The Hawaiian gazette., 1906-07-24
PRES. SMITH
RECOGNIZED


pliments at Saltair last Thursday even
ing.
The Royal Hawaiian band, with It's
glee club, was rendering one of its not
one OF the most expert mandolinists
among the natives, nudged his nearest
neighbor. At the same moment g. trio
of singers turned to each other, nodded,
and smiled a smile of satisfaction.
They bowed toward the audience-few
knew why-and at the finish of the
song one of them stepped forward to
the conductor, Herr Berger, and whis-
pered something into his ear. The
number which followed had not been
announced on the program, and 1t was
not sung. And only one person in the
audience realized that 1t was the beau
tiful melody to which the Hawaiians
sing 20 My Father" the famous Nor
mon anthem. That one person was
President Joseph F. Smith. AS he en-
tered he was recognized by members of
the band who were long ago converted
to the principles Of the Latter-day
Saints Church and he alone. upon TAX
ing his seat, noticed the compliment.
The respected leader sat in silence I'M
til the last of the plaintive notes had
died away. Then he glanced signif-
cantly toward the musicians, and was
greeted by a score or more of smiling
faces; by the people who were familiar
with his features. not from personal
acquaintance, but from having seen his
tNl ltxs
hibited in the Mormon chapels
throughout the islands. Until the end
of the concert President Smith was
deeply interested listener. His mind
reverted to the days when he mingled
with the fathers of these natives as
missionary.
1t Is we'll known in the Church that
shortly after President George Q. Can
non had established the mission in the
Hawaiian islands, President Joseph F.
Smith was sent to relieve him. This
occurred in 1854. But 1t is not known,
perhaps, that nine members of the
Royal Hawaiian band are sons or
grandsons OF the converts made by
Presidents Cannon and Smith; that
they have followed in the footsteps of
their fathers and are considered devout
saints today: that they regret their in
ability to attend the tabernacle serv-
ices tomorrow afternoon, especially so
In view of the fact that this is their
first trip to Utah-the first time in
fact, that any of them has travelled
farther east than Portland, where the
band played an engagement at the
Lewis and Clark exposition.
The Royal Hawaiian band derives the
title Royal from the fact that it was
korganized by King Lunalilo of Hawaii
about 35 years ago-long before the
time of Queen Liliuokalani-as an i'm
perial escort for his majesty. The lat
ter was very friendly with Emperor
Wilhelm of Germany at that time and
had heard that he owned such an or
ganization. A band was wanted. The
natives knew no music besides their
chants. The technical qualities of the
art had to be supplied. So the old king
laid his predicament before the friendly
emperor and asked that he select some
body to teach his subjects the ins and
outs of instrumental music. The en-
peror listened to the plea. He went so
far as to take his own bandmaster
from his position, grant him a good
pension, and send him to Honolulu on
the errand which was to give so much
satisfaction to the old monarch of the
islands The task was not an easy one.
Captain Berger had material that was
as crude as could have been found
anywhere but which had the saving
grace of IAN ear for music and an in
born love OF harmony.
Teaching his boys the notes and cul-
tf,.a ti,n.r hot, Cor ,ta Il nd mil
sic was as arduous as it was slow.
He gave 81 lessons each day for more
than 10 months. but he succeeded, at
the end of that time, in establishing a
military band. King Lunalilo. upon
hearing it's music for the first time,
decorated the captain with the highest
honors ever paid a civilian in the is
lands The mission had been performed
and Captain Berger was ready to start
for Germany. But he did not. Induce
ments were offered which tied him to
Honolulu for a period of years and
during those years he worked with the
same perslstency and the same fine
success that had characterized his
work from the beginning. The result
today Is band of GO musicians which
can play the "Tannhauser' overture
with the same brilliancy as many OF
our great American bands and at the
same time provide the plaintive melo-
dies OF the islands. In "A manner which
causes our own musicians to stand in
wonderment,
Since the overthrow OF the monarchy
the bdnd has filed a unique position.
II Is In reality a national guard lnstitu-
ton and each OF its members II idolized
by the natives. Every ship that
touches at Honolulu II met by the band
and there Is no outgoing steamer that
Is not serenaded just prior 10 It's de-
parture. II II on such occasions that
the celebrated Farewell Song" or
Aloha Oe." is rendered. and each de-
parting native II decorated with the
"lai" ~ flowers, or an imitation such
as are frequently seen on the streets ~
salt Lake since the IIawailans came
here A. saltair Miss Lei Lehui, the
soprano. sings the solo part ~ the
great song ana she has made Il very
popular, LEGALLY
That there are nine momhers ~ tho
Mormon church in the band ~ 90
musicians IN no cause for Rsi0nishmfnt
when u n remembered that npnry
forty per cent Of ihn population ~ the
iElaniH IL Mormon. Tue boys ln the
l4HNa MsF. All .uW.r ia roach HaIf