The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-05-01
MILITARY MUSIC.
Germany's Method Of Providing Bands
For Her'TToops.
ConscdptIon Makes Easy Task That In
Other Countries Is Difficult

man capital is forcibly reminded OF the
sight accorded 10 him every morning
about 10 o'clock I'm London in the Mall
and about st. James palace. IL Is the
time OF the relief OF the guard. In Ber-
lin, as in London. there is always a
crowd attending the solders-march-
ing in front and in the rear, and a care
ful observer Will have remarked that
large percentage OF this crowd is rep
resented every day by the same per-
sons. so great is the effect produced by
the rhythmic sounds OF military music.
The visit OF the bandmaster
OF the Coldstream Guards Ia
Berlin, i'm connection with the study
of military music induced a correspon-
dent OF the London Telegraph 10 exam
inc a little closely the nature OF the
charm exercised on the population as
the guard daily swings by TO we'll
known sounds until II draws up in the
court yard OF the royal castle.
What is the object you have 60 aim
at?' | asked OF one OF the bandmasters,
a tall. handsome and burly looking sol
dier, whose broad breast bedecked with
medals. inspired respect as much as his
presence. DO not imagine" he said.
that the bardsman Is nothing but
musician ana no soldiers at ali. BY no
means ais first year with the colors is
tary training as a recruit: he has 10 so
through all the exercises and fatigues
imposed on his comrades, and must
learn everything that the rank and file
have TO learn that concerns marching
and riding. AS. however. the regimen
tai band must always be full up'-in
the infantry IL consists OF from forty
two TO forty-five men. and in the caval-
ry To twenty-four on an ayerage--lne
bandmaster is often forced to obtain
dispensation for individual men. In
the cavalry the work of the bandsmen
is often more arduous, as they are also
signal trumpeters--four or five OF them
being attached to every squadron.
What do they get as pay?" i asked.
Exactly the same as the other men
of the regiment, according to the rank
they hold. The regularly appointed
nom commissioned officers among them
usually get a so-called music allow
ance.' Some people think that the reg
imental bands are reinforced from those
recruits who happen TO have smat-
tering OF music. and that the latter are
rapidly coached up by the bandmaster.
This is not at all the case. In most
cases the men have acquired the rudi-
ments OF their musical knowledge at an
early age at home, in rough and ready
sort of way. The love of music was inn
planted in their nature and gradually
developed In their earliest youth. How
the seed is sown on the fertile soil and
how il bears fruit. depends on the state
of the parents purse. VOy often
hautboy player takes his earliest les
sons with the bandmaster of his little
native town. and is apprenticed to him
for space of four or five years, until
he becomes qualified to play in the
band. After this he may try for
place In a military or naval band, for
titled with certificate from his first
master. Many of them utilize their
time of probation playing during the
summer in q band at one of the numer-
Gus spas or at a small provincial thea
tire in the winter. In this way, II they
are diligent. they go on improving
themselves while quite young. acquiring
accuracy and a knowledge OF harmony
Others of their colleagues whose par
ents are better off, have gone through
a careful course Of duty at some WELL
known conservatory or college OF mu-
Sic
When a man joins regimental
band. does he do so voluntarily or is
he selected as a soldier and forced to do
so?"
"A candidate for the band joins il OF
his own free will. and must have the
necessary musical qualifications. In the
larger towns the number of applica-
tions Is very great, so that the band
masters have a number of well-trained
men to choose from. Even in distant
garrison towns no candidate is accept
ed who has not previously passed test
examination showing his capacities
with a string and a wind instrument.
A violinist must play something from
BerIioz, Bruch. or Mendelssohn. while
violoncelist has to pass with solo
from Pepper. Gioltermann. Davidoff or
a similar composer; and so on for those
of other instruments. Ii is not surpris-
ing for anybody cognizant of the pre-
vailing conditions 10 hear that can
didate for post In the band of Ber-
lin regiment of the guards has secured
his appointment through the mastery
way he performed Faust phantasie
by Sarasate. In fact most excellent mu-
scians are to be found among the
younger military bandsmen. AS proof
OF this, l may mention that six MEM
bers of the orchestra of the Berlin OPP
era Royal formerly belonged to one
particular regiment of the Berlin
guards. and, without enumerating other
examples, / may say that Prof Nicode
OF Leipzig. and Herr Brucks, singer to
the Court OF Munich. were formerly
hautboy players in the Prussiap army"
Now, / should like to know your
views Of the ethical influence OF reg
imental bands of the German army up
on the garrison towns"
You have touched a very important
point-one that Is generally neglected
i'm the public mind. Every regimental
band has. of course, primarily it's duty
with the regiment TO perform-at which
l hinted above; but. In a measure. IL
also co-operates In the ethical training
of the nation-and this side OF it's mis-
sion ought not 10 be neglected. The
regimental band assists In cultivating
amongst the people taste for what is
beautiful and elevating In music. There
are bands connected with the Operas
Royal i'm the residential towns of the
sovereigns Of the empire. and many Of
the better situated towns support mu-
nicipal bands: but these cannot get at
the wide masses of the population like
regimental bands because they are not
numerous enough. The latter make up
I'm measure for the deficiency of the
former I'm this respect. The field the
regimental bandmaster has TO work I'm
is very extensive. and his responsibility
IL very great. Almost all the medium
sized and smaller. provincial towns are
under the influence OF and i'm the
hands of regimentsl bands, for II sell
dom happens that I'm these towns any