Milford chronicle., 1931-08-21

tire history is to have played before
Abraham Lincoln at Gettysburg on
the memorable occasion of his Get
tysburg Address.
Hardly second to this was its
march at the head of the process
sion which wound its way to Ar
lington Cemetery in 1921 when
President Harding dedicated the
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and
the Marine Band played dirges in
memory of those who had gone to
war never to return.
Yet the services of the band have
not always been performed on Oc-
casions as solemn as these. Nellie
Grant was married in the East Room
of the White House to the strains of
the LOhengrin Wedding March play
ed by the Marine Band. 1t played
Mendelssohn's wedding march at the
first and only marriage of a Presi-
dent of the United States when, in
the Blue Room, Grover Cleveland
was welded to the lovely Frances
Folsom. Theodore Roosevelt gave
his daughter Alice in marriage to
the late Speaker Nichols Longworth
in the East Room as the Marine
Band played.
Throughout it's more than $50
years of existence, the rising merit
and reputation of the Marine Band
has brought it encouragement from
Congress. During Abraham Lin
coins Presidency it was given full
statutory standing as a distinct
musical unit, its members relieved
of military duty and adequately paid.
In 1899 Congress increased its men,
bership from 80 to 60, and a sym
phony orchestra was formed within
the band And it early ceased to be
merely an excellent military band
and became an aggregation of ar
fists, with a standard of perform
ance nowhere excelled in the world.
Much of the credit for building
the Marine Band into a great con-
cert body belongs to John Philip
Sousa who, in 1880, became its lead
er. In earlier years Sousa had
played in the band. In the meantime
he had become an outstanding con-
ductor and composer. For Garfield's
funeral he composed his dirge I'm
Memoriam," and his "Semper Fidelis
March," written for great reviews,
has been officially recognized by the
United States Government. Under
his leadership the Marine Band rose
to a perfection in performance
which succeeding leaders William H.
Santelmann and Taylor Branson, the
present leader, have ably maintain
ed, so that today the Marine Band
has a reputation all over the United
States and the world, and is heard
on it's tours of the country as eager
ly as it is listened to in Washing
ton.
But the history of the Marine
Band is best rounded out with
thread that still links it with its be-
ginnings as 1.-The Presidents Own"
For a full century, when the Presi
dent of the United States descended
the steps of the White House at
formal functions, he did so to the
measures of "The Presidents
March," as played by the Marine
Band. The custom had it's origin in
an incident directly connected with
George Washington.
During the Revolution a stirring
tune known as "Washington's
March" was played by the bands, ac-
cording to custom, whenever Gen
eral Washington appeared. After
1889 this was superseded by another |
march composed in Washington's |
honor by a German named Feyles, |
which Immediately captured popular |
taste and became known as 1.-The
Presidents March,"
In 1898, young singer and actor, |
Gilbert Fox, was to be given a ben
eft performance in Philadelphia, |
and, fearing that the house would |
be empty, the singer appealed to |
Joseph HopkinsOn, brother of the
Signer of the Declaration, for some
new and ringing words that would |
capture the public, set to the tune of
he uniVersally-knOwn presidents |
March," Hopkinson duly furnished
the words, the song was sung, its
reception was overwhelming, and
ever since then it has been one of
oldest, most familiar, and
Dest-beloyed patriotic airs.
Thus, we are reminded by the
United States George Washington
Commission, was writ
zen and launched Hail Columbia"
'or years played as ''The Presidents
March," on the Presidents appear
lnce at White House functions, andl
IS originally composed in honor of
he First President, George Wash
ngtOn. For some time Hail to the
Chief" has been used as this formal
salute, but perhaps some future an
,iquarian master of ceremonies at
he White House will restore the or
ginal Presidents March," and thus
the return to the custom Of
George Washington'S time.