Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-08
CIVILIAN MUSICIANS PAY
STIRS ARMY BAND CRISIS
Lack of Zip" in U. S. Military Mems
Playing Due to Reduced Personnel
and Lack of Instruments.

| experienced in supplying Uncle Sam.
soldiers with tie musical zip" ad
vocated by Commander Sousa.
| Senator Bingham's Plan.
Senator Hiram Bingham of Connec
| ticut, a stanch friend of the Army
| Band and himself a former service
| man, called attention to another fac
tor with the introduction during the
last session of Congress of bill seek.
| ing to establish Army bands as dis.
tinct entities in the military organi'
| zation. This legislation, which failed
| of enactment, would have served to
ameliorate a condition that has been
a source of unrest in Army band Cir
cles since the World War, those fa-
voring the bill point out.
Prior to the war the post band was
Il separate unit, with it's own bar
| racks, mess hall and officers. 1t had
individuality" in other words. With
the outbreak of the war and the need
for consolidation of forces, the old
order of things was relegated into
oblivion and the band groups were
amalgamated into the general Army
personnel.
Being no longer distinctive" the
bands have suffered a corresponding
weakening of morale. 1t is claimed.
They seem to lack the old enthusi-
assn that came with fraternalism in
barracks and mess hall
Might Have Bettered Music.
Senator Bingham's bill wo.;ld have
helped to revive the old spirit of CO.
operation, it is claimed, and the music
they turned out on the parade
ground would have been of more
poppy" brand. War Department Of
ficialS We're reported to be reluctant
to revert to the former plan, however
on the ground that the present sys-
tenn had not been proved unsatisfac
tory.
The personnel of Army bands is
drawn from recruiting sources and
from the ranks of the enlisted organi-
Zatlon in general. Infantrymen or
cavalrymen who believe they are bet.
ter fitted to slide a trombone than
perform the duties of their respective
branches may apply for a transfer to
q band unit
Those who wish to perfect them
selves as Army musicians have the
opportunity Of attending the Army
Music School, where they may take
courses in all the lntricacies of mill
tary music. Sometimes the bandsmen
become so proficient us result of
their careful and expert training in
the Army that they begin to look
beyond the limits of the military res.
ervation for what the world of music
may have to offer.
Many DO Not Re-Enlist.
They are not blind to the fact that
ciVllian musicians are being paid sala-
RES far In excess of any they may
nope to get under existing policies
When terms of enlistment expire few
re-enlist, it is declared. They heed
the call of the dance resort, the the.
alter or the concert bureau.
Officials of the Army Music School
are qnown to be considerably con-
cerned over the state OF affairs lust
outlined. Requirements of the school
are that entrants must be competent
musicians at the time of enrolment.
Inc depleted personnel of the Army
bands naturally has fewer expert
enced players than are possible with
a full complement of men. The
school is understood to have felt the
effect of this scarcity of good must
Clans in the Army at the present
time, and its supporters are fearful
that If the situation becomes much
worse, it may be useless to continue
the courses, since there may not be
enough students to warrant further
intensive training
Those familiar with the problems
now confronting the rank and file of
military musicians characterize the
situation as "critical"
1t Is all very fine, they say. to de
mand more zip in military music.
put II is another thing to produce this
zip without sufficient Instruments
or men.
GIVE us the men and the instru.
ments, they cry, and Comdr. Sousa
VIII find that nearly any American
Army band can produce music 1us1
as lively and zippy as that of mosr
foreign organizations