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HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE ON

THE PRESIDENT'S OWN


U.S. MARINE BAND

200th Anniversary
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HIsToIucu PERSPECTIVE ON

THE PRESIDENT'S OWN


U.S. MARINE BAND
by Master Gunnery Sergeant D. Michael Ressier, US. Marine Corps

11 July 1798, are really capital, and cannot On 10 October, Comm-


President John be had without a bounty, you
Qn Adams signed an must give it. The officers here
Act of Congress have agreed to advance 10
that reestablished the United dollars each to enable the reg-
appears impossible to procure
music without a bounty. I wish
andant Burrows wrote to the
Secretary of the Navy, "It

States Marine Corps, which iment to procure music and I you would give me liberty to
had its origins in the hope it will be agreeable to expend such sum, as I shall
Continental Marines. In addi- the officers under Lieutenant think fit for the Corps. We at
tion to a Corps of Marines, the Lilley to advance the same present, have agreed to raise
act also authorized " . . . a sum." 300 dollars amongst ourselves,
drum major, a fife major, and
The Act of Congress that created the United States Marine Band, signed
32 drums and fifes." President by President John Adams on liJuly 1798
Adams had no way of knowing National Archives
that, in addition to creating a COVGRL,SS OF THE jNITEDT..S.TATES:1..
fighting force, he also was pro- tt'tcen trmï.
viding for what would become Begun and held at .the citY of PILi/.adelpllia, in the ifate of PENNSYLVANIA. On
an extraordinary musical Monday, the thirteenth of Novern/ìe7; one thoufand feven hundred
organization. The United and ninety-feven.
States Marine Band, our
An
nation's oldest professional
musical organization, is cele-
brating its 200th anniversary
4t It tiiaftt p *tuatt aub autE at ltquÑutatAau at ttjt
A look at the band's history mub *tate of ntenx& tu (uujttfa affanbitO. N

shows how this organization L

developed from its humble


beginnings as "32 drums and
fifes" to a world-class military
band. / I
.. i.....hi......'.....ic..........
- --fr i ' t...t ..' ,e. . . _, .. .. t fj fi- /i
Little is known about the L.i' i
4 i, . ....L ... ...i
first musicians who joined the .1._1___L..4 .4 ..
. / Pr" ' 'i i /-/ / f
Corps. It is known that there
was great difficulty finding ../., ¿Jt.L il ii. ,Li..
them and enlisting them. .t 4... .........L
4. .t.tL .4 .ii.t / ,i....
.
.
i. .4,,ib i.t.i/ .i...
..... t..jj ... 4, ,i /
..i.J L
J. ,..
I. .i t,
LJL,., r....i..... .4. i
i . Øi .i,
...,Li

Marine Corps Commandant


Lieutenant Colonel William
t-........ i-- 4g t.t....J Ei.i... IL/-i. 'e,rn..iti, .i&..

Ward Burrows wrote to Lieu-


tenant James Weaver in
September 1798, "You are to ..i.

procure as many drummers }"'-' -


and fifers as you can. If they

i
Painting by LtCoI Donna J. Near; USMCR
Marine Band musicians, wearing the reversed colors of the Corps, participated in a recruiting party outside
Independence Hall in Philideiphia in 1798.
until your pleasure is known. were sent on recruiting duty, encourage the men in the
Other troops give a bounty and some were retained in crowd to sign up with him.
and volunteer corps expend Philadelphia, then the na- The musicians' uniform col-
large sums in this way, which tion's capital, to provide music ors were the reverse of the reg-
makes it difficult to procure for the leaders of the govern- ular Marines, following a com-
musick of any kind. I enlisted mn en t. mon European tradition.
a fifer yesterday, and gave him Recruiting parties were one They wore a brilliant red coat
10 dollars out of my pocket of the first musical responsi- trimmed with blue that creat-
and the villain went off in a bilities of these musicians and ed a stunning and distinctive
few hours afterwards." must have occurred frequent- appearance. Military musi-
In spite of difficulties, the ly. Fifers and drummers would cians were used to send signals
Commandant was successful parade down the streets of a to the troops and the reversed
in enlisting the first musicians. city, attracting a large group of colors allowed commanders to
In 1799 the Marine Corps was curious onlookers as they per- find his musicians quickly in
enlarged by about 20 percent, formed popular patriotic the confusion of battle.
and 18 more musicians were music of the day. A Marine The original group of fifers
added. Some of them were officer would then present a and drummers probably in-
deployed on war ships, some Marine in full uniform and cluded musicians who had
received musical training on (J7 /jO(4
other instruments and these
likely were the ones retained 9/2;e tedtclent o/' tte Zzùect da1ee,
in Philadelphia. The Marine
Band, with its first leader, 7e9uejo tle EïIeoJe ì Vc%
William Farr, performed at
the Fourth of July celebration Com/uz,e to 022; newz,
in Philadelphia in 1800. The
Philadelphia Universal Gazette '

reported on 10 July 1800 that,


"The Society of the Cincinnati i8/
distinguished the occasion by
an elegant entertainment a2r.
given at the city tavern; at
which the following toasts Courtesy of the White House
were given, to the animating invitation to the reception hosted by President and Mrs. Adams on New
notes of martial music, by the )'ar's Da 1801, at which the Marine Band made its White House
band belonging to Colonel debut.
Burrows corps of Marmes. stands the Naval Hospital." band at this time, but by
When the nation's capital The band's first public per- December 1800 it included
moved from Philadelphia to formance in the new capital oboes, clarinets, French
Washington in 1800, the took place on 21 August 1800. horns, bassoons, and drums.
Marine Corps and the Marine The location was just north- The President's mansion
Band moved with it. Marine west of the current site of the was ready to be occupied in
historian Edwin N. McClellan Lincoln Memorial. It was then November 1800, and Pres-
wrote, "On the 31st of July known as Camp Hill, or Peter ident Adams invited the
1800, the Marines pitched Hill, near E Street between Marine Band to perform at
their tents on a 'beautiful hill 23rd and 25th Streets. Appar- the first major public event
overlooking the Potomac,' the ently, there is no record of the held there, the New Year's Day
same hill on which today exact instrumentation of the reception given by him and
Mrs. Adams on 1 January
Early image of the north entrance of the President's House (as it was first 1801. In less than 2 1/2 years,
known), occupied by President and Mrs. Adams on 1 November 1800. from 11 July 1798, to 1
Courtesy of the White House
January 1801, the newly creat-
ed Marine Band had devel-
oped fi-orn a group of drums
and fifes performing in the
streets, to an ensemble of
musicians performing for the
President and his guests in the
new executive mansion.
Two months later Adams
left office and was followed by
Thomas Jefferson. On 4
March 1801, the Marine Band
performed during the festivi-
ties celebrating his inaugura-
tion as our third President.

