The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1901-03-12
BERGER'S
BAND.

g., wa. the old Austrian man-of-war
D,uau that Witnessed the birth OF tbs
Hawaiian band ana the new Austrian
training ship of the same name which
may bee Ia at It's death The band is
threatened now hy some OF the country
members of the Legislature, who don't
want to vote Si2,324 to pay Kappelmeis-
ter Berger and his musicians. They say
The other Islands get no benefit from
the band and they don't want to support
/. for the pleasure of Honolulu alone.
MIR. Berger was questioned yesterday
concerning the proposed movement TO
put the band out Of existence. He grew
r.mu scent when the old days of the
bard were recalled.
The inception of the band came" said
he. when the old Austrian warship DO
uau came into the port of Honolulu dis
anlcd. THAT was in the year 1852 She
was here three or four months and the
ships band often came ashore to play
foi he King and the populaco. Honolu-
Ia wanted a band of its own. musi-
can named NOrthcote from travelling
theatrical company which came to Ho-
nulu.u was engaged to organize a band
from amongst the natives. He did not
remain here long. He was succeeded by
an American named Medina, but Medi-
mas career was short too. Then re-
quest during the reign of kamehameha
w, was sent to the Prussian Minister
of War to send past bandmaster of the
Prussian army. In consequence of that
call, / was sent by the Prussan Govern
ment, arrived here on June 2, 1872, and
have been at the head of the band ever
since The first official function at which
,,In A.
meha Day. That same year the King
died and was succeeded by Lunalilo one
of the first things Lunalio did was to
make tour of the Islands, and he took
the band along with him. We were
away for over a month. The band be-
came the rage, and during the reign of
Kalakaua the various Legislatures ap-
proprated plenty of money for it's main
tenance outside of Salaries and Incl
dentals, travelling expenses were allowed
us We had 5000 a month and now re-
ceive only $500 month and no travel
ing expenses.
king Kalakaua gave the band much
attention and favored the instruction of
the native musicians on every occasion.
Liliuokalani continued this policy. 1t is
essentially IA band for the natives, COM
posed mainly of Hawaiians, and as the
Territorial Legislature is now consttut-
ed, | should think they would be glad
to favor it's continuance. 1t is their pow
er to have the band play on the other
Islands. If they want the band, let them
pass the appropriation bill which in
cludes sufficient money to carry the band
around the Islands three times year.
There are at present playing in the
band Hawaians who received my first
instructions. One has been in the band
longer than l have The band has be-
csme part of their existence and, 1 be-
licve even of that of all the kamaainas,
and should it become pau | feel certain
that the entire Territory would regret the
action"
Captain Berger was considerably In
censed over an editorial in a Sunday
newspaper charging him with having
changed the hour of his Verdi concert
on Friday evening from 7:3O to $50
O'Clock i'll Difference to the wishes of the
Hawaiian Hotel manager and those who
wanted to hear both Berger's concert
and the Trebelli concert later in the
evening at the Opera House. Captain
Berger states that he obtained perms-
sion from the Governor to have the con-
cert one hour earlier in answer to a re-
quest OF the band boys, who had been
invited to attend the concert. Friday
evening is their holiday, and they are
not supposed to do any playing on that
day except upon special occasions. The
Verdi concert was a complimentary one
The concert was in the nature of an ed
ucation to the band boys, and they were
all at the Opera House.
1t Is generally understood however,
that the movement to strike out the
band item in the appropriation bill will
prove unsuccessful. as there are promi-
nent Senate members from Oahu who
would strongly oppose such action. Sem
ator Kalauokalani, the strongest Senator
of the Independent party, is known to be
in favor of continuing the band. and his
/ influence would be sufficient. If exercised.
to stem the tide of opposition.
A prominent business man of Honolu-
| u, who has lived in Hlo and knows
something of the temper of the people
on this matter, states that II the people
of the other Islands could listen to the
band at stated times during the year.
/ their opposition would be overcome.
What rebounds to the credit of the
capital rebounds to the credit OF the
alone for Honolulans that the band is
continued. hut for the great number of
| tourists and others who come to Homo
lulu for recreation and sightseeing. The
band is one of the famous institutions OF
the country. and has successfully passed
through the political changes OF the last
thirty years without being assailed in
any way. 1t was organized during the
DAYS of the monarchy, fostered bv Kala-
kaua and Liliuokalanl. continued through
the Provisional Government and the Re-
public, and at last praises the Stars and
Stripes with martial music. II Is an or
ganization composed mainly OF Hawaii
ans. and I should regret that the Legis-
Ilature should deem II wise to cut OF the
appropriation for the one feature which
all Ionolulans. and all Hawaiians. cam
not get along without"