Scan 26
Musical Courier 1902-02-12: Vol 44 Iss 1142, 1902
77 lines. Read by computer on 22 September 2026. Printed page 27. See the scan on archive.org.
1THE MUSICAL COURIER.
3The Marine Band Versus Civilian Bands.
5The principal item of interest to outside musicians this week is the controversy between the Marine Band and the civilian bands of Washington. This has been brought about by a bill which has been introduced in the House forbidding Marine Band men to accept outside engagements.
7The Marine Band is paid by the Government, and the players are subject to army regulations. This band plays at all the social functions at the White House, at the Inauguration Ball and on all public occasions connected with the Federal Government. The band also gives two or three free concerts every week, which are open to the public.
9As Washington is not overstocked with band and orchestra players, members of the Marine Band are often invited to fill outside engagements. This riles the players who do not belong to the Marine Band, because this cuts off some of their patronage. Hence the trouble. The following, from the Evening Star, will be of interest:
11"The House Committee on Labor this morning gave a hearing on the joint resolution introduced by Representative Bartholdt, of Missouri, providing that no enlisted man in the service of the United States, the army and navy, whether a non-commissioned officer, musician or private, shall be detailed, ordered or permitted to leave his post to engage in any pursuit, business or performance in civil life for emolument, hire or otherwise, when the same shall interfere with the customary employment and regular engagement of local civilians in their respective arts, trades or professions. Lieut. William H. Santelmann, leader of the Marine Band, and Walter F. Smith, second leader of the band, appeared before the committee to argue against the passage of the resolution. In support of his position, Lieutenant Santelmann filed with the members of the committee a brief containing the reasons why the resolution should not become a law.
13Lieutenant Santelmann's Brief.
15"In his brief Leader Santelmann says the resolution is directed against the enlisted man, and adds:
17"He is on the frontier, in the foreign service, in the far Northwest and the Antilles, helping to work out the policies which this Government has said must prevail; and while he is working to crush out the foes of the Government, at home it is sought to take away from him the privileges of earning a little wage, in addition to his pay of $13 per month, when relieved of the duties incident to the soldier's daily life. There is not a European Government that does not permit the 'enlisted man' taking engagements outside the posts or barracks, providing these engagements do not interfere with his presence at drill, guard mount or dress parade.
19Foreign Governments Give Permission.
21"There is not a foreign Government that does not permit its 'crack' bands from taking concert engagements and going on tours. Many of the famous bands of the world have visited American and have been received with ovations by our people; but when I desired to play engagements in or outside of Washington we have been met with protests from the local musical unions. While the pay of the Marine Band had been increased a few years ago, it is very little if any better than that of an army band, for, as there are no public quarters available for members of the band in the barracks, they have to hire their own quarters, and as 70 per cent. of the band are married men there are only a few who can hire quarters for less than $18 a month, and there are quite a number who are unable to secure proper quarters for less than $20 to $25 rent a month. In addition to this question of rent must be considered the support of the family, which is quite a consideration, especially when the family is large, and when attention is called to the fact that the commuted ration which is received from the Government amounts to only $4.80 a month at the present contract price of rations. From the foregoing it will be apparent that it is absolutely necessary for these men to earn something besides their regular pay. Even with that it required an amount of diplomacy to keep such men as we have at present in the band, for a great deal is expected of them, as not only do they perform their military duties at the barracks, but also at all of the official functions at the White House. I desire to state, in connection with the matter, that there are a number of men in the band who receive in civil life from $35 to $50 per week with various prominent bands and orchestras throughout the country. It is such men as these that are necessary to keep up the high standard of proficiency which is expected of the band which performs its duty at the White House, where it is subject to criticism by the highest officials of the United States as well as the representatives of every civilized country. These men who help to keep up the standard of efficiency are the men who will not stay in the service if they are deprived of the little money they now earn outside the band."
23Mr. Santelmann has been in the habit of giving at least one orchestral and one band concert every week during the winter seasons; thus many of the Marine Band men play two different instruments—a stringed instrument for the orchestra and a wind instrument for the band.
