The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1896-07-23
TWO GREAT EUROPEAN BANDS.
Those of the Grenadier Guards and of the
Garde RenubIicaine

TWO GREAT EUROPEAN BANDS.
Those of the Grenadier Guards and of the
Garde RepubIicaine.
The two leading bands Of Europe
today, which met in honorable ri
yalry at the French exhibition in
London during tho summer and fall
OF 1890. are those of the Grenadier
guards of England, conducted by
the world famed bandmaster, the
hon. Lieutenant Dan Godfrey, and
the Garde Republicaine of France,
conducted By NJ. Wettge. Both are
composed of picked men, artists who
have served long apprenticeship
IN other bands previous to being
honored and gratifed by being call
eel to join these land when upon
state occasions, such as the trooping
or the colors ON the queens birth
day, the guards bands of the Grena.
diers, Coldstreams and Scots Fusil-
GERS are massed together for COM
bined effort, or the full complement
OF the Gardel Republicaine is pour
ing forth glorious melody under the
trees of Paris great parks and gar
dens, one can fully understand how
1t comes to pass that their fame has
extended so widely. 6seW hlo
Our American orchestra conduct
ed by Mr.. Sousa is axowedly an ini-
tation os the great French band.
Lieutenant Godfrey brought his
band to the grand international mu-
steal festival held in Boston during
the year 1872. This was the first
time an English soldier had appear
cd in uniform in America since the
days of 1s12-1e. Questions were ask
ed in parliament as to the advisable
ity OF the step, and a special act by
that august body was necessary to
enable the band to leave the coun-
try. Belonging, as it does, to the
personal establishment Of the soyer.
eign, Victoria could have done us no
greater honor than to send to us,
clad in bearskin and Respondent
scarlet and gold, her favorite must
clans.
Before dwelling on the Godfreys
and the guards, two names insepa-
rably associated in the history of
military music, allow me to quote
from Boston paper for June 10,
1872, concerning this well remem-
bered visit to our shores:
u"The greatest sensation of the
day and of the occasion was reserv-
ed, however, for the Grenadier
guards banda sensation which
had most substantial basis in sound
musical judgment. The appearance
of the band in its really splendid and
elegant uniform was quite enough
of itself to fire the popular heart and
to account, with the added consid-
GRAFTON of hospitable friendliness of
feeling, for its welcome. But long
before it had finished its opening
overture it was felt that no such
military band had ever been heard
in the United States.
/ forbear to quote moro. Doubt
less the memorable scene when Mr..
Dan Godfrey signaled his men to
play "The Star Spangled Banner"
still lives in the recollection of Bos-
tonians who were fortunate enough
to be present. It literally beggared
description. The popular enthu-
siasm of thousands in the audience
was sustained by the rare zest of the
foreign orchestra, and amid a hurri-
cane of applause Mr.. Godfrey s band
accomplished more for the cement
ing of good feeling between two great
nations than many a tedious period
of diplomacy has done. The palm
of supremacy was unanimously
awarded to the English band. TT
was the triumph of my life, " said
Mr.. Godfrey to me this summer,
land often play your national
hymn at my al fresco concerts dur
ing the season. My remembrance of
America is of the kindliest nature. {"