3
Burrows who in due military
form saluted the President,
accompanied by the Pres-
ident's march played by an
excellent band attached to the
Corps. After undergoing vari-
ous military evolutions, the
company returned to the din-
ing room, and the band from
an adjacent room played a
succession of fine patriotic
airs."
The band performed for
every New Year's Day and
Fourth ofJuly reception at the
White House during Jeff-
erson's two terms as President.
An account of the New Year's
Day reception in 1809 pro-
vides a glimpse of the day's fes-
tivities and the band's role: A
large crowd nearly filled the
house, and the band had to
fight for space. Catherine Mit-
chell wrote, "On our arrival at
the Castle we found . . the
.

rooms so crowded that it was


with difficulty you could
squeeze through from one to
another .....Aim exquisite
President Thomas Jefferson heard the Marine musicians play at his inau-
band of music played at inter-
guration festivities.
vals martial, patriotic and
enlivening airs, which rever-
This marked the beginning of an extensive library of music, berated through the spacious
a long tradition of inaugural preserved today at the dome."
participation. The Marine University of Virginia. His love Perhaps because of his
Band has performed at every of music led him to take great appreciation for the contribu-
presidential inaugural since interest in the Marine Band. tion of the Marine Band cou-
that time. Jefferson asked the band to pled with his own training and
John Adams gave the band perform at his White House love for excellent music,
its charter, but Jefferson gave reception on 4 July 1801. Jefferson had a vision for an
the band its identity. He was Margaret Bavard Smith, wife enlarged and improved band.
an excellent amateur musi- of the publisher of the He spoke with Commandant
cian, a lover of fine music, and National Inteiligencer, attended Burrows in 1803 with an idea
he performed chamber music and later wrote to her sister, to enlist musicians from Italy
frequently with friends. He "Martial music soon an- for duty with the band.
called music "the favorite pas- nounced the arrival of the Lieutenant Colonel Bur-
sion of my soul," and collected Marine Corps of Captain rows acted on Jefferson's sug-

4
gestion by instructing Captain his two sons, you will be pleased with
including
John Hall, who was being dis- Samuel and Ignazio. The mus- them."
patched to the Mediterranean icians and their families Unfortunately, the Comm-
boarded the frigate Ghesapeahe andant was not at all pleased.
during the war with Tripoli, to
enlist musicians while in for the journey to Washing- On 29 June, he wrote back to
southern Italy and bring them ton. Captain Hall that he had
back for service in the band. On 28 February 1805, never given an order to enlist
Captain Hall departed for the Captain Hall triumphantly a band in Italy and stated that
Mediterranean on 14 August wrote to the new Comman- the Secretary of the Navy
1803. dant to tell hirn of his success. would never consent to having
About seven months 1atei He wrote, "I have been oblig- two bands for one Corps. It is
on 6 March 1804, Lieutnant ed to give the leader 50 Dolls not known if this letter ever
Colonel Franklin Wharton (dollars), and the rest 10 dol- reached Hall.
replaced Lieutnant Colonel lars bounty, with a ration of 8 The musicians arrived in
Burrows as Commandant of to their wives and this, Sir, I Washington, D.C. in Septem-
the Marine Corps. The new was obliged to do or could not ber 1805. According to
Commandant had no knowl- have got a single man. Gaetano Carusi, they arrived
edge of Lieutnant Colonel On 1 April 1805, Captain on and disembarked from
Burrows' order to Captain Hall wrote again to Lieutnant their ship on the 20th. They
Hall. Meanwhile, Captain Hall Colonel Wharton, and his let- immediately made their play-
arrived in the region and on ter included this paragraph. "I ing debut, performing with
17 February 1805, after quite have enlisted this Band for the the regular Marine Band at
some time and effort, was suc- Corps in consequence of an festivities honoring Captain
cessful in persuading a group Order received from Col William Bainbridge who just
of musicians from Catania, Burrows before I left America returned from the war with
Sicily, to sign up: Gaetano and have engaged them at the Tripoli.
Carusi, age 42, was enlisted as same rate as the rest of our
The arrival of the Italians
leader of the group which Musick. They will come on created a dilemma for
included about 15 others with me & am in hopes that Lieutnant Colonel Wharton.
On 13 May 1806, Lieutnant
Muster roll of the Italian musicians enlisted into the Marine Corps by Colonel Wharton met with the
Captain John Hall in Februa 1805. Secretary of the Navy and
. /?4 '1/7m,,J /Ç £ÇA/ Q .// Captain Hall to discuss the sit-
uation. On 31 July 1806,

/d &._ j'.'
zi7h
j' -- / .
Lieutnant Colonel Wharton
ordered the Italian band to
¿g ,'12SP r- live in quarters with the garri-
- .a. ff 6J 6
e-.. ø 76 .
. z,-
son and be under the same
'-J... z,_. 7fr ßj 3. - . /3 ô ¡4' regulations as the regular
- ø. 7c3. .øa Ø . ¡ 1« 7 ) band.
/'-'. g,- - &. . j f'
- . 4. '.fr.- s- . Q Although the original con-
Ij; _. 3. j-II $'. 2
tract was for three years, all of
/_p.' d...-.. -' 6' f
# ;
Ç.' -

Z' ô.
.,.
5 14i r
the members of the Italian
-
Ø
j r '
s. J if 1/
band were dismissed from the
- r.#- Ø.r - iii P- 2' Marine Corps after serving
,-j' øá ø.i r s. aji r r only about half of their enlist-
-._ff1 9» s 4,
ment. Several later rejoined
the band, and one, Venerando
Pulizzi, remained with the ident's March," "Rural Feli- music, if they answer the fol-
band for 21 years, serving as city," "Auld Lang Syne," and lowing description of these,
leader of the band for a short "Soldier's Glory" A letter from deemed necessary by the
time in 1816, and then again Commandant Wharton shows Drum Major, viz, a bugle horn,
from 1818 to 1827. that the instrumentation of if trumpet kind, 2 F clarinets,
The repertoire of the band the band was growing. On 23 and a pair of cymbals, . . .

at this time included "Jeff- August 1812, he wrote to a The band's increasing influ-
erson's March," "Yankee Doo- Navy agent, "I should thank ence is seen in a publication
dle," "Hail Columbia," "Pres- you to buy the instruments of created by the band's second
Enlistment contract signed by Venerando Puiizzi. A boy of 12 when he director. In 1812 Charles
enlisted in 1805, Pulizzi remained with the Marine Band Jbr 21 years, Ashworth wrote and pub-
serving as Director in 1816 and 1818 to 1827. lished a new method book for
drummers titled A New Useful
and Complete System of Drum
d'0 ¿W/fl0EA/th't.F0 ¿4O f vcj"n/or,/ ¿'litiietI 7il/J(// fc' Beating. The National In teli-
¿n eìt: t..ltarnc 6/.i o/ e/e UnitcD )tìtTL, igencer stated on 16 January
1813, that this was the first of
vofle?' c/u27d uAon i/e je,iiiô men0flC(/ liZ ¿P /.a4d7ee/
its kind ever published in the
i/e iit/ d'a2 f 179f?, e,ifgded' '%", aCi for e4/?z/9 ont! United States. It became the
oryamzl7 a t...4'(ari,w standard for rudimentay
A7í f/at J Aav« /ad' rcad'to nie tÁ ,a'L an/._-írthí4 çi" drumming and was approved
by the War Department for
¿/ S/z(J/. 17/a(7Ldt t_4t(aE(7p and' .ejcrtton.
use by the Navy, the Marine
Corps, and the Army.
m/ i/e:, According to Edwin Mc-
of X/ 'so Clellan, Marine Corps records
of indicate that members of the
Marine Band were involved
with other Marines from the
Washington Barracks in the
Battle of Bladensburg on 24
August 1814, during the War
of 1812. McClellan also wrote
J that members of the band
helped to save the Marine
c/O oohnaj Jmear io ¿ear true ahtyanee ¿'o i/e 2h1/t/ date of Corps records from the fires
....-ínic,/ea, and' io 4ctVe i/cm /oneoi and' ,/ai4ej ay41i'zt a/I set by the British in Washing-
i/ith enemù or %,.4o,et w/om.ocver, and' ¿o otterve an'I oIi, tÁ ton.
o'aro of eÁ . rctt!ent oft/c imnicI e/aiíJ of..,Inertw, and' i/ Immediately following the
ore/ero oft/c o,9.r a/i/iotnkd' over mc accort!t end of the War of 1812 the
to e/e ¿fulc.j and'
tIPtiC/co of/e .Avy.
Marine Corps grew in size.
The number of musicians
grew to 92. Congressional cut-
9-'t-' -'---
backs in 1817, however,
S-wn l'9j?IT nc et
tt'i /y [ p I Ç
reduced this number to 42.
The band in Washington con-
tinued performing at official
government functions and
began performing more and
more frequently at public con-
certs.
In January 1816 the band
was called upon to perform at
a dinner honoring Navy
//ru//i/n//f'/ ///(_.._
heroes Commodore Stephen
-----
Decatur and Captain Charles
Stewart sponsored by the (( "b1JÌ
\._ ; Jkti. :í
Pennsylvania members of
Congress. Reports mentioned FIT1 FO1D &
that "The company sat down
to dinner . and spent the
. .
--a-
evening with the purest har-
mony and good humor. The
dinner was followed by many
toasts, accompanied with f
highly patriotic songs and
music by the Marine Band." thu t'n.I.UM .111k! havi. y fl,il! yp h,'roe,,

One of the songs was


described as "a hastily written
song sung to the tune of
'Anacreon in Heaven' with -a-
the Marine Band furnishing
the music." Although the g :
w-2
words were probably not those
by Francis Scott Key, the music
was the familiar tune we now
II 'a .i h.,rn I.,i4, '.Vhn foi,;liI afli t,j.d i n r,eet,,n citi'n',

-I'R-4 1
a
roiihit uni hiIe.I i n

know as our national anthem.


