The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-04-22

IL
The history OF the United states
Marine Band, the Nations Band. as
1t Is known, which has played at the
! White House for all the Presidents
| since Adams administration. always
| has been full Of interest. Represent
! ing the nation musically, II has been
| called upon to perform at great
many national and international az
| fairs through all these years. IL -
the intention, however. to review the
, evolution of the organization during
the past twenty years.
! The band, which consisted at that
time of a chief musician and thirty
| classified musicians, was increased
on March 3, 1899, to a leader. a sec
| ond leader and sixty CLASSIFIED mu-
sicians.
BY act of Congress. FIVE more mu-
| sicians were added. August 20, 1916.
and with ten privates Attached 10
the band by order of the major gem
eral commandant of the marine corps
the band now consists of a leader,
second leader, ten principal musicians
twenty-five first class musicians,
twenty second class musicians, ten
third class musicians and ten privatcs.
Pay md Allowances.
The pay and allowances of the band
today is about five times that OF
twenty years ago, and is as follows:
Leader, pay and allownces OF
captain in the marine corps. Second
leader, minimum pay and allowances,
1926 per month; principal musicians,
5000 per month; first class musicians,
sl75 per month; second class mu-
siclans, $3.50 per month; third class
musicians, $145 per month; private
sos per month.
In addition, uniforms are furnished
and medical, dental ana optical serN-
ices rendered free.
After thirty years of service each
musician is entitled to retire on three
fourths of the pay he then receives
Mus sl5.75 in lieu of allowances. II
incapacitated for active duty he may
after twenty years retire on half pay,
in lieu of the Sailors Home. and the
regular disability pension in addition.
Marine Band Orchestra.
The United States Marine Band Is
we'll known as the national band, but
comparatively few people, outside the
Nations Capital know that a COM
plete symphony orchestra has been
formed from among its members.
Ever since the reorganization in
1890. II Is required that every appli-
cant for membership be able to pass
a satisfactory examination on a string
instrument in addition to the one
played In the band, unless he be So
loist. Having pursued this policy for
the. past twenty years, its accomplish
ment has been realized: and with
this recent increase completed, the
Instrumentation of the Marine Band
Il Orchestra will be as follows:
| Fourteen first violins, ten second
| yioIins, ten violas, eight 'Cellos, eight
| BASES, two flutes, one piccolo, two
oboes, one English horn, two clari-
nettcs, one bass clarinet, two bass
I oons, one contra bassoon, two trump
| cts, four horns, three trombones, one
tuba. one tympany, one small drum,
one bass drum, one harp.
Recruited on Tour.
| Prior TO the war IL was customary
for the band to make an annual con-
cert tour Of about two months dura-
ton. arranging its itinerary to cover
a different section OF the country
each year. This has enabled the band
! to canvass the country pretty thor
oughly, and Il has performed In every
state except Florida and Nevada.
The valuable musical library OF the
Marine Band consists of more than
| lo. 900 numbers, carefully selected by
Mr. Santelmann from foreign and do
nestle publications Having such
variety to select from and band
equipped for handling the most elab-
crate compositions, the concert pro-