street corner they are afm6N e!gced to uncon,
scOusness, when an unexpected bldSs rom one OF
those horns meets them at short range. some.
thing should be done TO remove this plague. a
vigilance committee would now be IN Order.''A
OUR CRACK BANDS.
nhn v,1o NJ hon to Arc< cvntA