The 50th anniversary of our
---
Independence was celebrated
with a parade and ceremonies
involving the band. The Piano sheet music to "Hail Golumbia, "a popular tune from the first days
parade, which included Presi- in the band hist or.
dent John Quincy Adams, 4th festivities took on special excellent music of the full
departed from the White significance for the Marine band of the Marine Corps to
House and went up Pennsyl- Band, In addition to the nor- High Street Wharf, where they
vania Avenue to the Capitol. mal patriotic celebrations of embarked in perfect order, as
The National Intelligencer the day, the band was involved previously arranged, and the
reported on 6 july 1826, that in ceremonies with President boats immediately set forward,
"The Band of the Marine John Quincy Adams for the amidst the cheers of the
Corps was stationed in the groundbreaking of the Ches- crowds which lined the
ga1ler struck up a patriotic apeake and Ohio Canal. The 7 wharves." The Marine Band
air, and continued to play at July 1828 National intelligencer was placed in the first of sever-
intervals throughout the sub- included this account, "At al boats which were followed
sequent services of the morn- about 8 o'clock, the Proces- by several barges which made
ing." sion was formed on Bridge their way up the existing
Just two years later, the July Street, and moved on, to the canal. The National Intell-

7
Disfrj,,t of C O L U M li I A to wit
igencer continues the story.
BK IT P. KM M 11h P. It!), That o,, Ihi. fifteenth day .t Janoary ii. the year
"On landing from the boats,
our Lord one thosad ,iKhi i,undr.d t,,d *aslve, sod ut the ln.lep.tdoee uf and reaching the ground, the
1h. Untied 5l.t,, the tbirty_.ixth CM 4k LhS s7W4 Rl' ASIr Wokili, d.p...lted
Pro-
procession moved around it
in thia office ti., TitLe of s B00k, th, right whereof he ricin,. a. Author end
prietor in the fuliowi..g wordt, to Wit:_ so as to leave a hollow space,
"A new, u,eful, and conepiet. Syctem of t!vun._beatiog, lncludI,r the Reveille, Tr- in midst of a mass of people,
oop , Retreat , Tattoo, Officer.' Call,, Sin1, , Salut.., sod 1h, whoI of thc Camp Du
ty u practised at headquariers, Wa.hingto,, City; jote,,,Ied particul..rly foe ib. or of
in the center of which was the
ths Stat.. Army end Navy___ spot marked out by Judge
¡n cenfutmlty lu li.. act of 1h. Co,,Kres, of the United States, intitied" An act for Wright, the engineer of the
the euau.rsKtm.nt of Learning, h- .e.urioK the Copta of Ma1.., Charta and 1300k., to el..
AetheTa Od Proprietor, of auch COyIe$, during the tin,e th.re,r' Chesapeake and Ohio Canal
A4 ¡j so to an act entitled" An sxt. sup'iem.ntary t,, a,, act entitled a. act fur the entuur_. Company, for the commence-
agencnt of Learning, by aecuri..g ti,, Copies of Mapa, Charts sed Book, to the Auii,ors md ment of the work."
pToyriet.rt of tuch Copi,, duri.g th time therein m,n(j,,ned, and .iteniir.g il,. i,ete.fltt the...
-tof to the set, of dePlhnhI, ,n-r.vin a,,d et.bin hittorical and ,,thtr Printe'.' Some of the music played by
G. 1)ENEALE, CLERK the band at this event includ-
District Court District Co1umbi ed "Yankee Doodle," "Hail
gruarI 16 1812. Columbia," "President's March,"
Copyright notice from Drum Major Charles Ashworth s drum. method "Roslin Castle," "Soldier's Glory,"
book, dated January 16, 1812 "The Star-Spangled Banner,"
Marine Band musicians disembark from a canal boat near Great Falls, Virginia, on 4 July 1828, for the
groundbreaking ceremonies of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal.
Painting by LtCol Donna J. Neary, USMCR

8
ing man of slight stature, and
-i his arrival at official functions
frequently went unnoticed. To
- avoid this embarrassment,
Sara Polk asked the Marine
Band to play "Hail to the
Chief' to announce him.
4/aieJz A letter from Commandant
Archibald Henderson written
NAOAL1 }?ATRIOTrC 3Oi(5.N4O.
to the Secretary of the Navy in
I? & WtUUA December 1831 described the
condition of the instruments
- -.---.- used by the band at that time.

ft ====- He wrote, "The bad condition


of the instruments lately used
by the band was the cause of
my asking your authority for
the purchase of new ones." He
continued, "The old instru-
ments, such as they are, partly
* purchased by the public but
mostly by the Corps Fund,
r ,_ have been returned into the
- _!!!!!
-= -=--
t - Quarter Master's office. They
are worn out." Unfortunately,
the letter does not list all of
the instruments but does men-
tion keyed bugles and a bass
-.- ,- j -
drum.
In 1836, when Colonel
Commandant Archibald Hen-
Early sheet music publication of "Hail to tue Chief" derson rushed to Florida with
much of the Marine Corps to
and "Hail to the Chief." This frequently used tribute to the assist the Army in the Florida
was the first known perfor- President. Julia Gardner Tylet; Indian Wai; members of the
mance of "Hail to the Chief' who earned herself the title Marine Band were assigned
by the Marine Band in the "Mrs. Presidentress" because special duty as guards at
presence of the President of of her regal attitudes, report Marine Corps Headquarters.
the United States. It may have edly gave instructions to the Kenneth Carpenter, in his
been selected just because it Marine Band to play the song 1970 doctoral dissertation on
was a popular tune of the da whenever the President made the history of the band, wrote
or perhaps because of its ori- an official appearance. that the Drum Major and Fife
gins as a boating song. It First Lady Sara Polk is also Major were ordered to remain
would not he until the admin- credited with using "Hail to at Marine Barracks and super-
istration of John Tyler (1841- the Chief' for Presidential vise the barracks along with
1845), however, that "Hail to honors. President James Polk the Sergeant Major Some of
the Chief' would become a (1845-1849) was an unassum- the band also served as guards

9
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE EDITION OF NATIONAL ANTHEMS Capitol, starting a tradition
HAIL TO THE CHIEF that continues to this day.
Conductor
Majesticatly (J, 104)
Also, about this time, during
8'- FI., Pics., ist CIAr. the administration of John
Tyler, the band began weekly
public concerts on the
grounds of the White House, a
tradition that continued until
the administration of Herbert
Hoover. The instruments that
were used included flutes, E-
flat and B-flat clarinets, trum-
pets (including the new valved
trumpet), French horns, trom-
bones, ophicleides, bass horns,
For ORlrlol Uro oF Arrn,d Porn, Rond, and percussion instruments.
* ici0 5904
AS PLAYED AT THE WHITE HOUSE BY THE UNITED STATES MARINE BAND
PROPERTY 0F U. S. ORMES FORCES It is interesting to note that
Arr,ry S,,,k No. 36M-640
Noop Obro N,. 36-M-640
Mh,n0 & Roo,,. In,., M. Y. C. 0001
C,nb,c,l No. DA-30-030-QM-420-1 Ql-FO-O-SO in 1840, the Marine Corps
Manual made a distinction be-
Modern printing of the band arrangement of "Hail to the Chief" as used tween members of the Marine
by the Marine Band toda).
Band and regular Marines, a
at the Navy Yard.
In 1838 members of the Francis Maria Scala, 14th Director of the Marine Band, joined the band
band petitioned Congress for in 1842 as a clarinetist. National Archives

an increase in membership
and pa) a sure sign that their
responsibilities were growing.
The petition read, "The
under-signed members of the
Marine Band beg leave hum-
bly to present that their com-
pensation is not adequate to
the services which they have to
perform and pray your honor-
able bodies to increase their
compensation . . . ." The peti-
tion was referred to the
Committee on Naval Affairs,
but no action was taken.
The band's musical respon-
sibilities in and around Wash-
ington continued to increase.
It was in the early or mid
1840s, either during the ad-
ministrations of Martin Van
Buren or John Tyler, that reg-
ular public concerts began on
the grounds of the U.S.

