The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-11-09
The Need of a Good
Band In Lakeland

Influence that a concert band exer,
cises in community along enter
tainment and educational lines is, in
my opinion, rather the largest part
of it's work; at least that part Of its
work should not be held lightly. Too
often band is looked upon as
bunch of noise, and much too often
it is nothing else. But properly or
eanized and handled it should rem
der beautiful harmony, and who
doesn't love harmony even in poll
tics. eh, Mr.. Editor? To illustrate,
have listened to a band of six OF
eight pieces that was jar (Atten-
ton, C. Green,) from start to finish,
and could not be heard farther than
they could be seen; also have sat
enthralled while one of sixty ac-
companied a soft sweet Andanta on
violin, of which every note could be
distinctly heard. This brings me to
the first point wish to make, to-
wits as a general rule, the band prop.
osition is matter Of dollars and
cents In other words, we hear just
what we pay for, don't we?
Again, concert band, to accom-,
plish the most in an educationa, way
should be properly instrumentated,
viz: it should carry as many reeds
as brass. By reeds I mean wood in
stiuments, including the saxaphones.
The percussion instruments are
classed with the brass Such a band
in music catalogues, is called a Full
Military Band. So if we were to or.
ganize band, say. of 80 pieces, We
should have at least IL reeds al
though Is would be better All mod.
ern band music as well as the ole
Classics which have been re-arrangeC
In recent years, are published foi
Full Military Band. 1t would follow
then that II we wish to hear musi
cal number as it should be heard
9 we must have the full compliment O
" instruments. AS well listen to
e quartet of three voices, or a plan
solo with one octave gone from tn
keyboard, as to a standard overture
ID say, with even one necessary instru
> nent missing. Second point. To
us have band Of sufficient size an
properly instrumentated 70 .bo -,
d that we may have band music NV. ~
70 CRY interpreted. Why not?
Agafn, the educational features ,
CONCERT band are of course lim,ted
however, the part 1t can occ,nu
ice musical life of our citizens 10 =,
20 lnconsiderable. If statistics we,
- available, they would shov a..
~ nearly every home. II not all
:. touched in some way by music
= one doesn't have II in oro.. -
u one nears 1t in other homes or M,
- "c places. To be sure, America
:. not ciassed as a musical nat,on ~
~ ~ never will be until better music an
20 e"'ered as regular study. II
~ taught from primary grades IN
,c- our public schools. Our childre
,ut mostly hear the rif-raf Of populs
as composers in picture theaters: C
OF pianos. and the cheap songs sold o
nd er the counter: also. from mar
ys- town bands. But there are gre
many people who love good mus
and have 1t in their homes. I.akelar
has her quota. A good band wou
not only be an inspiration. but
coloring given by the different |,
struments of the band.
ce Again, concert band would pr
a mote good singing in town-qua
m tet. duet and solo singing could
a, given once or twice week vii
ell band accompaniment. believe the
nd is talent in town that could gi,
r. quite creditably the Sextet from l.
II cia. also the duet Miserere from
OF Trovatore, and many other beaut
Ity ful songs. Along with these cou
mt be given some of the popular ones
lie. the day which everyone enjoys. Ais
in good and varied program proper
to rendered by a good band would
lat an inspiration and help to a tett
nv understanding of what constitut
nnnd r,n,sin u ronnla ,,rho pocnih