Trench and camp. [volume] (Augusta, Ga.) 1917-1919, 1918-09-04
D. H. D. BAND
HIGHLY EFFICIENT
Under the Capable Direction of
Bandmaster Maria, Head
quarters Band Has Developed
Into a Crack Musical 0rgani-
cation. Each Player a Talent
ed Musician
Major BIantOn Responsible For
Its Organization

"A nlEh American army officer has said
that "a singing army is fighting army
and anyone at all familiar with army
camp life Will substantiate him. Music,
whether vocal or instrumental, has, from
time lmmemorial been mans means of
expressing his pent up feelings In pres
ent day army life where the training Is
particularly intense and rigorous one Of
the bright stars in the soldiers firma-
ment is the army band. Whether at
concert, parade or march the music of
brass band reaches to depths Of the
human soul not touched by any other
form OF music Who can help keeping
time and marching in step with a Yigor-
Gus military march and who has not
thrilled at the sound Of the national an
them when played by military band2
No doubt Major Blanton, then COM
handing the Divisional Headquarters Co,
M.G.T.C., when he undertook the or
gani2ation of the Divisional Headquart-
ers band. had these points in mind. His
good Judgment and keen foresight were
shown when he selected Private Joseph
Maria as bandmaster. and instructed
him to choose from the ten thousand men
of the Recruit Receiving Depot, the men
| of musical ability and experience. With
great patience and infinite care Private
tnow Bandmaster) Maria made a close
study Of the musical qualifications OF
every man IN the Recruit Receiving De-
pot This of itself was an undertaking
Of no small magnitude and subsequent
events have demonstrated with what skin
Bandmaster Mara Ia n man OF rare
musical ability. having not only thor
ough knowledge of musical theory but
also working knowledge Of most of the
instruments Of the band. He has made
Il close study Of the clarinet and is a
master at playing that instrument His
ability as a drummer, aIso places him
in a class by himself for whether it be
jazS one-step, heavy overture of the
greatest difficulty, or a light concert
At IA
he has made these two instruments his
speciality, he is somewhat OF a trombonist
as well. Altogether. he 's eminently
the right man in tho right !.ace.
with musician Of this calibre at their
head It is small wonder that the men
chosen by him were enthusiastic and took
great interest in the organization Every
man filled his particular place in the
band and from the very first there WAS an
esprit de corps which spoke wen for the
future Of the band,
Even before choosig the men the re-
QUESTION for instruments and equipment
had been forwarded to the quartermast-
er. A few Of the men had their own
Instruments and by borrowing here and
there and keeping the wires busy between
Camp Hancock and the homes of the va
rious bandSnen, their instruments were
soon gotten together to form band of
fair proportions What difficulties were
encountered in the early days Of its ex-
Daily trips to the q. Nj office by Capt.
I3lanton kept the mems hopes alive with
the promise Of the arrival Of the instru-
ments very soon"
The results Of those pioneer days, de-
spite the great difficulties encountered,
reflect the greatest CEedit upon tho
bandmaster and band men. With u coli
lection OF instruments, no two Of them
Of the same pitch, many Of them almost
worthless. the band was rehearsed and
there was gradually evolved a highly
creditabe organization which received
the well deserved praise of all those so
Blanton Is more than pleased was evil
denced by the smile that graced his
countenance at every performance.
AS early as July 10TH less than a
month from the date Of It's first begin
ming. the band rendered performance
at the Divisional Headquarters Co, 3 en-
tertainment at Y, M. G. A. No. n which
showed the high quality Of the organza-
ton. They played several selections in
manner that would have reflected Gre
dit on the best of thoroughly equipped
and organized bands.
Their playing at Reveille each morning
made every bandsman bosom friend Of
every member Of the company and the
detachment while their rendition Of tho
ma bonal anthem and inspection music at
Retreat each day called forth Well-earned
praiGe.
1t was at the second Of the cornpanys
however that they first displayed their
real ability. The program rendered by
them on the stage in the company street
that evening included. among other
numbers. the overture to William Tell,
a selection calculated to put any band
to the test and the manner in which it
was played brought forth vociforous and
prolonged praise.
AS the function Of an army band is
not merely to play concerts but also TO
play guardmount and parade, the band
was drilled in marching formation under
the capable leadership of Private Leo
nard Joseph. who was chosen by the
bandmaster as drum major After few
DAYS drill the men became proficient at
following the gold tipped staff in its
various qualifications.
The real test Of its ability in this field
came when the band played parade and
review for the 2hrd Group and later the
Fourth Group MID. The praise bestow-
ed upon them by the commanding Off
GERS and adjutants Of these groups
showed how satisfactorily they had car
ried out their part.
On August 18Th the hopes and expec-
tations Of the band were realized when
four large cases arrived containing the
day by day. the realization Of the hopes,
have an idea Of the Joy realized by every
member Of the band when the instTu-
ments finally arrived.
In presenting the instruments to the
men Major Blanton admonished them, in
few words to take especial pride in
their instruments and judging from the
way the Instruments gllsten and shine In
Continued on page Eight