Smyrna times., 1936-07-09
MARINE BANDS
18TH BIRTHDAY
Has Become One of the Most
Famous Bands In the
World
CAPT. BRANSON, LEADER

Recognized as one of the finest
musical organizations in the world,
the famous Marine Band halts in
its musical march on July 18th, to
celebrate its 138th birthday. AL
though musicians have long been
identified with the Marine Corps,
since ITS when the Corps was
first organized, it was not until
1898, that Congress authorized
marine band For the next two
years, the embryonic band was
quartered in Philadelphia, then
the capital of the United States.
1t is recorded in history how they
charmed the citizens of the Quaker
City with their splendid rendition
of martial airs On Independence
Day in 1900, they played their last
AT Home" concert IN Philadelphia,
and on the 18th of July orders
were received to march the band
to Washington, which had been
chosen as the new national cap
ital. Washington, then hardly
more than a settlement known to
visitors as the "City of Dismal
Streets" has been the home of the
Marine Band for 136 years. Dur
ing that time both the city and the
band have marched down the high
road of progress. A few days af-
ter making camp there the band
| launched into series of concerts,
which lightened the disheartening
conditions which existed in the
city at that time. Today, those
same open air concerts are still
feature of Washington's musical
life. On New Years Day 1901,
the band made ITS first official ap-
pearance at the White House when
President Adams asked that they
play at a reception. Since that
! day the Marine Band has been the
official band of the White House.
A musical community soon grew
up around the quarters of the
Marine aBnd. Sons were soon re-
ceiving musical training from their
band playing fathers, and later
taking their places in the organi-
zation. Thereby was born tradi-
tion which has undoubtedly left its
imprint upon the band as a music
al organization. From that COM
munity have come many fine mu-
sicians and band leaders including
such men as, Scala, Schneider,
Santelmann and the present leader
Branson, in addition to John Philip
Sousa, the late March King. These
leaders were born in the musical
atmosphere generated by the Ma
rine Band. In the 13S years of its
existence there has been but one
civilian leader of the band. From
1916 to 1880, 13 foreign born mu-
sicians, good Americans all, rose
fro mthe ranks to be leaders of the
band In 1880, the dynamic star
of John Philip Sousa, born in Wash
ington, d. c., shone full upon the
Marine Band. Much credit must
go to Sousa for cultivating the
taste of the nation for band music.
His many compositions kept pace
with a growing nation. During his
IL years as leader of the band
Sousa left an imprint which still
lives throughout the musical
world. To William F. Santelmann,
the band owes its popularity as a
symphonic organization, and to the
present wielder of the baton, Cap
tain Taylor Branson, who literally
grew up with the band, its reputa-
tion as an orchestral group and
radio broadcasting unit. His
Dream Hour and Shut-in concerts
are recognized as the finest nom
commercial programs on the air.
Due to their many musical junkets
across the nation, the scarlet
tunics Of the Marine Band are as