10
distinction which may actually
have existed as early as 1798 in
Philadelphia. The manual
i-ead, "No person shall he
enlisted in the Marine Corps
except as a private or field
music. All enlistments or reen-
listments will be for general
service. Applicants other than
those for the Marine Band will
be informed that they must
enlist or reenlist for general
service." This statement sug-
gests that band members'
enlistment was for duty specif-
ically with the band only, a
practice that continues to the
present day. Members enlist
under a special contract for
duty with the United States
Marine Band only, and cannot
be transferred to any other
organization. This practice
attracts some of the country's
finest young musicians and
encourages them to remain
for a career. More than 90 per-
cent serve with the band 20
years or more.
In 1855, the Marine Corps
appointed one of the Marine
Band's most influential and Library of Congress
important directors in its his- Scala was one of the Marine Bands most influential directors, serving in
tory, Francis Maria Scala. Scala that capacity from 1855 to 1871. Photo bT Civil I'i'ir photographer
was a fine musician, a native Mathew Brady.
Italian who had received his A. Henderson in September increased the size of the band
musical training in the schools 1859. He wrote, "Under his and modernized the instru-
of Italy. He joined the U.S. [Scala's] direction it [the mentation, including most of
Navy when the U.S. Frigate band] at once began to the woodwind, brass, and per-
Brandwine visited Naples in improve and has continued to cussion instruments that are
1841, then left the Navy and improve. I consider Scala a used today. These included
brought his considerable tal- good musician, a good com- flutes, piccolos, E-fiat clar-
ents and skills to the Marine poser and a good arranger. He inets, B-flat clarinets, cornets,
Corps when he enlisted in the is sober and honest and he trumpets, French horns, bari-
band as a clarinetist in 1842. never disobeys an order." tones, trombones, tubas, and
A glimpse into Scala's char- Scala served as director for snare and bass drums.
acter can be seen in a letter 16 years, from 1855 to 1871, Scala was a prolific compos-
written by First Lieutnant C. and during this time he er and arranger and supplied

11
probably Abraham Lincoln.
He wrote, "Lincoln I always
remember with affection. He
was so delightfully plain and
honest. 'Old Abe' liked music
and was my friend. I have
j; \\\ many personal souvenirs of
him."
/ Members of the band finally
tJ.S.Marme tarn! received a pay increase in
/AT THE 1856 when President Franklin
Pierce signed the so-called
White House Pay Bill." This

iMarch-. I8ì
£üø't legislation provided an extra
four dollars monthly pay, a 50
percent pay increase.
Another piece of legislation
stands out as one of the most
important in the band's histo-
ry.In July 1861 President
Abraham Lincoln signed an
Act of Congress which official-
Band Master.
ly recognized the Marine
Band by law This was the first
Baston official recognition of the
Publi5trnd by Oliver Oisun&Cn 277 Washinun Sr band by legislation. The direc-
&Lawlu tLvi.
V ). ¿- tor was designated "Principal
Musician," and a Drum Major
and 30 musicians were autho-
Union March, composed by Francis Maria Scala for President Lincoln s rized.
first inaugural, 4 March 1861.
Although he was not a musi-
the Marine Band with excel- under his leadership at public cian, Lincoln loved music, and
lent music to perform, ex- concerts, ceremonies, and his taste was quite broad. He
panding and improving the events at the White House. enjoyed the popular music of
repertoire tremendously. His The Marine Band's close the day, such tunes as "Hail
collection of manuscript and relationships with the Presi- Columbia," "Happy Land,"
printed music, now located at dents can be seen in Scala's "Barbara Allen," and "The
the Library of Congress, in- memoirs. Concerning Presi- Turbaned Turk that Scorns
cludes more than 600 titles. dent Taylor he wrote, "Gen- the World and Struts about
He composed marches and eral Taylor was an oldfash- with His Whiskers Curled." It
waltzes, and his transcriptions ioned soldier who put on no was in Chicago in 1860 that he
for band of music from the airs whatsoever." He also first heard "Dixie," and it
immediately became his fav-
orchestral repertoire included wrote, "President Pierce was a
contemporary classical music man of pleasant personality orite. He also enjoyed opera;
of the da) especially music and I have many kind reminis- he attended grand opera per-
from Italian opera. This music cences of him." His closest formances 19 times while
was performed by the band friend in the White House was President. When criticized for

12
spending time in the opera
hail while the Civil War raged
he responded, "The truth is I
must have a change of some
sort or die."
President Lincoln appreci-
ated Scala's work to improve
the quality of the band and its
repertoire. He supported Sca-
la when Scala was criticized for
playing too many operatic
selections and not enough
military and popular music of
the day.
Lincoln frequently attended
Francis Scala Collection, Music Division, Library of Congress Marine Band performances
Handwritten note from President Abraham Lincoln to Scala summoning but was not always allowed to
Scala to the White House, 4 February 1862.
enjoy the music. F. B. Carpen-
ter, in his book, The Inner Lfe
Scala with 2d Lt Henry Clay cochrane, Drum Major John Roach, and members of the band in Gettysburg,
Pennsylvania, on 19 November 1863, for the dedication of the new National Cemetery.
Pain ling by LtCoI Donna J. Neary, USMCR

13
Library of Congress
Earliest known photo of the Marine Band was taken in 1864 on the parade deck at Marine Barracks,
Washington, D.C. The Commandant s house is in the background.

disappointed air, as he re- officers, and the Marine Band.


of Abraham Lincoln: Six Months
clined upon the sofa, 'I wish The band was accompanied by
at the White House, wrote, "One
Saturday afternoon when the they would let me sit out there Second Lieutenant Henry
lawn in front of the White quietly, and enjoy the music.' Clay Cochrane, an officer
House was crowded with peo- The Marine Band accompa- assigned to Marine Barracks.
ple listening to the weekly nied Lincoln when he traveled The lieutenant wrote a letter
concert of the Marine Band, to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, to his parents describing an
the President appeared upon for the dedication of the event that occurred on the
the portico. Instantly there National Cemetery on 19 train as they traveled north.
was a clapping of hands and November 1863. The day He wrote, "On boarding the
clamor for a speech. Bowing before, 18 November, the train at Washington, I passed
his thanks, and excusing him- President left Washington on into the rear car, and soon
self he stepped back into the a special train that included after, the President left his seat
retirement of the circular par- foreign dignitaries, cabinet in the second car, came in and
lor, remarking to me, with a members, politicians, military joined us, remarking as he did

