The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-03-11
BERGE=R'S
BAND.
How Old DOnau
Aided in Its
Origin.
THE NEW DONAU
MAY SEE IT DIE
Legislative Plan TO Wipe Out a
Great Tourist At
traction.

Donau that witnessed the birth of the
Hawaiian band and the new Austrian
training ship of the same name which
may be in at its death The band is
threatened now by some of the country
members of the Legislature, who don't
want to vote s42,324 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
i: for the pleasure of Honolulu alone.
Mr.. Berger was questioned yesterday
concerning the proposed movement to
put the band out of existence. He grew
reminiscent when the old days of the
band We're recalled
The inception of the band came" said
he, when the old Austrian warship Do
nau came into the port of Honolulu dis
abIed. That was in the year 1869. She
was here three or four months and the
ships band often came ashore to play
for the King and the populace. Honolu-
lu wanted band of it's own. A muSi-
cIan named Northcote, from travelling
theatrical company which came to Ho-
nolulu 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
", was sent to the Prussian Minister
of War to send a past bandmaster of the
Prussian army. In consequence Of that
call, 1 was sent by the Prussian 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
/ played was on June IL, 1S72ZKameha-
Nav hat thn Il Int
died and was succeeded by Lunalilo. One
of the first things Lunalilo did was to
make a tour of the Islands, and he took
the band along with him. We were
away for over 4 month. The band be-
came the rage, and during the reign OF
Kalakaua the various Legislatures ap-
propriated plenty of money for it's main
tenance Outside of salaries and Incl
dentals, travelling expenses were allowed
us We had 81 200 a month and now re-
ceive only ST. 500 a 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 a band for the natives, com
posed mainly of Hawaiians and as the
Territorial Legislature is now constftut-
ed, / should think they would be glad
To favor it's continuance. 1t is their pow
eE 10 nave the DduI pay Oli llIS OIilCi
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 Hawaiians who received my first
instructions. One has been in the band
longer than l have. The band has be-
&C me part of their existence, and, 1 be-
lieVe, 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 d Sunday
newspaper charging him with having
! changed the hour of his Verdi concert
on Friday evening from 1880 to $50
o'clock in 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-
J 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. Sen
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
"a -tay fIsa do of
A prominent business man of Honolu'
1u who has lived in Hilo and knows
something of the temper of the people
ION this matter. states that if 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 th'
capital rebounds to the credit of th'
Territory. as we'll" he said TT is no
alone for Honolulans that the band il
tourists and others who come to Homo
lulu for recreation and sightseeing. IN
band is one of the famous institutions o
the country, and has successfully passet
|, through the political changes of the las
thirty years without being assaileds II
any way. It was organized during TN
days of the monarchy, fostered by kala
kaua and Liliuokalani, continued through
the Provisional Government and the Re
public, and at last praises the Stars an
Stripes with martial music. It IS an or
, ganization composed mainly of Hawaii
ans, and I should regret that the Legis