The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-05-17
Not a Town Of Importance
Without a Band.
THE TASTE is HERE.
Everyone Seems to Appreciate
the Stirring Tones.
The Organizations and the Men
Who Made Them.

and # will always be found, that, no
matter how large or how small the town
or the band, the citizens are proud Of
There are a few of Bill Nye's ''um-ta-
um-ta' bands, but not many. For the
most part Kansas bands are good, they
play good music they are wen unlfoTin-
ed and they viii rank along side the
bands OF older states.
There is a special taste for band music
in the make up OF the Jay
hawker. Let a band Of dozen pieces IN
a prairie town sit on dry goods boxes
and play by gasoline torch light ana
there will be a crowd there. Even a
circus band on the streets Of AtchiSon
viii stop the whole force Of Ed HoWe's
Globe The largest travelling bands re-
cefve larger audiences in Kansas, in
proportion to the population, than they
do in other states.
Kansas is band musical. The people
like to hear everything from Y ankee
Doodle" to the overture William Tell.
The bandmasters of the state, who are
responsible for the excellent standing OF
the bands represent a set Of men who
have devoted the greater part OF their
lives to the work
They were born in an parts OF the
world including England and Kansas
Within the state are leaders and play
ers who We're with the famous Gilmore
and the brilliant Sousa. The fame OF
Kansas bands is known from one end Of
the country to the other. The stories OF
the leaders are interesting.
THE DEAN OF KANSAS LEADERS.
1t goes without dispute that John
Marshall, leader Of AIarshalPs band of
Topeka, is dean OF the Kansas band
masters and ranks with the best in the
country.
John Marshall is q band leader in
every way that the title implies He
has built up in Topeka the finest band
that any city in the United States can
boast Of 1t is not because the band IS
not competent that it does not tour the
country as do the large professional
bands. but it is because the band is an
amateur organization and the players
can not accept the offers no matter how
fattering. John Marshall plays music
and he writes music. His march
Olympia is equal to the best. There
have been professional bands touring
the country that have played in Topeka
that would take second place with Mar
shalPs.
There is no amateur band, and very
few professional bands as well known
in the United States as Marshalls band
Mr. J. B. Marshall, to whom this organ
1zatlon owes It's reputation, was born
IN DeVOnshlre. England and was edu-
Gated in Cornwall In 1866 he located
near KingstOwn, Canada, where he
played y fiat cOrnet with the Canadian
regimental band. He moved to Leaven-
worth in 1871 and soon after came to
Topeka. About 1878 a small band was
organized in North Topeka and a man
by the name Of BabcOck acted as d.
rector. BabcOck left Topeka soon after
wards and Mr.. Marshall was elected to
Ill his place In 1879 this band CONSOLE
dated with the Turner's band and was
commissioned as the First regiment
band, x. n. G., which in 1880 took the
prize at the state contest against many
competitors. About 1881 this organiza-
ton disbanded and Topeka had no band
unsil 1884, when band was organized
from the ranks of the Republican fam
beau club for campaign purposes, with
Mr.. Marshall as director.
On November 2. 1884, the original
'Marshalls Military Band" fled its
charter, with thirty members. The band
was reorganized in 1898 and the name
changed to Mar shaIPs band" dropping
the word military" At present the
membership of the band is fifty-eight,
and there probably is no other band in
the country as well uniformed In the
last year the organization has spent
over $500 for new dress and fatigue
uniforms. Besides being popular as a
musician, Mr.. Marshall belongs to the
Elks and Masonis and several ether fra
In connection with numerous side
trips the band has played special en-
gagements in the following large cities:
Denver, Sacran1 ento, San Francisco,
Chicago, IndianaI polls, Washington, Bal
timOre, Colorado Springs, Worlds Fair,
Pueblo, Niagara Falls Montreal, B0s-
ton, St Louis ansi Louisville.
A few years ago, when MarshaI's
band filed an engagement at Denver
the bandmaster OF the United States
military band at Fort Smelling paid the
Topeka leader and his musicians high
compliment He desired to know If
what class the ba nd was rated. cit is
an amateur bandg' was the answer re-
eeived. We'll if Mr.. Marshall can ae-
eomplish so much with an amateur
band was has reloinder. what woult
he do with professionals Pc
While in Colorado the band gave. con.
certs at Pueblo and Colorado Springs
and were welcomed by Standing room
only crowds at both places. a western
paper speaking OF the hand at that time
said: HMarshalls band. now ranking II
the same category with GilmOres, Lib
eratfs, SOusa's and other bands, CAV
a series Of concerts I'm Colorado afte
the national cOnclave of Knights TEN
plar at Denver was concluded. Thi
band includes the best musicians tina
can be found in the west. and under tn
training Of Mr.. John Marshall nov
renders the highest class of band music
their repertoyire including most of tn
masterpieces of Gilnore's and Sousa'
bands. and many others attempted b.
none but bands of their standard. Mar
shalPs band is the pride Of Kansas, an
has received nothing but the highes
praise from the press where it has give
concerts"
At one of the concerts in Boston wit
the Knights Templar the band playe
a waltz by the name Of 'sAuf Wfederse
hen" An old man was noticed leanin
intensely forward. head on one side an
with the appearance Of a most interest
ed listener. Hardly waiting until tn
band had finished the piece, he rlishe
upon the platform and congratulate
Mr.. Marshall upon the excellent rend.
tion of the waltz. He said. why. ST
that was the best I ever heard the pieo
played" The old gentleman was til
con poser Of the piece and his name wa
Bailey. He called the next day with a
armful Of his music which he said eth
band must take back to Kansas"
The band went from Boston to Mar
haitian Beach by special invitation {
Director S0usa, where it gave a eoneer
There is quite a story connected wit
the selection Of Marshalls band for Ii