14
so, 'Ha! This is so much bet- Gettysburg, performed the trombonist named Antonio
ter,' alluding to his escape favorite hymn "Old Hundred" Sousa, an immigrant from
from the secretaries and dig- immediately after the opening Spain of Portuguese ancestr'
nitaries that filled car number prayer at the ceremony. In addition to playing trom-
2." The band, which shared Among the members of the bone in the band, he also
the musical responsibilities band who traveled with worked as a cabinetmaker at
with three other bands in Lincoln to Gettysburg was a Marine Barracks. His greatest
Birthplace offohn Philip Sonsa, 636 G Street, Southeast, just two blocks
contribution to the band and
from the Washington, D.C. Marine Barracks. the barracks, however, was
bringing his son, John Philip,
.-
to become an apprentice
musician in the Marine Band
in 1868.
.. -- - - John Philip Sousa was born
fl
rC, ',12.ftS an,.a.n Ian t on 6 November 1854, at 636 G
t.ztt naa'fl*
ft. - Street, SE,just two blocks from
..,S,*fllfl.-au
-,iÌ;_ -L».l
nan,.%tn t*
ana ,. -
.Q.r.d
Marine Barracks. He was the
IS*'.'4
aftc7 'a..a.,
--
third of 10 children. Young
n-
-n--
nn- -
n---,'
an-,,,an
ltaja ,a...
a#nflWSan
Sfla..ta
nta,n.
C -a r,ttdIem-4wa1.
Wts; JAda r-'
Sousa was given an excellent
education that began with his
-

an1 S,4
a_a,
an_an'j.
-rara ran-an's parents teaching him to read
Is
a-Is- It, 'snar;.
_n_n na S -ii.S h; -,
at-Isa_ssatw i--;M
a and write. He attended private
kw- r---
0r41'frtai
-

and public schools in his


ann .ann -r-n....aaMc,,,a
S 51*1, An*1A4O

annnnnaa -n- nt-nd neighborhood, and his musical


nnnntan
annnna*n*.an.a..1s*nax
tfla,fl_a_a nIn rnflna,
tai.an -- -

instruction began when he was


nnAn ,i_,_, at.-,xawaan..4s
Onda An, ,T,-C,an
. .sa .ftØnaSa,anr. and
w*'a,a p.IMta-na,t ..,.an
lag
anfl n
.*aE *xa
W

!S
ft
six years old. His first instructor
t' anda ft-S.t't'p raair.aessrwneara
was the elderly John Esputa,
Ian_a
JAM, .,tçcft-ana,
n- W;..
_i--_ n. Sr., who taught him for a short
a xiant I:-- -an'., it-
flS,-i-. ïS>.-
--
--
tajan n.a- -- time. He later enrolled in the
Conservatory of Music run by
IISa
aanta daasalra,in-.a John Esputa, Jr., the son of his
a.. rat' ....:l,--.an'.na
-'S .k'Q SII

nadja
av_s.,..(nM,.n
('4MO, -
fas I,,-;. .an
.,. an- --a.,naa-
first teacher. Paul Bierley, the
Oi-. na,. ,,j.Mx..a
-xa. r.flj t-m_W foremost authority on Sousa,
r:
RA
St
tana'- ..n-----Sq-rn.
aM - -..t,L:a
_s.nfla..
u__Isnn_s. t..m_ nI
*iS
.,-s_.-
wrote in his biography, John
S_a n-War nt Philip Sousa, American Phenonz-
ç. -. enon, that Esputa quickly real-
_._nnnn.nnnnnan
nnnan -

ft nn a*nta=.t.t.rnnn. ---. t e ta ized Sousa was extraordinarily


- - -
MtitSMnn
-.
*n- -
n--/ - * aa ana gifted. He could read music at
xO,SSaas,. xii,, ZWn -.--'.- a S s ri p
sight with amazing accuracy,
and had perfect pitch. Sousa
received training at the conser-
vatory which served him well in
the career to follow. He
became proficient on several
instruments, particularly the
violin, and was well grounded
in music theory and composi-
tion.

15
until 18 May 1875. He then
left the Marine Corps to pur-
sue a professional conducting
and performing career. When
an opening for director
occurred in 1880, he was
offered the position, which he
accepted. On 1 October 1880,
Sousa became the 17th
Director of the Marine Band.
This was Sousa's first oppor-
tunity to conduct a military
band and he employed a style
quite different from the then-
current standards for a mili-
tary band. He continued the
work begun by Scala to
improve the quality of the
repertoire, and he began to
create the band's own music
library. Prior to Sousa, the
band performed the music
that was in the personal
library of the director. When a
director left, he took his
library with him, and the new
director brought in a com-
pletely new library. Sousa
began to develop the band's
own library, and added to it
his own excellent composi-
tions, arrangements, and tran-
scriptions.
He continued to expand
and refine the instrumenta-
tion. Rehearsals became ex-
ceptionally strict and profes-
John Philip Sousa in Marine Band director's unJbrrn in a photograph sional, and he shaped the
taken around 1890.
musicians into the country's
His abilities on violin were accepted. He was to leave the acknowledged premier mili-
indirectly responsible for next day but his father found tary band. Marine Band con
bringing him to the Marine out about the plan and certs began to attract discrimi-
Corps and the Marine Band. brought Sousa to Marine nating audiences and the rep-
One day he was approached Barracks that next morning, 9 utation of the band began to
by the leader of a circus band June 1868, and had him enlist- spread well beyond the
who had been listening to him ed as an apprentice in the
national capital.
practice. He offered Sousa a Marine Band at the age of 13.
While director of the
job in his band, and Sousa Sousa served with the band Marine Band, Sousa began to

16
write the marches that would
earn him the title "The March
King." In 1886 he wrote "The _s
Gladiator." one of his earliest
marches to receive wide circu- i , i i

lation. It was published by L


Harry Coleman and eventual- ,

ly sold more than i million 3=_ /

,see._- wS.a
copies. Two years later, in
--
- '8- P20.4 P.OGA-

r -
1888, he wrote one of his
greatest marches, "Semper
Fidelis," which he dedicated
to the officers and men of the ' -' "-"i. ..
r. r- r--

United States Marine Corps.


a_A.._
___ fl
_zi
'I --
He commented later in his life -;
that he felt this was his finest
composition. __.___ .
0
- an -

___
..

In 1889 he wrote the


"Washington Post" march to 4- ._--._.'y i
promote an essay contest
sponsored by a local newspa- :I Ai,
per. This march became asso- 8- C&. .&
-'r
ciated with the "two-step," the A
-
p- .- --. V. ,,. 4-

popular new dance sweeping


the country and the globe. It
was second in popularity only - : '
to his best-known work, maybe
-- --.= .
'-r.
the most famous piece of
music by an American com-
poser, "The Stars and Stripes
Forever." The march was writ-
ten in Sousa's mind as he Sousa 's original manuscript to his march, "Seinper Fidelis, " composed in
A
returned by ship from a vaca- 1888 and dedicated to the Marine Corps.
tion in Europe. He waited
until he arrived in New York director. The phonograph was "recording stars."
City; then put the music to a new invention, and the The tremendous popularity
paper on Christmas Day 1896. Columbia Phonograph Com- of the band in and around
It received its premiere on 14 pany was looking for an Washington encouraged Sou-
May 1897, in Philadelphia, ensemble to record. The sa to take the band on toui
and quickly became an audi- Marine Band was chosen, and After receiving permission
ence favorite. On 11 Decem- 60 cylinders were released in from President Harrison,
ber, 1987, President Ronald the fall of 1890. By 1892 more Sousa took the band on its
Reagan signed legislation than 200 cylinders were avail- first-ever national concert
making "The Stars and Stripes able for sale, placing Sousa's tour, a tour that took them to
Forever" our official national marches among the first and 13 states in New England and
march. most popular pieces ever the Midwest for more than
The band made its first recorded, and the Marine four weeks. The trip was a
recordings while Sousa was Band one of the world's first great success and was repeat-

