Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-08

tn HE rise of the American Jazz
orchestra, with it's resultant
imitation of the musicians
wages. is threatening the
decentralization of that fine
old American institution the military
band
The popularity of the dance pal
ace. roof garden and road house,
and the Willingness of the devotees of
dancing TO pay high for their musical
entertainment. is blamed by Army
officials for the low ebb" reached
by Army musical organizations of
the line.
The prosperity in civilian orchestra
circles thus effected by Americas
craving for expensive Jazz has been
accompanied by proportionate de-
cline in Army band personnel, and
Of late the situation has become so
serious that Army authorities super
wishing military bands have put their
heads together in a frantic search
for remedial measures.
Low Pay Is Blamed.
The crisis thus presented to the
War Department is the natural out
growth of conditions brought about
by the level of wages enjoyed by
musicians in this era of popular mu-
sic, Army band officials point out.
II Is hopeless. they believe. to ex-
rect army bands to obtain fresh per.
sonnet with which to strengthen the
sadly depleted regimental music
group when so little can be offered
III th- way OF wage and service in.
ducements under existing conditions.
civilian musicians receive salaries
OF $50 week up, with the emphasis
on tho I'D. The minimum weekly
salary ~ . line band musician in the
Army J.. approximately IS, one-twelfth
1hat ohtainable outside the service.
Contrast i'm Discipline.
.. Civilian musicians are not subject
70 military discipline, Furthermore,
ana thelf work is of a type generally
more divertinG than the duties of
an Army musician, who has no she.
C1al privileges beyond those of the
regular enlisted man, except freedom
from guard duty and one or two other
OnerOuS tasks
Inc most that the musician in
Khaki can hope to make. through
Faithful attention to his duties and
1ohE service, is the position of assist
ant band leader which pays a mini
mum of S12 a month, with allowances.
or, more rarely, of leader, which car
RES monthly stipend Of S148. with
allowances of lieutenant. There is
n long list Of eligibles awaiting an.
polntment as band leaders. with
meager hope of early promotion be-
cause or the scarcity of vacancies
Some of the elie ibles have been wait.
1nS four and five years for a band
leadership, it is said
Inc small boy who used to be
thrilled by the stirring strains of the
martial music from military bands
th 1,.1If
would fulfill his great desire to blow
the hugle or beat the drum in such an
organization. now learns that bugles
may he blown and drums beaten with
murh greater reward elsewhere than
in the Army
SOuSa'S Comment Stirs Row.
The troubles of the Army Band
nave just come 10 light with the an |
nouncement that John Philip Sousa |
has suggested to the War Department |
that more zip" be injected in mill. |
fary music. He referred to the IA
NOUS Guards Band of England as a |
group whose Instrumentation is worthy |
Oh emulation. SOuSa'S remarks did not |
sit we'll, however, with military band
leaders, capt. William H. Santelmann
of the Marine Band retorting that he
Thought America had few pointers
Soi 4otelSfl DftnuS. ana Capt. Stannard
of the Army Band replying that army
bands are prevented from adopting
elaborate Recommendations by lack of
personnel.
1t was brought out that the 81 line
bands OF the Army are working under
severe handicapS. but few of them
having the authorized strength of %
musicians. and increments to existin.
personnel being infrequent
Low wages do not constitute the
only reason for the difficulty being