National Republican., 1875-09-13
THE MARINE BAND.
Opinions Of Philosophsr-Two Sides to a
QueRtion,


Question.
To the Editor nf the NdtsondI Repu6Icdn:
SIR: Disparagement, no less than eulogy, has
in 1t the merit Of directing attraction to the thing
criticised, and indeed, is no less eectual 10 giving
prominence to scheme, an undertaking, or q
performance, as an advertisement than the most
fulsome and laudatory phrases. More especially
VIII the object be rendered prominent if dispar-
agement and eulogy alternate in their endeavors
quite so If both are wholesale-and 1t is just in
this decidedly peculiar position, the object equally
ofinvective and applause, the Marine ba,d finds
itself at this juncture.
The natural distraction Of the public following
such conflicting statements illustrates the advan-
tage Of antagonistic criticism by the provocation
Of curiosity-a curiosity to see, hear and deter
mine, If such be possible, whether that Orgsnizs-
tion be badly exceIently led, its pieces we'll or
Ill performed, and discord or harmony the result,
Hitherto all efforts at criticism have been directed
at the Marine band as an object, the action of
which was clearly understood, and required no
particular merit of the observer to pronounce
upon. It has been to some extent amusing to OBJ
serve the admission on the part Of the condemna-
tory party that there were q lew good performers
in that body; and on the other that there might
possibly be a mediocre, but scarcely bad one.
The style of music too, Is set forth In the most
confusing way as altogether Wretched to-day, and
altogether beyond praise to morrow; these, too,
by observers whose abilities, taste opportunities
and Judgment are about the same as art critics,
and whose intentions are thoroughly coRscien-
tious. ManifestIy one Of these diametrical state
ments is incorrect, and perhaps the Marine band
and its productions are not SO alarmingly easy Of
comprehension.
Actuated by the curiosity growing out Of the
contradictory histories of this puolic body, the
writer, ior the first time, lately attended one OF
CURED to him was the decided unsuitability of the
Presidents grounds-not for the band to play, but
for the auditor to hear, and the logical effect Of
hearing nrOluCiQR biased Judgment.
bad, uncertain Judgment. To LOOK at the body OF
performers, (crammed so closely as to rese BILE In
their poster ior continuity iganttc scarlet grdle)
and observe the motions OF the leader, lt was
clear that the band was playing. The sight only
was gratited, for with the exception OF an occa-
sional boom OF the ss-drum, listened for as the
arm Of the drummer swept downward through
the air, no sound, or very imperfect sounds, sa-
luted the anxious ear. A change of position of
the listener gave different result, but hardly
better one, Tor another piece having been CON-
menced, delightful little gem Of a polka, the
reduced number Of instruments taking part In
what was almost a solo, again rendered hardly
audible the tones Of the band. Too close was
quite bad dpartcularly in the nnale te the over
ture to Tell, well-performed so far as the eXecu-
tion of the band went, but becoming noise merely
when the listener stood where he could thoroughly
appreciaIe the softened effects Of the previous
piece There was no happy mean, noJust balapce
of position, and as this, upon questioning differ
ent and informed listeners present, was the eXpe-
rience of themselves and their friends 1t followed
that the artist and critic stood unfairly to each
other, and illustrated that clearly, in this direc-
tion the Marine band is not understood.
Something in acoustics seems to be the remedy
seem to be- because one examination of a SUBJ
ject much canyassed, and that necessarily not q
heightened one, is inadequate TO support the rea-
OF SO great difference of opinion. The differ
ence in ears as to hneness, is not to be measured
by the ordinary standards, because their appear
ances are similar. But these differences not
at ali wonderful when the physiology of hearing
is taken into account. The auditory nerve, on
which hearing depends, is distributed in such
miraculous manner s only its function could pre-
faw n a nUa r in he
rangement and distribution of the wonderfully
delicate and countless hbres of this nerve make or
unmake appreciation OF certain sounds. This
is easily illustrated by every ones acquaintance
with some one who cannot catch or acquire the
pronunciation Of certain words-invariably miss
calling them after repeated corrections such peo-
pie catch the sound Of the word without its sense.
This is precisely the case in harmony; one hears
1t, but he does not pronounce it properly, SO to
speak; in other words he does not interpret ap-
precate IT, although the acuteness Of his hearing
may surpass that of many. This is one principle
of acoustics in a subjective form.
Is there not sOmthing wanting, some distribu-
tor Of sound. to send the notes to the listeners,
project to the thousands Of tympani on the ground
10 enable them to auScuH the orchestra If such
some twenty or more feet above the heads of the
performers, widely opened, with just enough slope
TO affect the water-level and promote the drain
age of rain tend to such Distribution?
And would not q rearrangement of the space,
by enlarging the arena so that the music makers
would be packed littleless like figs, and the
projecting end of the flute would not so often in
Tade the ear of the neighbor on the right, or en-
tangle itself somewhere in the bowels, or among
the serpentine folds of the adjacent cornet2
Alterations such as these will tend to comfort
as to space and weather. Comfort in its turn
conduces to effort, and effort here, properly ap-
piled, means good music. That this band can
make its harmonic effects equal to any Of the best
military bands OF its numbers in the country must
be allowed. IL Is not essential to Judge of music
that he should play, any more than IL is to
Judge of painting that he should paint, or to be
well dressed one should be tailor. The true
criticism of harmony does not depend on any &C
CURED taste nor can study improve or perfect 1t.
1t depends upon peculiar want of interpreta-
tion Of groups Of sounds, generally rendering them
noise, and depending on q non-defective pecu-
narity Of the arrangement or distribution Of the
delicate fbres of the auditory nerve. 1t is almost
always inherited, cannot be acquired lost, and,
therefore, is not entitled to be matter Of boast
on the part Of its possessor, any more than acute
ness OF vision, power Of memory or ability for men,
tai calculation.
On these grounds, therefore, the unfair position
Of the band, the faulty distribution of the waves
of sound, and the differently constituted auditory
apparatuses Of hearers, may we account for the
opposing statements-albeit conscientious of diff
feTent listeners-and If we can see any common
sense or righteousness In them, may we not ask
ourselves, does the band deserve such harsh criti
cism in any case? FAIR PLAY.