Evening star., 1923-09-30

ITHERE Is no denying the fact that
i music in Washington Is pro-
crossing. however slowly. One OF
the most interesting examples Of this
is the United States Army Band, which
is friendly rival of the United States
Marine Band in presenting delightful
concerts for the public in the parks
during the summer and on the White
lot and at the Capitol grounds. The
band averages five concerts A week
during the summer months and some
times has as many as nine in a week.
| One of the most interesting phases in
the work Of this younger band organi-
zation in Washington is the fine spirit
in which the Marine Band co-operates
I and aids the Army Band in selecting
programs and in many other ways.
| Today the Army Band will play
before and during the religious exer-
cises in the open-air cathedral pro-
! gram beginning at o'clock this
| afternoon. The band, under the able
direction of its leader, w. J. Stannard.
will give the only instrumental music
on the program and will supplement-
also the singing by the cathedral
choir and the special extra choir of
/ 500 voices
| The Army Band, which now has a
| membership of seventy-five, with an
| allowance under new regulations for
| a total of ninety men, is stationed at
Washington barracks. 1t was or
| ganized at Fort Hunt, Va, in Janu-
airy. 1922. under the supervision of
Brig. Gen. II. II. Bandholtz, command
ling general of the district of Wash
| ington. and Col. Conrad S. Babcock.
chief of staff. Capt, p. w. Lewis is
4 4
| leader was Warrant Officer Francis
| Leigh.
| On September 25, 1922, just q few
l days over year ago, when Army
| Bands station was changed from Fort
| Hunt to Washington barracks, War
! rant Officer Louis 5. Yassell acted in
the capacity Of bandmaster until Feb
| ruary s. 1928, when Warrant Officer
W. J. Stannard was appointed band
| leader after lengthy and difficult
| competition with other band leaders
of the service selected by the War
Department to compete for the honor.
| Mr. Stannnard, who was born in
! family. His mother was a musician n
| and his brother taught him how to
4 play the clarinet. Later he studied
| that instrument more thoroughly with
| C. L. Stats of the Boston symphony
/ Orchestra and leader of the Bostonia
l Sextet for years. Mr.. Staats was gem
\ orally considered the best clarinet
l pla yer in the United States.
| He went to the Institute of Musical
/! Art in New York city and studied there
| under Frank Damrosch. director. with a
scholarship won in 1911. Mr.. Stannard
| was one of five men in the Army to win
| this scholarship at that time. He
| completed a four-year course in two
years of intensive work, taking the
! regular bandmasters course. Fl. f..
| Krebel was his teacher in harmony.
! He has written three marches that
! are popular with the Marine as well as
I the Army Band. They are entitled
| Capt. r. w. Lewis March," BRIG.
Gen. H. H. Bandholtz March" and "The
| Army Band"
Mr.. Stannard has served with Army
| bands for twenty-five years. He was
| leader OF the 30th Infantry Band and
| twice OF the 18th Infantry Band. He
! led the Army Music School Band and
was twice Instructor at the school.
| music positions while in service and
done considerable solo. work. While
| at the institute in New York he
played the clarinet under Damrosch
l in the institute orchestra, and later
played with the Columbia University
and the Arion orchestras.
! The Army Band is also fortunate in
| that Capt. Lewis. the commah ding Of
ficer and also commanding the Army
| sician and understands thoroughly
the many technical details that mean
| so much in developing a band to the
state of efficiency which the Army
Band has already reached. The band
| is rapidly preparing for place with
l the few excellent organizations of its
type now popular In this country.