Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-01-19
THE REHEARSAL.

tricts to give the band yearly benefit. A
rehearsal is held once or twice a week in
room hired for that purpose, and after
few weeks of practice the country band is
able to play the Star Spangled Banner
and a few other popular airs to the delight
of the citizens, who, in the majority of
cases, know nothing about music from q
classical standpoint, but who appreciate the
discord because of it's patriotic intent. The
instruments used in the country band are
usually bought ut secondhand from deal
err in these instruments who has taken
them in exchange The price paid is from
$40 to $15 for each instrument. A really
good brass horn of any character is worth
$50. A brass horn is q good deal like pi-
ano-it never wears out.
"A country band is an institution in the
village. 1t is regarded in much the same
manner as IL church. 1t would be difficult
to find II village in the country where there
is no church: SO it is with the band. In each
OF these villages there is liable to be a pub
lie spirited man who has slight knowledge
of music. He starts the idea of procuring
a band, works up some enthusiasm on the
subject, and a collection is taken up and
money enough procured to purchase the
instruments, the uniforms being matter
which is attented to later.
Bu: Bands Have Trouble.
1.-The next thing is to get q leader. The
address Of q man is found by consulting
the musical journals who has some knowl-
edge of brass music He may be carpenter
or even shoemaker, but he fills the want.
He engages himself for a small salary to
lead the band and is given a position in the
village MS clark or schoolteacher or in some
avocation which gives him a small salary.
This, together with the money received for
services as a musician. enables him to live
in a comparative degree of comfort. He be
gins his instruction by teaching the young
men who constitute the band number of
easy pieces written especially for beginners.
This is not the method employed in giving
a fundamental idea of music, but it is nee
cssary in these cases, because young man
won't remain in the band long unless after
a few weeks practice he can play what
he calls a piece
After the band has been organized he
continued, "for Il year the country town
will hold what is called u band tournament.
This is usually held in COMMISSION with the
yearly agricultural fair. The bands from
all the towns and villages, sometimes to
the number of 20 or 30, will assemble In
n single day, and the air will inevita.
bly be filed with the most torturing dis
rorls. Prizes ranging from 500 down are
,ffered. and a skilled musician is sent for
tn decide on the merits of the SO called mu-
sic I have myself received as much as
800 a day to act rs the arbitrator. AT 9TH
cr times three or four well known band IN
strument makers act as judges without
nav They tlcre not refuse to act because
of the fear Of losing custom. As in nearly
everv case where bodies of mcs are gath.
cred together for any purpose, jealousies
arise in the bands. The first cornet gets
Inc i,lea into his head that he is better fit
tcri TO lead the band than the man who has
becn imported for that purpose, the result
beinu that the leader is usually displaced
and the first cornetist takes his place.
AT the end of the year the band has be-
come worth enough money to purchaseuni-
forms. These cost about SIS each. Probably
the finest outfit owned by any amateur
brass band is that Of the Elgin Watch Facto-
re band. Their uniforms ara now for: sale.
because the band has disbanded. The uni
forms are valued at $50 each They are
made of blue cloth trimmed with gold.
rhe complete outfit is worth $4,000"
The Greatest Discora.
"Vhere did you hear the greatest discord
,,ade bv an amateur band." said |.
"The most fearful noise it has ever been
nv misery to listen to WAS that made by
an Indian band on the Puyallup agency IN
washington. They serenaded me with
- ;stokan zeal and kindness. The band
sssSrrr Is q native Iunian, ana every man IN
tie organization is of the same race. The
curious thing about this band, however. -