Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1896-07-18
TWO GREAT EUROPEAN BANDS.
Those Of the Grcnndier Guards and Of the
Gards Republicaine.

Those Of the Grcnndier Guards and Of the
Garde Republicaine.
The two leading bands of Europe
today, which met in honorable RI
valry at the French exhibition in
London during the 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 M. Wettge. Both are
composed of picked men, artists who
have served long apprenticeship
in other bands previous to being
honored and gratified by being call
ed to Join these. And when upon
state occasions, such as the trooping
Of the colors on the queen birth.
day, the guards bands of the Grena-
liers, Coldstreams and Scots Fusil-
GERS are massed together for com.
bined effort, or the full complement
of the Garde Republioaine is pour
ing forth glorious melody under the
trees of Paris great parks and gar
dens, one can fully understand how
it comes to pass that their fame has
extended so widely.
Our American orchestra conduct
cd by Mr.. Sousa is avowedly an imi-
tation of 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.
ed in uniform in America since the
days of lS12-16. Questions were ask
ed in parliament as to the advisable
ity of the step, and 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 sover.
eign, Victoria could have done us no
greater honor than to send to us,
clad in bearskin and resplendent
scarlet and gold, her favorite musi.
clans.
Before dwelling on the Godfreys
and the guards, two names insepa-
rably associated in the history of
military music, allow mo to quote
from a Boston paper for June 10,
1872, concerning this we'll remem-
bered visit to our shores:
1.-THE greatest sensation of the
day and of the occasion was reserv-
ed, however, for the Grenadier
guards banda sensation which
had a most substantial basis in sound
musical Judgment. The appearance
of tho 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 it's 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 signalel his men to
play "The Star Spangled Banner"
still lives in the recollection Of Bos-
tonians who were fortunate enough
to he present. 1t literally beggared
description. The popular enthu-
siasm of thousands in the audience
was sustained by the rare zest of tho
foreign orchestra, and amid hurri-
cane of applause Mr.. Godfrey's band
accomplished more for the cement
Ing of good fooling between two great
nations than many q tedious period
of diplomacy has done. The palm
Of supremacy was unanimously
awarded to the English band. 1T
was the triumph of my life," said
Mr.. Godfrey to mo 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.
-CAautauquan: