Evening star., 1921-02-24
NAVY BAND RANKED
BEST OF |TSK|Nl
Comprises Nearly Sixty
Pieces and Is the Pride
of the Service.

It's not Navy Yard Band" but
Navy Band
This correction of phrase COM
monty heard here is made by naval
officers, who are interested in and
proud Of the big organization of en-
listed men stationed at the Washing
ton navy yard. which is to give its
first public indoor concert next Mon
day evening at Memorial Continental
Hall for the benefit Of the Dobbs
School building fund.
Naval officers stationed here are
tistic skill Of this band, which has
been built up from small beginnings,
and are expected to be on hand in
large numbers at the concert to
watch local lovers of good music
get acquainted" with the group Of
existence of the band depends di-
rectly and almost entirely on the
public's appreciation of its EFFORTS to
please. A number of them, with wide
for tbst is
the best of it's kind in the United
States; certainly, with it's nearly
sixty pieces. it is by far the largest
service band here or elsewhere, with
the exception of the United States
and possibly one or two others.
Composed Of Enlisted Men.
Some people have had the idea that
it is composed of mechanics and other
skilled craftsmen employed at the
navy yard. who, for artistic and sen,
timental effect, don the open .throateo
shirt and rolling collar Of the sai.or
when scheduled to play. AS a matter
Of fact, it is a Navy band. composed
of regularly enlisted men stationed at
the yard, its nucleus having been the
old band of the preSidential yacne
Mayhower. When that craft goes to
sea, by the way. the band Is split
into two sections. and one, of appro-
pirate size, makes the voyage.
In spite of the fact that 1t is reg
ular. Navy band, attached to the sta
ton. its existence is provided for by
to meet with the disapproval of the
commandant of the yard. a coptin-
gency little likely to happen. it could
be put out of existence and its per-
sonnel put on other work.
The growth and improvement or the
band is due to two factions: the in
terest of naval officers and the hard
work of Charles Benter, the band
master, who has served on several |
ships and at several stations. When
the leader uncovers man with mu-
sical ability. he Immediately procures
goes further, and when he needs
player for a certain instrument. he
hunts up some "gob" with latent mu-
steal talent and trains him until he is
worthy of a place.
Brought From Other Stations.
Benter's superiors in the bureau of
navigation here have become SO in
terested in the bands progress that
they strive to improve its personnel
by picking good musicians at stations
here and there throughout the coun-
try and transferring them to the Ma
tional Capital, where their abilities
can better be utilized. Only a few
days ago it was learned that at the
New Orleans yard there was bas-
soon player. This is a rare and rather
difficult instrument The local band
had one bassoonist. but for proper
balanced effects needed two. and the
artist specializing in the big wood
wind" is now on his way here.
The Navy Band can double in
strings" thus becoming an able SYM
phony or dance orchestra. as those
can testify who have danced to its
strains at various big balls here the
past two winters. One of the fea-
lures of its concerts is a saxophone
quintet which is as adaptable to the
classics as it is to Jazz" Less than
year ago the band did not appear in
public concerts and its abilities were
little known outside the confines of
the yard. Those in charge Of it pub
licIy. expressed the hope that Secre-
tary Daniels, If requests should be
made, would be willing to have it
utilized in the schedule of suramer
park concerts. The requests came
and the band gave pleasure to thou
sands during the warm weather.