The Washington times., 1923-01-26
10 BANDSTANDS
PLANNED BY
/ SHRINE
Five Thousand instruments
Will Be Massed for Big
Concert.

Erection of at least ten band
stands, from which concerts will
be given every hour during each
day of the session, will be one of
the striking features of the I'M
perial Council, Mystic Shrine, in
washington next June, according
to the statement issued by Harry
g. kimball. chairman of the bands
and concerts committee.
A huge massed band. under the
leadership of John Philip Sousa
the Alnas Temple Band and in
structor for the Army Music School,
10 assured. This band will be made
UP of all the Shrine bands, num-
bering 5000 or more pieces, and
will be the biggest band ever as
sembled. y
SOusa Composes March. =.
John Philip Sousa is completing
the composition of an Almas Temple
March, which will be the official
march for the session and will be
played by the massed band. under
direction of Mr.. Sousa. Mr.. Sousa
will also lead the massed band in
the playing of his world famous
''Thunderer' march,
William c. White is completing
the composition of an Oriental march
for the session. He will WELD the
baton while the massed band plays
this composition, 1.-THE Star-Spangled
Banner" and America" The Army
Music School, where Noble White is
instructor, is the West Point" for
army band leaders. Every leader of
an army band must be a graduate
Of this school. During his two-year
course he must learn to play solos
on every instrument used in the
band and must learn harmony, the
art of arranging compositions writ
ten for the piano or other solo in
strument,' and must learn all the
fundamentals of band playing, in
struction, and arrangement.
Decides on Bandstands.
Ten bandstands, throughout the
downtown section of the city, have
already been definitely decided
upon, Mr.. Kimball stated, and it is
possible that several more may be
added later. Continuous concerts
will be given each day, the various
Shrine bands following one another
at intervals of an hour.
There will be practically con-
tinHous serenading programs in all
parts of the city. Serenades will
be played at the White House, at
all hotels and public buildings, and
at hospitals and other points. The
hospitals, according to the plans,
will be visited by a combination of
bands and chanters.
At least 120 Shrine bands will be
in the city during the session and
there also will be a large number
Of Oriental bands and other musical
organizations from the various tenn
pies. No person who is not a bona
fide Shriner will be permitted to
play in any Shrine band and no
musical organization not composed
OF Shriners will be permitted to
take part in the Shrine parade, Mr..
kimball announced.
Hope for Convenient Housing.
It is hoped that all the bands can
be housed in or near the downtown
section of the city so that they can
be ready for call. No Shrine band.
Mr.. kimbal said, would be called
upon to give more than one concert
q day. The individual bands will be
given free rein in the matter of ar
ranging serenades, though each
band will be given a list of suggest
ed places for it's serenades, with di-
rections for reaching the points
enumerated.
A member of the Almas Temple
bands and concerts committee will
be placed in charge of each band
stand and will be held responsible
for the carrying out of the concerts
at his stand. In addition a number
Of guides" will be selected, one of
whom will be assigned to each band
assigned to concert work. 1t will
be the duty of these guides to see
that their bands appear on time at
the proper stands for their concerts.
Gets Line on Abilities.
Mr.. Kimball has sent to each
Shrine temple a QUESTIONABLE to
ascertain the size. experience, and
capabilities of each band. He will
be informed in advance whether
each band is prepared to play
concerts and to carry out serenading
programs.