The Washington times., 1924-05-01
PARRY ". LEWIS.
RELIEVED OF
DUTIES
Commander of Army Band
Been Transferred to the
Philippines.

Washington musicians today were
surprised to learn that Parry W.
Lewis commander of the United
States Army Band and command
ant Of the Army Music School, has
been assigned to duty in the
Philippines. Lieutenant Lewis will
be succeeded by Capt. Raymond G.
4 Sherman, WHO has arrived at Wash
ingtCM Barracks ITO fAmiliarize him.
self with his new. command pend
ing the departure Of Lewis on
May 81.
Lewis will spend months va.
cation at White Sulphur Springs.
He will sail for the Philippines
from San Francisco in July.
81 Lieutenant Lewis has been the
administrative head of the Army
Band since its organization in Jan.
uary 1922, having been assigned
to the task of creating a representa-
tive musical organization for the
army after plans originating with
General Pershing and his assist
arts on the general staff. After
working out organization piarA and
assembling the nucleus Of the pres
ent splendid organization at Fort
Hunt, Va, Washington Barracks
was selected as permanent head.
quarters for the Army Band and.
on moving there. in February, 1923,
Lieutenant Lewis was also made
commandant of the Army Music
School which institution trains
bandsmen, soloists and bandleaders
for army bands Throughout the serv-
ice. AS head of the Army Music
School Lieutenant Lewis has been
'sdviser. to the War Department on
all matters musical.
Stannard Yields Baton.
p The rise of the Army Band has
been almost sensational, particu-
larly since William ]. Stannard,
ranking bandleader of the army,
was given the coveted baton soon
after the organization moved to
Washington Barracks.
The wisdom Of selecting an Off
Ger with musical training to guide
the destinies of the army's repre-
sentative musical organization has
been shown in the career of Lieu
tenant. Lewis and the desire of
General Pershing and the general
staff that the Army and will even
tually rank with the worlds great
est bands seems on the way to
realization. At the outset, Lieuten-
ant Lewis fixed standards Of skill
for individual instrumentalists that
have brought an ensemble capable
OF the rendition of concerts of the
highest type. Graduation or it's
equivalent from the Army Music
School Is a prerequisite for member
ship in the Army Band and in adj
,dition to this fixed requirement,
all instrumentalists save the soloists
must be skilled in the playing of
an orchestral as well as a band
instrument.
q 5Th1S latter requirement is re-
sponsible for the sixty-piece concert
orchestra that has delighted Wash
ington music lovers in frequent
concerts during the past winter. In
addition to the large concert or.
chestra, the Army Band also has a.
string and woodwind combination
Tor light concert and dinner music
playing and two dance orchestras
OF the, modern jazz type. -,
Unique among, all bands in the
United States is the instrumental
ton sof the Army Band and this
10 one OF the major achievements
or Lieutenant Lewis and William
J. Stannard, the bands leader.
Authorized to bring the band to.
membership of ninety musicians.
the commanding officer and the
bandleader determined to employ
the whole family Of woodwind and
brass instruments in the rendition
Of programs. ~
Played Concerto.
Praise for tone quality and color
full effects coming to the Army Band
during the winter season is perhaps
partially due to the employment Of
the entire family of woodwinds and
orasses and may account in a meas
ure for the ability Of the band to
achieve a noteworthy degree of. ex:
cellence in accompanying soloists.
"A field hitherto left to the sym,
pnony orchestra was successfully
invaded by the Army. Band when the
entire band played an acconpani-
ment to Rubenstein's Concerto for
PIANO In D Minor at community
concert In Central High School. The
solo was played by Anita Blanche
Hppter, local pianist. ;E- 80.
Lteutenant Lewis graduated. from
West Point in 1917 and served over
seas with the Seventy-eighth divi-
sion as captain of Infantry. He
was IN command Of the defense of
the Potomac at Fort Hunt when APP
pointed as commanding officer of the
Army Band.