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Historical Notes
US Army Bands.
(Thanks to Kenneth Berger's Band Encyclopedia.)
Many American historic events occurred with the support of a military musical unit. Prior to the signing of the Declaration of Independence, colonial soldiers marched to the music of fifes and drums. During the Civil War, military leaders on both sides relied on military musicians to entertain troops, position troops in battle, and stir the troops on to victory. Army bands have a brilliant history. Bands, such as the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions and the 1st Infantry Division, received decorations for their performance in combat. Other bands have entertained at official functions, entertained troops, and traveled throughout the world aiding public relations inside and outside of the United States.
The first known American "Military" Band was a civilian organization that gave a concert in Boston in 1773 under the direction of Mr. Josiah Flag. No other mention is made of that band in music history and it is assumed that military bands were rarely heard in the colonies with the exception of the British military garrison bands. A concert mentioned in 1767 by the "Royal American Band of Music" in New York was probably such a British Band.
Music during the American revolution consisted primarily of drums, fifes and bugles. General George Washington, later to become the first US President, was an accomplished flutist and recognized the value of military music. Most writers on the subject generally state that there were no true military bands in the American Forces during the Revolutionary War, only drums and fifes. However, several documents from just after this period seem to indicate that at least a few bands did exist. John Hancock, (President of Congress) writing to General Schuyler on December 30, 1776 adds a postscript to his letter which states,
"I never heard anything of my band of musik since I wrote you".
Evidently, some correspondence on the subject preceded and followed that letter for on July 19th, 1776, General Schuyler wrote to General Gates:
"...The Honorable President Hancock informs me that Colonel Greaton, and he believes some other Colonels, before they left Boston, took some French Horns, Bassoons and other instruments of musik, which he had imported for the use of a corps under his command and requested that I would order Colonel Greaton and some others in whose possession they may be, to deliver them to me to be sent to Philadelphia. Will you be so good, my dear sir, as to order one of your Aides-de-Camp to make inquiry and to cause the instruments to be collected, safely packed up and sent directly to me at Albany...".
Other similar correspondence from this time indicates that there were at least a few military bands, perhaps using captured British instruments. No doubt, the populace took a liking to military music after having heard the several splendid British regimental bands which existed in the colonies.
At the close of the 18th century, numerous town bands began to spring up throughout the then existing states, many of which were later attached to military organizations. In 1834, American regimental bands numbered 10 musicians, by 1841 there were 12 men authorized for each band and in 1847 the number was increased to 16. Some of these bands later accompanied their organizations into active service during the Civil War (1860-1865). At the beginning of this war, almost all regiments had complete bands but as the fighting progressed, it became obvious that every man was needed to either attend the wounded or grab a musket and go to the firing line, this of course, depleted many of the bands. Under these conditions it was not long before only bands retained at permanent Headquarters and a few brigade bands were able to maintain there efficiency or their identity as musical units.
From 1899 to 1915 the strength of army bands remained at 28 and because of many helpful regulations to assist army bands there grew up many excellent military bands, many of which were complimented with men from their regiment. After the United States entered WWI, the army bandmasters received temporary commissions and regimental bands were increased in size to 48 members. Several military music schools, in the US and in Europe, added further impetus and improved military music. However, with the demobilization period in 1919, band directors were discharged as officers and the Warrant Officer bandleader program was installed. The bandmaster rank has kept some of the better bandmasters from joining the military and the matter of insufficient rank lasted for many years. In addition to decommissioning bandmasters in 1919, the strength of the bands was reduced to 36 in the infantry and field artillery bands and to 28 in the cavalry and coast artillery. In 1927, all field bands were reduced to 28 men with a modification in 1936 that not more than five men could be attached to the band from the "line" companies.
In 1939, there were 76 regular army bands and 214 National Guard Bands. In this year, as at many other times, the military band was in a precarious position so far as manpower was concerned. It seems that every time the matter of cost saving came up the Generals and congressmen could find no cuts to make other than in the bands! A vociferous few high-ranking officers then believed that a field band was an unnecessary luxury in those days of mechanized warfare. Fortunately for the bands, their value was realized and by late 1941, with WWII imminent for the US, the war department authorized the organization of over 400 bands in the army and the air-corps. Bands in the US army during the second world war were the finest bands available anywhere in the world, this in spite of the fact that their budget was very low. Personnel changes caused many conductors who had little or no experience with bands to become bandmasters. Following the war with most units deactivating, the bands went back to 28 members for most units, 48 members for some headquarters bands and the newly created Air Force had 34 piece bands.
As time has passed, bands have remained in flux with conditions of service improving steadily. The commissioning of Directors of Music is now standard procedure and the bands remain among the very best in the world.