17
Sousa Abert, returned this
baton to the Marine Band in
1953. Today it is one of the
Marine Band's most prized
possessions.
Francisco Fanciulli replaced
Sousa as director. Fanciulli was
a competent musician but was
described as a weak leader
and poor disciplinarian. He
served until 1897 and was
replaced by William H. Sante!-
mann. Santelmann was born
and raised in Germany re-
ceived his early musical train-
ing on violin and clarinet,
then continued with formal
training at the Leipzig Con-
servatory. He was enticed to
leave his native Germany to
travel to the Philadelphia area
to join an orchestra. It was at
Y
this time that he met Henry
e7 oJOHN PHIL!P 5ous Ditson, a prominent band
PIANO 2114Mo ANDOUN3 G)rrAR7o.
instrument manufacturer in
PIANo
PIANO 611AND I.9
GUITAD SOLO 40.
Gurt-AB Dut,- 50.
Philadelphia, who suggested
OncHsiA lP AMDOUH .Søio 40 SANJO SOLO 40. that the U.S. Marine Band was
flILJ't*RY SAND 50. )t&NDOUM &PL&M060 bAo Out,- .50.
ZIThER Soi-o 50. $&'ouN&GurrAR5O ¡ SANJO a Ptpio 60.
A4NBOUN-PIANO Gvm.i 80
2 A DOLJN& PIANO 80.
the ensemble he should seek
,A.
PUBLISHED BY to join. He auditioned for
THE OJOHN CHUR.ÇHCO1PANY. John Philip Sousa on violin,
CINCINNATI NWYOR,K, CHICACO. LEIPSIC
clarinet, and baritone and was
accepted. He joined on 24
Early piano sheet music printing of Sousa most famous work, "The Stars September 1887.
and Stripes Forevei; "composed on Christmas Day, 1896. Santeirnann brought his
ed the following year, this time House on 30 July 1892, which thorough training and strict
all the way to the Pacific coast. was attended by President personal discipline to the
This tour lasted nearly six Benjamin Harrison and a rehearsal hall. He directed the
weeks and took the band huge crowd of well-wishers. At band for the next 29 years and
through 17 states, including the end of the program, first macle numerous improve-
California, Oregon, and Wash- cornetist Walter F. Smith pre- ments and innovations that
ington. sented Sousa an engraved would mark him as one of the
Sousa's great popularity baton from the band. The hand's important leaders.
prompted him to leave the engraving read, "John Philip The band underwent its
Marine Band to form his own Sousa. Presented by members most comprehensive reorgani-
civilian band. He received his of the U.S. Marine Band as a zation in 1899. President
discharge from the Marine token of their respect and William McKinley signed an
Corps following a special esteem." Sousa's daughters, Act of Congress on 3 March
farewell concert at the White Jane Priscilla Sousa and Helen that authorized a leader and a

18
Marine Band recording session., circa 1891. The Gramophone machines, seen behind the band, created record-
ings on wax cylinders.
Photo ofJohn Philip Sousa with the Marine Band, taken in 1891 to publicize the 1892 concert tour

19
tra was ready for its White
House debut in 1902, per-
forming first during the
Theodore Roosevelt adminis-
tration. The requirement to
play both a wind and a string
instrument was dropped in
the mid-1950s.
Another important develop-
ment, especially to historians,
occurred in 1916 when Santel-
mann began the Leader's Log,
a daily diary of the band's
activities. This log, and a par-
allel log maintained by the
library starting in 1919, pro-
vides a detailed, day-by-day
record of the band's activities.
It includes complete listings of
music performed, the direc-
tor's personal comments, and
even the daily weathei
Santelmann clearly was a
strong leader who was able to
keep the band performing at
a very high level in spite of an
incredibly busy schedule. There
were concerts on Monday
evenings at Marine Barracks,
Tuesday and Thursday even-
ings at various parks in
Washington, Wednesday eve-
flings at the Capitol, Friday
evenings at the Sylvan Theater
on the grounds of the
Washington Monument, and
Concert program cover from the 1892 concert tour
Saturday afternoons at the
second leader, 30 first-class Although string
instru- White Hotise. This concert
musicians, and 30 second-class ments were occasionally a part schedule plus rehearsals and
musicians. This act nearly of the band's instrumentation, White House commitments
doubled the size of the band no permanent orchestra exist- kept the band working seven
and increased their pay. ed within the band. Sante!- days a week.
Santelmann could now attract mann saw the opportunity to In 1916 Congress again
the most desirable musicians establish a permanent orches- agreed to increase the pay of
in the country and offer them tra as a concert ensemble by the band and the act was
a fine musical ensemble in requiring all members to per- signed by President Woodrow
which to perform, as well as form on both a wind and a Wilson on 29 August. This act
good pay and security. string instrument. The orches- actually changed the rank

20
Painting by LtCol DonnaJ. Nearv. USMCR
Sousa and the Marine Band pictured arriving in Denver, Colorado, on the 1892 tour
structure of the band, creating one that would greatly in- earliest sponsored series of
the pay grades of principal crease the number of people broadcasts began on 2 June
musician, and first, second, who could hear the band. 1923. It was called "Music for
and third-class musicians. The Radio was in its infanc) and the Avenue." On 1 August 1923
act also increased the size of the band was well suited for the band performed during
the band to 65 players plus the use by local stations in their
the premier broadcast of
leader and second leader. Theearly programming. The first Washington's new radio sta-
act designated the leader's radio broadcast occurred in tion, WRC. On 21 December
authorized grade as captain. 1922 and featured the orches- 1923, WRC broadcast a pro-
Records indicate, however, tra. On 7 June 1922, a series of gram titled "Marine Corps
that Santelmann remained an weekly broadcasts began. Communicates with Mi Night."
enlisted man until his retire- These early broadcasts were WRC had just increased its
ment, with the pay and made from the nearby Ana- power so that most of the east-
allowances of a captain. costia Naval Air Station. In em part of the United States
Another important develop- early 1923, all broadcasts were could hear the broadcast. The
ment occurred under the moved to the band hail at 12th of June 1931 marked the
leadership of Santelmann, Marine Barracks. One of the beginning of the band's broad-

21
cast series "The Dream Hour."
This was especially designed
for shut-ins, and consisted pri-
marily of selections that had
been requested by listeners. It
became one of the most popu-
lar and long-running pro-
Engraved baton presented to Sousa b the Marine Band afier his farewell grams on national radio.
concert at the T47zite House on 30Jul 1892. The band, throughout its
history, has been involved in
Lithograph of Sowa at the White House saying farewell to President the dedication ceremonies of
Harrison following hisfinal peijòrrnance with the Marine Band, 30 July the capital's national monu-
1892. ments and government build-
ings. One of the earliest
occurred on 4 July 1848 when
the band played at cere-
monies for the laying of the
cornerstone of the Washing-
ton Monument. William H.
Santelmann led the band in
three of these important
events while he was director.
The band performed at the
laying of the foundation stone
of the Washington National
Cathedral on 29 September
1907. On 21 November 1921
the band performed during
the interment of the body of
the Unknown Soldier at
Arlington National Cemetery.
They also participated in the
dedication of the Lincoln
Memorial, which took place
on 30 May 1922.
On 4 March 1924, the band
gave a gala invitation-only con-
cert celebrating the 25th
anniversary of its reorganiza-
tion. The musicians demon-
strated their versatility by per-
forming as a band and an
orchestra. A look at the pro-
gram from this concert pro-
vides insight into the growing
repertoire of the ensembles.
The orchestra music included
In Bohemia Overture of Heniy

7,;,
Hadley, the Saint-Saèns Cello
Concerto No. 1, and the Max
Bruch Concerto in G minor for
Violin, On the Beautiful Blue
Danube waltz by Johann
Strauss, fr., and Sir Edward
Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance
march. The band then per-
formed the Overture to Tan n-
hauser of Richard Wagner,
Prelude in C-sharp minor by
Rachmaninoff, and Franz
Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsod' No.
2. The concert concluded with
The Star-Spangled Banner. Al-
though unable to attend the
concert, President Calvin
Coolidge sent a letter of con-
gratulations to Captain Santel-
mann and the band that
included these words, "The
Marine Band has earned for
itself a unique place in the
affections of the American
people, and of all branches of
the national defense service. It
has not only made a national-
ly important contribution to
l'Villiam H. Santeirnan n, served as director from 1898 to 1927. popularizing the best music,
Santeirnann and the Marine Band posed on the steps of the Lib'rar of Congress in 1920.

23
Santelrnan.n and the Marine Chamber Orchestra peforrning in the band hail at Marine Barracks, 1920
but by generosity and appar- Early logbook entry, from the Librar Log, 7 and 8 june 1 921
ently untiring devotion to its 158 159
art has won for itself a particu- Tuesday June 7 Wednesday June 8
larly high place in public
regard."
On 27 April 1927, the
Marine Band career of Cap- / (XIi G'-
tain William H. San telmann
carne to an end. A concert was
/..U,/4 2DL,'
I-
held to mark the event and
the Commandant, Major Gen-
eral John A. Lejeune, made a
- ¿9_ h (f--
¿'-,. ofl-.
-/
special presentation, express-
ing the thanks of the entire
Marine Corps for Santel-
.
/ '.tL4
(I
r
mann's long and faithful ser- J. /o7
vice. He said, "The Marine -
Band of today owes its posi- 4,___._ 4'. -- -
tion as one of the world's most
famous musical organizations

24
Santelmann and the Marine Band in Concert on the East Terrace of/he US. Capitol, ¡899.
Summer concert on the South Laz'n of the White House, 16 July 1921.

25
Marine Band peifarining at the burial of the World War J Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cerneter.
11 November 1921.
to Captain Santelmann." extremely busy with regular 15 encores. This generous
Captain Santelmann passed concerts, radio broadcasts, response to appeals for en-
the baton to the next director, official functions at the 'White cores in addition to the eight
Taylor Branson. On i May House, special ceremonies, regularly programmed num-
1927, he was formally commis- and, of course, the annual bers comprised an excellent
sioned a Captain and placed concert tour. The Daily Tribune repertoire, which, if anything,
on the retired list. in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, was not long enough to satisí
Although Captain Bran- wrote this review following the the expressed desires of the
son's tenure as leader, which band's tour appearance there audience."
lasted until 1940, was not in 1929: "The manner in It was in 1934, during
marked by as many milestones which the famous musicians Branson's leadership, that
as his predecessor, he was a are received by their John- Marine Barracks began its first
fine musician and leader and stown audience is evidenced season of regularly scheduled
continued to raise the stan- by the fact that they were weekly parades. This series of
dards of the band. They were called upon and responded to parades eventually grew into

26
II. The band was involved in
'ar bond rallies and other
patriotic events designed to
raise the spirits of the country.
The annual fall concert tours
were suspended during the
war but were replaced by extra
u ww.J
i. u,
uu iii
p, ,s ii
receptions and ceremonies at
the White House and around
t.
s. .. i, the city. During one of his
wartime visits to the White
House, Winston Churchill was
presented a special concert by
the band. It was held outdoors
and part way through the pro-
gram it began to rain heavily.
Santelmann anxiously looked
at President Roosevelt for a
signal to move the concert
indoors (which the band was
prepared to do) but received
no response. The concert was
completed in a pouring rain
but the President and the
Prime Minister seemed oblivi-
ous to the weather. At the con-
cert's conclusion Santelmann
turned to bow and found Mr.
Churchill walking toward him.
Churchill took him by the
hand and led him directly to
the President, loudly pro-
Captain William H. Santelmann passing the baton to Taylor Branson at claiming his praise for the
his retirement ceremony, 27April 1927.
band.
the popular Friday Evening placed Captain Branson as Santelmann, who had been
Parade of today. The parades directoi He received his first commissioned a captain in
of 1934 were much simpler music lessons on violin from December 1942, proved to be
than today's elaborate cere- his father when he was just six a fine musician and leader.
monies. They took place in years old. After high school His excellent and tireless work
the late afternoon and were graduation in 1921, he attend- with the band was recognized
usually held on Mondays or ed Washington College of by his promotion to major in
Thursdays, and ran from April Music, followed by the New February 1947. This was the
to November, usually conclud- England Conservatory of first time in the band's history
ing the week of the Marine Music in Boston. He joined that the director achieved a
Corps birthday. the band in 1923 and per- rank above Captain. In 1951
On 1 February 1940, Wil- formed on violin and bari- he was promoted to lieutenant
liam F. Santelmann, son of tone. He led the band during colonel.
William H. Santelmann, re- the trying times of World War Lieutenant Colonel Santel-

27
playing some of the most diffi-
cult solo works ever written for
the instrument. After a most
successful playing caree!; he
was named second leader in
1951, then director on I May
1955. Schoepper, who had
demanded technical bril-
liance and perfection from
himself as a soloist, required
the same quality of playing
from his musicians, and he
raised the quality of the band
to new levels.
He ushered in the modern
era of recordings for the
Marine Band with a longplay-
ing record of classical and
popular music, produced in
1959. Numerous recordings
followed during his 17 years as
director, and they have be-
come treasured items among
collectors and band enthusi-
asts. The most famous of these
recordings was produced in
1963 for the RCA Victor com-
pany. This project, which
involved all four of the service
bands in Washington, was
designed to raise money for
the building of the National
Cultural Center which was
soon to be called the John F.
Kennedy Center for the
Performing Arts. The record-
ing was made after the band
Captain Taylor Branson was director from 1927 to 1940. returned from its concert tour
of 1962 and it proved to be a
mann retired on 30 April ing. He auditioned for the tremendous success. On 31
1955, and Albert Schoepper band in 1934. His audition January 1969, the Comman-
was named leader. Schoeppei; took place in the band hail in dant of the Marine Corps,
a native of Rochester, New front of Captain Branson and General Leonard F. Chapman,
York, began studying violin at the entire orchestra. He Jr., wrote the following letter
age 7, and after graduating played brilliantly and was to then-Lieutenant Colonel
from high school, attended immediately accepted. Within Schoepper, "I have just
the Eastman School of Music weeks ofjoining the band, he learned that a quarter million
to study violin and conduct- i,ras performing as a soloist, of the records which the

28
The band with William F Santelmann, posed on stage in the band hail at Marine Barracks, 1944.
The Marine Band with Maj William F Santelmann., marching in an evening parade at Marine Barracks in
1948.

29
ed the position of arranger on
the support staff, allowing the
band to enlist highly talented
and skillful arrangers and
transcribers who could create
special arrangements which
were unique to the Marine
Band's repertoire and which
showcased the abilities of the
band. He enlisted the band's
first vocalist and announcer,
allowing the band to add
some of the greatest popular
and classical vocal music to its
repertoire. He also added a
second assistant director. In
addition to these changes, 29
additional musicians and six
support staff members were
added to handle the increased
Albert E Schoeppe; 22d Director 7 February 1956. commitments and logistical
major service bands cut for lation that changed a previous support.
the benefit of the John F. law that had limited the direc- Through insistence on
Kennedy Center for the tor's rank to lieutenant superior musicianship, Col-
Performing Arts were sold colonel. onel Schoepper raised the
between May 1963 and August Colonel Schoepper made at band's level to new heights,
1968. Of these, 119,000 were least three significant changes building it into an organiza-
Marine Band records! The to the band's roster. He creat- tion that received national
Marine Band record sales Marine Band recording produced in 1963 by the RCA Victor Co. to sup-
totaled twice those of the Navy port construction of the John E Kennedy Center for the peforming Arts.
Band, three times those of the
Army Band, and four times
those of the Air Force Band. I
found these statistics interest-
ing, but not one bit surprising.
Congratulations to our out-
standing band on once again
leading the field."
In May 1970, Lieutenant
Colonel Schoepper was pro-
moted to the rank of colonel,
becoming the first Marine
musician to attain this rank in
the band's history. His promo-
tion, conducted by General
Chapman, was made possible
by special Congressional legis-

