The Washington times., 1895-03-25
MARINE BAND OFF TO DIXIE
FanciaiIi aud His Fifty to Conquer
the South with Music.
Hardly Southern State but viii be Visited
by Them Before They Return
To Washington.

With FURNISHED Instruments glistening
in the last lingering rays of the setting
sun. their spotless blue uniforms and red
lined capeS giving an appearance ofsummer
festivity 10 the scene, the United States
Marine Band half a hundred strong, started
down the river yesterday evening on the
steamer Washington 10 begin their tour
OF the South. 1t will be six weeks before the
members OF the famous organization again
behold She familiar landmarks OF the
Nations Capital.
The trip is under the direction of Mr.. j M
Bankinship, and VIII embrace Norfolk,
where the band gives it's first performance,
Richmond, Roanoke, Danville, Greensboro
Raleigh, Wilmington, Augusta, Charleston,
Savannah. Columbia, Macon, Rome, Nash
vile. Huntsville, Birmingham, Montgomery
Pensacola, Mobile, New Orleans, and the
principal cities of Texas, and will return
via Memphis, Louisville, and Lexington.
The Marine Band is being booked"
with great enthusiasm, and as it is playing
better music now than il ever did before
Mr.. Bankinship thinks that they will own
the South before they get back.
The men have all looked forward to
the trip with great eagerness, as il will
not only give them an opportunity TO
enjoy the hospitality for which the
South is famed, bat viii be sort OF holiday
trip, full of interest for all of them. Every
face wore a happy smile, and the Tousing
cheer from the crowd on the wharf, who
had come down to see the men Off, was
answered with interest by the members
OF the band from the boat.
The band has been rehearsing steadily
fpr hos
classic and popular Numbers to its roper
tory. Prof. Fanciuili has judiciously
mixed tile popular with the classic in the
several programmes he has arranged, and
has prepared, especially for this tour, a
grand patrol, composed OF six or eight of
the most popular Southern airs, and ending
with a grand burst of Dixie"
Miss Carrie Roma, a graduate of the
Boston Conservatory of Music, accompanies
the band as vocal soloist, and her presence
VIII doubtless increase the favorable inn
preston they VIII leave in the South. Her
singing is excellent and she has won o
considerable reputation in California and
| along the Pacific Coast, where she has
been until recently.
Prof. Fancuilli said yesterday: I'VE
are going to paint the South crimson,
not only with our red coats, but with our
music. We VIII give the SouthernerS all
the music they want, and it viii be OF the
highest class. The band has never been
in better condition musicslly and other
wise, and We all have perfect confidence
in the success of the trip. We are going
to intersperSe with classic music the
cream of popular airs, and one number in
| particular, which i have prepared es-
| pecially for this trip, THE Grand Patrol
| of Southern airs, is sure to catch them.
This is the first Southern tour the
band has ever made, and is the first of such
| length made by me since / have been
1 connected with the organization, so / am
| looking forward to the trip with as much
! interest as the men,
There is no doubt that the people OF the
! South are as anxious to see and hear the
Marine Band as the men of that organiZa-
! ton are to play for them. Already offers
/ have been received for nearly fifty stands,
enough, it would seem, to keep the men
! pretty busy. They are well represented
| in advance, and viii be thoroughly adyer.
tised along the route.
On their return TO Washington they Will
| give grand concert, probably at Conven'
! tion Hail. when Washingtonians VIII be
! given a chance to show their interest III
! the band and welcome the men back home.