25Miss Carolyn E. Haines, the pianist, who is coming to Washington from Ohio, has a number of very flattering notices from the Ohio papers. She sends me several programs on which her name appears. Here is one which will show the character of the music Miss Haines plays:
26Overture, Euryanthe………………………………………Weber
27Mr. Miller and Miss Haines.
28Piano solo, Tocatelle………………………………………Dupont
29Miss Fay Pettit (pupil of Miss Haines).
30Sonata, op. 45, piano and violin………………………..Grieg
31Miss Haines and Maud D. Gemuender.
32Cello solo from opera Jocelyn……………………………Godard
33Albert C. Gemuender.
34Piano solo, Liebestraume…………………………………Liszt
35Miss Haines.
36Trios—
37On Tiptoe…………………………………………………….Hosmer
38Serenade…………………………………………………….Pierre
39Miss Gemuender, Mr. Miller, Albert C. Gemuender.
40Violin solo, Caprice de Concert la Gota Aragonesa…..De Saintlubin
41Trio………………………………………………………..Gade
42Miss Haines, Miss Gemuender, Mr. Gemuender.
44Anton Kaspar's press notices are so numerous as to make it a bewildering task when one attempts to select any one from the number. Here is one from the Baltimore News:
46Mr. Kaspar played the first movement from Vieuxtemps' "Fantaisia Appassionata." He is a very finished artist, and possesses not only fine technic but great warmth of expression. His tone is not quite so broad as that of some artists, but has that delightful singing quality which is one of the great charms of the instrument. He was heartily applauded, and gave as an extra number Miska Hauser's "Hungarian Rhapsody."
48There were two "Washington Composers' " concerts this week, both on January 31. The first was at the Friday Morning Club, and was under the direction of Mrs. Wilson Young and Miss Byrnes. Anton Gloetzer proved the lion of this occasion. A number of his compositions were performed by one of his pupils, and the audience applauded until he was obliged to play another of his works. Miss Amy Law sang with charming effect on this occasion. She gave to the songs she sang a dramatic and effective interpretation. She looked attractive and beautiful, and the audience accorded her a decided welcome.
50In the evening Jasper Dean McFall's concert took place at the Raleigh. He presented a program of seventeen numbers to an audience largely made up of the composers and their friends. Although the program was a long one the audience manifested unflagging interest and enthusiasm throughout. The Ladies' String Quartet furnished an interesting break in the vocal numbers by performing three very charming compositions by Ernest Lent. The composers who were represented have been enumerated here before.
52Mr. McFall was assisted by a number of his pupils, all of whom did him great credit. The lady pupils were remarkable for their beauty and graceful stage deportment. All of the pupils showed the results of Mr. McFall's training, and it was evident to all that the songs of each of the composers had received the most loving care at the hands of the performers. It was a novel idea—this composers' concert—and was carried out most elaborately and successfully, in spite of many pitfalls. Mr. McFall closed the program with a number of baritone solos.
54Oscar Franklin Comstock, Miss Lucia Nola and Fred Shepardson gave a concert at St. Stephen's Parish Hall on Tuesday.
56On Wednesday there was a Bispham recital.
58The third McReynolds-Koehle recital occurred on Friday.
60Berenice Thompson.
62Positive Pitch at Powers-Hadden-Alexander Studios.—W. A. White gave an interesting lecture on positive pitch and ear training at these studios last Tuesday evening, illustrating his entirely new and novel method of acquiring all qualities and degrees of relative pitch and its natural outcome—positive pitch. Mr. White's circular says, among other things:
64"All persons can develop the ability to know the pitch name of any note from hearing it, whether a chord be in any of its many positions or inversions, follow all melodic and harmonic progressions and learn to hear music intelligently."
66Hemus Re-engaged at the Cathedral.—Baritone Percy Hemus has been re-engaged as soloist at St. Patrick's R. C. Cathedral, with a handsome increase of salary. This will make his third year at that church.
68JAN KUBELIK
69THE BOHEMIAN VIOLINIST.
71Management of DANIEL FROHMAN and HUGO GORLITZ.
72(H. G. SNOW, Representative.)
74Business Address: Daly's Theatre, New York.
76Wissner Piano Used.
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