30
ifications against admitting
women. I wanted to see this
happen because I wanted the
Manne Band to be the best.
Today there are 40 women in
the band, which is nearly 25
percent of the band's total
membership.
Lieutenant Colonel Harp-
ham retired on 31 October
1974, after 39 years of service
with the Marine Band. He was
followed by then-Assistant
Director Jack Kline. Lieuten-
ant Colonel Kline was a native
of Louisville, Kentuck)ç and
studied music at the Univer-
sity of Louisville. He served in
the Army in World War II and
experienced combat in both
France and Germany. During
his career with the Marine
Band, he was the only musi-
cian entitled to wear the
French Fouragere, won dur-
ing his service with the 79th
Infantry Division.
Lieutenant Colonel Kline
received a bachelor's degree
in music education with
instrumental emphasis before
joining the Marine Band in
1947. He performed as a clar-
William D. Jones, the band 's first vocalist and concert moderatoi:
inetist and saxophonist, and
and international acclaim. He ship in the band to women. created numerous arrange-
retired on 28 April 1972, and Prior to this time there was no ments and transcriptions for
was succeeded by Dale official policy that made the the band, many of which are
Harpham. band a male-only organization used today. He was named
Lieutenant Colonel Harp- but very few women had pur- assistant director in 1968, and
ham joined the band in 1935 sued membership. In 1973 then director on 1 November
and played trombone and Ruth Johnson, a French horn 1974. On 31 May 1979, he
cello. He was named assistant player from Saginaw, Mich- retired, passing the baton to
director in May 1955, and igan, won an audition for a the band's assistant director,
then became director in 1972. position with the band and John R. Bourgeois.
Although his tenure as direc- became its first female mem- Colonel Bourgeois is a na-
tor lasted only two years, he ber. Lieutenant Colonel Harp- tive of Louisiana and attended
will be remembered for his ham later recalled, "At that Loyola University He joined
decision to open up member- time, there were no legal ram- the Marine Corps in 1956 and

31
was the principal French horn
in the Department of the
Pacific Marine Band in San
He joined the
Francisco.
Marine Band in 1958 as a
French hornist and a member
of the arranging staff. He
brought with him a diversity of
talents including conducting,
arranging, announcing, and
producing. In 1968 he was
appointed operations chief
and served as the liaison
between the band and the
White House. In 1974 he was
selected to be the assistant
director and in 1979 the direc-
tor. During his tenure, Colo-
nel Bourgeois conducted
countless performances at the
White House and developed a
close relationship with five
Presidents, advising them on
musical matters.
He oversaw several impor-
tant changes in the band. He
expanded and developed the
support staff, adding three
positions to serve on the pub-
lic affairs staff. He expanded
the library staff to six and
charged them not only with
acquiring and preparing mus-
ic for performance by all of LiCol Dale Harp ha in joined the band in 1935 and served as director [rom
1972 to 1974.
the performing ensembles,
but also with maintaining and over a period of weeks or mailings to several thousand
preserving all of the band's months. After a. number of music schools and conservato-
historical materials. I-le made musicians were auditioned, ries. All auditionees corne to
regular yearly recordings of the most highly qualified play- Marine Barracks and audition
the band and, beginning in er was accepted. Lieutenant on the same day. The audition
1988, produced recordings on Colonel Foley completely re- is held behind a screen to
the compact disc format. He vised this system, making it make it as fair and impartial as
instructed then-Assistant Di- similar to the process used by possible. This has created a
rector Timothy Foley to revise the major symphony orches- very competitive audition that
and improve the audition tras around the world. Up- commonly attracts 50 or more
process for the band. Prior to coming auditions are now highly qualified musicians for
this time auditions for a par- publicized in major music each opening. This allows the
ticular opening were held trade magazines and through band to select and enlist

32
LtcolJack T Kline, on the left, passing the baton to the band 's assistant directoi Maj John R.. Bourgeois, retired
as director of the band in this ceremony held at Marine Barracks on 31 Ma'' 1979.

superb musicians. tour of the Soviet Union. They ended a career that spanned
One of the band's most performed to full-house audi- nine Presidential administra-
important firsts occurred in ences in the Soviet Union's tions. He passed the baton to
1985 when Colonel Bourgeois foremost concert halls, in the Timothy Foley, making him
took the band on its first-ever cities of Moscow, Kiev, L'vov, the band's 26th director.
overseas trip. The band trav- Minsk, and Leningrad. The Lieutenant Colonel Foley is a
eled to the Netherlands and band then traveled to England native of Berwick, Pennsyl-
gave two concerts. The follow- in 1992, performing with the vania. He studied at the
ing year the band visited Massed Bands of Her Majesty's Oberlin Conservatory of Mus-
Dublin, Ireland, and in 1989 Royal Marines at the Mount- ic and was the principal clar-
the band performed in batten Festival of Music held inetist in the Oberlin Conser-
Hamar, Norway. The most sig- at the Royal Albert Flail in vatory Orchestra. He joined
nificant trip occurred in 1990 London. the Marine Band in 1968 and
when Colonel Bourgeois took When Colonel Bourgeois was frequently featured as a
the band on a 19-day concert retired on 11 July 1996, he clarinet soloist until he was

33
Gol Bouigeois confers with President Ronald Reagan at the White House in 1982.
The Band performs in the October Concert Hall, in Leningrad on 21 February 1990, during its concert tour
of the Soviet Unioi7

n.
Retirement cereìnorrç of Col John R.
Bourgeois, 11 July 1996, with Col
Bourgeois passing the baton to Maj
Timothy W FoIe)'.
named assistant director in
1979.
The Marine Band today is
comprised of 126 performing
musicians with an additional
17 members on the support
staff, for a total of 143. This
makes the Marine Band the
smallest of the four premier
service bands in Washington.
Members are graduates of the
LtCol Timothy W Foley is the
band c 26th director

Marine Band Auditions regularly attract 50 or more qualified applicants


who compete for one opening. Auditions are held behind a screen to ensure
fairness and impartiality.

35
.±fUii i i rth1&ir**.
j:UflftI t,,,.nri
IIflt I:;Iu!
-
r. -- -j - - 'i-
I___
--
-1---I.tt

,.,ti*HiiiíiiItêUIò

LtGol Foley conducts the band in


one of its more than 600 annual
perfonna nces.
finest music schools in the
United States, and many hold
advanced degrees in music.
Members are enlisted as staff
sergeants on a limited duty
contract and cannot be trans-
ferred to any other duty sta-
tion. They remain in Wash- "The President s Own participates in the Inaugurai ceremony of
ington, D.C. for their entire President Ronald Reagan, 20 January 1981.
enlistment with the band. performing in the house, on lished by the band throughout
The band performs more the balcony, or on the South its history, and to uphold the
than 700 commitments per Lawn. Whether performing at values of pride, professional-
year, with nearly 200 of these the White House or in concert ism, and esprit de corps of the
at the White House. White ji or in the cities Marine Corps as they carry out
House commitments can take and towns throughout the their primary mission: to pro-
on many different formsfrom country and the world, the vide music for the President of
a solo harpist, a string quartet, men and women of the the United States and the
a dance orchestra, or a cham- Marine Band strive to uphold Commandant of the Marine
ber orchestra, to the full band the musical standards estab- Corps.

36
About the Author: Master Gun nerv .Serg
Mu hw i Recclp, is GhuJ Libiarian o/ the [LS
JiIanBa M respomjt Jüi 10G H / 1/ i hot!, its
music libiai and itshjstorieal rnchive IJ i a
nati jiVew Holland, Penn1uanza who bgan
lus nia cz4 inst)14c40n on the trombone at age 10
He began playing t7w euphonium at age 13 and
cub.sequently stutheci (he euphon zum with enihe
oft/ic Philadelphia Orchestia and the Lt$V
Band 11e joined the Marine Band in !!J'4
became Ghief Lilirarion in 1988. He and his wfr.
Susan, are the parents of two sons.

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