The Washington herald., 1908-04-19


under the able direction Of Mr.. W. II.
Santelmann. begin those outdoor con
eerts which are so striking and pictur-
esque a feature OF summer life at the
National Capital
The band of the United States Marine
Corps is the oldest musical organization
OF its kind in America 1t was founded
in 1901. It Is not generally known that
the nucleus Of the band was stolen. The
robbery was Perpetrated by Capt. Daniel
McNeill, Of the twenty-eight-gun cor
vette Boston. MCNEIL was an officer IA
nous in the early navy for absolute fear
f1essness and a somewhat eccentric twist
in his character which led him into sew
eral curious predicaments. In 1902. while
the Boston was al Messina, band be-
longing to one Of the regiments quar-
tered at that city came aboard. Just TO
show the wild men" from the New
World what music was like. The wild
men" 1t seems, appreciated the concert
too much, for Capt Mcneil promptly
tripped anchor made sail, and stood out
TO sea. In spite of the frantic appeals
and protests of the unfortunate musi-
clans, the Boston passed out into the At
lantic and made America in due time
with the musicians aboard,
Of course, our government was not go>
ing TO war over a lot of kidnapped musi-
clans, SO Capt. McNeil's act was prompt
.ly disavowed. and that officer was not
again put in q position where his love
for marine band could get the better
OF his discretion. It is interesting TO
note, however, that the government was
not SO prompt in returning the musicians
10 their homes. In fact, several of them
We're homeward bound in the frigate
Chesapeake. in 1907. when that ship was
captured, and again these luckless musi-
clans were thrown on their beam ends.
II was not until July p. 1861. however.
that the first regularly organized band
of the United States Marine Corps was
created. Il consisted of only thirty
classified musicians seven first class.
eight second class. and fifteen third
class, the number and classification be-
ing regulated by an act of Congress. IN
der that law the director held no rank
in the Marine Corps, but as time went
on and the efficiency of the Marine Band
a
ment was set on foot to help the band
and on June 80. 1900, a law was passed
declaring that the band of the United
States Marine Corps shall consist of one
leader, with the pay and allowance Of a
first lieutenant: one second leader, whose
pay shall be S75 per month. and who shall
have the allowance Of a sergeant major;
thirty frst-class musicians, whose pay
cla4lF he 4f
class musicians, whose pay shall be $50
per month and the allowance of a ser
geant: such musicians Of the band TO
have no increased pay for length Of seTv-
Ice" In addition 10 these allowances
the bandsmen are paid 81 per month for
their services during the season of con-
certs upon the Executive Mansion and
Capitol grounds.
The band at present numbers seventy
members. When Prof William II. San
telmann, the present leader, took charge
of the band In 1893 only eight men Of
those who had served under his prede-
CessOr remained.
The leaders Of the United States Ma
Tine Band have always been men more
or less renowned in music, Trye was the
first leader. He was succeeded by Pons.
who in turn was followed by Scala, who
held the position OF leader for forty
years. Under him the band reached a
high state of efficiency, and it was dur
ing this period of its history that its
fame became established throughout the
country. Directors Fries and Schneider
both preceded the man who won most
fame as leader Of the band, Mr. John
Philip Sousa, who made it the pride of
The nation
At the time OF the retirement OF Mr..
Sousa the band was in a high state OF
efficiency He was succeeded by Fran |
cisco Fanciulli. who held the position
until 1855, when he was succeeded by !
Prof. William H. Santelmann.
Heinrich Wilhelm Christian Santelmann
was born forty-three years ago at the |
post hamlet of Ohensen. near CeIle, a |
castle town in Hanover OF the present |
kingdom and German Empire His musi- |
cal instincts were inherited from his |
mother. Henrietta Soonemann, whose |
family had furnished several local musi- /
cal celebrities. 1t was. therefore, natural |
for her boy early to swing in tune with |
the maternal prestige.
While he was thirteen years of age |
there lived, about a German mile or two /
distant, painstaking preceptor of the /
old school OF harmony named Yogelge- |
sang. Thither by sort OF gravitation /
Of sound. young Santelmann directed his |
footsteps, deposited his savings, and
took UP eounterpoint and movement. |
Thereafter he began a regular course of
musical study-1SS6- '7S-under Herman /
Hooper, Of Wienhausen, for violin; |
1850, Christian Vogelgesang, for cello |
violin, and clarinet and 1880 81, Frieder- |
ich Hohbohm, for string bass and barry /
tone In the experience Of all German /
youth at this point in life counterpart |
or no counterpOint, his time had come /
10 do military service for the Emperor.
so he enlisted at nineteen years 0SS2) in I
the Seventh Company, Tenth Regiment.
Saxon Infantry, 15ith Regiment German /
Imperial Army
While with his regiment, stationed near
Leipzig, that seat of music and learning.
the yohng soldier spent his time from his
company duties TO increase the pro-
ficiency and perfection OF his chosen art.
During this period-1SS2-S7-he studied AT
tiU DullS6ihdtui4 ana pursued MS patient
labOrs in the barracks. At the end of
his term Santelmann had no disposition
10 remain IN the ranks, but looked for
ward with confidence and ambition to
making a career in music not only as a
player of instruments. but as com
poser. The premier instruments of his
art We're baytone in band and violin in
orchestra. To that end he directed his
efforts and his aims
At tAis time ne had good engagements
IN local orehestras Out of one of the
won't go home until morning" occa-
siOns sprung an experience. It happened