Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1885-06-14
MUSIC IN WASHINGTON.
The. American Capital as a Musical
City.
Musical Events There---Some Prominent
observation-disclosures Sousa, DR..
Bischoff, the Blind Organ
list, Miss Eva Mills,
Vocalist.

Social Correspondence Of the Sunday Register.
WASHINGTON, June l3.-The resewal OF
the Marine Band concerts on the White
House grounds with an attendance Of thou
sands Of people every Saturday, suggests
SOM remarks about the band and the peo-
PIE who 90 to hear it, also about other re-
mnrLsble musical people in this city. Wash
ington is quite a musical city, and has
among its people some Of marked promi-
nence in q musical way. People Of note they
may be called, and they are, too, IN many
particulars. There are numerous reasons
for this. Washington is q beautiful city IN
which to live, and q musical composer is
quite as likely to become inspired here as
anywhere, while be is much more likely to
be comfortable at the same time, but this Is
neither the only nor the principal reason.
There are q good many people OF musical
taste in the city, men and women, who have
time not only to cultivate it in themselves
bat in others as well. So there are some
excellent musicians here in all Lines, and
some organizations Of which none need be
at all ashamed. And it is easy then to I'M
derstand why the Marine Band can draw
thousands Of people to the White House
grounds every Saturday afternoon.
Take this Marine Band for instance. 1t
is composed Of some 10 of the best must
clans to be found in this part Of the country:
Its leader, Mr.. j. P. Souss, has not his equal
this side OF New York, and no more than
one or two there can be said to surpsss him.
Indeed it is generally believed BY those who
make q study of this subject that only one
military band of the country, Gllmores, can
compare with it. Gilmore's is OF course a
much larger band, as is the case with many
of the other bands Of the country. But it
not on the size of his band that Mr.. Sousa
prides himself. His band is a small one,
only SO pieces, but its work is not exceiled
in it's approach to perfection by any. MIR.
Souss has been the leader of the Marine
Band for some FIVE years. Under his leader
chip the band has attained greater reputa-
ton than it ever before enjoyed. He is q
thorough student OF music, having made 1t
a lifelong study. Besides the leadership and
general direction Of the Marine Band he
finds time to do a great deal OF musical
composition. He has written four operas,
"Destree," "SmugglarS," Katharine" and
Queen of Hears" the latter intended es.
pecially for children. He is now engaged
on his most ambitious work, an oratorio to
&c called The Diciples' and to be founded
en- the Instructions Of Christ to his diciples
and their subsequent experiences as detailed
in the scriptures. He has also produced a
large number of musical compositions for
the use of the Marine Band and for instru.
mental use, the number thus produced aud
published by him reaching more than one
hundred. Mr.. Sousa besides being athorough
! student of music had the advantage in ear
her years Of p~aternsl advice in this paricu-
lar line of work, his father having been for
many years q member of the Marine Band.