the experiences of a bandmaster-第1章
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The Experiences of a Bandmaster
By John Philip Sousa
During eighteen years spent in playing music for the masses； twelve
years in the service of the United States and six in that of the
general public； many curious and interesting incidents have come
under my observation。
While conductor of the Marine Band； which plays at all the state
functions given by the President at the Executive Mansion； I saw
much of the social life of the White House and was brought into
more or less direct contact with all the executives under whom I
had the honor of successively servingPresidents Hayes； Garfield；
Arthur； Cleveland and Harrison。
They were all very appreciative of music； and in this respect were
quite unlike General Grant； of whom it is said that he knew only
two tunes； one of which was 〃Yankee Doodle〃 and the other wasn't！
The President's Embarrassing Demand。
I think I may say that more than one President； relieved from the
onerous duties of a great reception； has found rest by sitting
quietly in the corner of a convenient room and listening to the
music。
Once； on the occasion of a state dinner； President Arthur came to
the door of the main lobby of the White House； where the Marine
Band was always stationed； and beckoning me to his side asked me to
play the 〃Cachuca。〃 When I explained that we did not have the
music with us but would be glad to include it in the next
programme； the President looked surprised and remarked：
〃Why； Sousa； I thought you could play anything。 I'm sure you can；
now give us the 'Cachuca。'〃
This placed me in a predicament； as I did not wish the President to
believe that the band was not at all times able to respond to his
wishes。 Fortunately； one of the bandmen remembered the melody and
played it over softly to me on his cornet in a corner。 I hastily
wrote out several parts for the leading instruments； and told the
rest of the band to vamp in the key of E flat。 Then we played the
〃Cachuca〃 to the entire satisfaction of Mr。 Arthur； who came again
to the door and said： 〃There； I knew you could play it。〃
The ladies of the White House were always interested in the music；
and frequently suggested selections for the programmes； Mrs。 Hayes
being particularly fond of American ballads。 During the brief
Garfield administration there were no state receptions or dinners
given by the President； and the band did not play at the White
House； except for a few of Mrs。 Garfield's receptions immediately
after the inauguration。 While Mrs。 McElroy was mistress of the
Executive Mansion for her brother； President Arthur； the lighter
music was much in favor； as there were always many young people at
the Mansion。
Miss Rose Elizabeth Cleveland was much interested in music； and
evinced a partiality for Arthur Sullivan's melodies。 Mrs。
Harrison's favorite music was Nevin's 〃Good Night； Beloved〃 and the
Sousa marches。 The soundness of Mrs。 Cleveland's musical taste was
shown by her liking for the 〃Tannhauser〃 overture and other music
of that character。
The Marine Band played all the music for President Cleveland's
wedding； which took place in the Blue Room of the White House。 The
distance from the room up…stairs to the exact spot where the
ceremony was to take place was carefully measured by Colonel Lamont
and myself； in order that the music might be timed to the precise
number of steps the wedding party would have to take； and the climax
of the Mendelssohn 〃Wedding March〃 was played by the band just as
the bride and groom reached the clergyman。
President Cleveland's Veto。
A few days before the ceremony I submitted my musical programme to
Colonel Lamont for the President's approval； and among the numbers
was a quartet called 〃The Student of Love；〃 from one of my operas。
Even in the anticipation of his happiness Mr。 Cleveland was keenly
alive to the opportunities for humorous remarks which this title
might afford to irreverent newspaper men； and he said to his
secretary： 〃Tell Sousa he can play that quartet； but he had better
omit the name of it。〃 Accordingly； 〃The Student of Love〃 was
conspicuous by its absence。
When North Carolina celebrated its centenary； the Marine Band was
ordered to Fayetteville to participate in the ceremonies。 The
little Southern town was much interested in the advent of the
〃President's Band；〃 and the prevailing opinion was that 〃Dixie〃
would be tabooed music with us。 Before the exercises a local
committee waited upon me and intimated that 〃Dixie〃 was a popular
melody in that vicinity。
〃Of course；〃 said the spokesman； 〃we don't want you to play anything
you don't want to； but please remember； sir； that we are very fond
of 'Dixie' here。〃
Bowing gravely； I thanked the committee for their interest in my
programme； but left them completely in the dark as to whether I
intended to play the loved song of the South or not。
〃Dixie；〃 by the President's Band。
The ceremonies opened with a patriotic address by Governor Fowle；
lauding the glories of the American flag and naturally the only
appropriate music to such a sentiment was 〃The Star…Spangled
Banner；〃 which the crowd patriotically cheered。
The tone of the succeeding oration was equally fervid； but the
speaker enlarged upon the glories of the Commonwealth whose one
hundredth anniversary was being celebrated。 The orator sat down；
there was a momentary pause； and then as I raised my baton the
strains of 〃Dixie〃 fell upon the delighted ears of the thousands
round the platform。
The unexpected had happened； and such a shout as went up from that
throng I have never heard equaled。 Hats were tossed in the air；
gray…bearded men embraced； and for a few minutes a jubilant
pandemonium reigned supreme。 During the rest of our stay in
Fayetteville the repertoire of the Marine Band was on this order：
〃Yankee Doodle；〃〃Dixie；〃 〃Star…Spangled Banner；〃〃Dixie；〃
〃Red； White and Blue；〃〃Dixie。〃
In all my experience the acme of patriotic fervor was reached during
a reunion of the Loyal Legion at Philadelphia some years ago。 The
exercises were held in the Academy of Music； and the band occupied
the orchestra pit in front of the stage； which was crowded with
distinguished veterans。
I had strung together for the occasion a number of war…songs；
bugle…calls and patriotic airs； and when the band played them the
martial spirit began to stir the people。 As we broke into
〃Marching Through Georgia；〃 a distinguished…looking old soldier
stepped to the foot…lights and began to sing the familiar words of
the famous song in a loud； clear voice。 The entire audience joined
in； and as the swelling volume of melody rolled through the house；
the enthusiasm waxed more intense。
Verse after verse was sung； interrupted with frantic cheers； until
it seemed that the very ecstasy of enthusiasm had been reached。 It
was only when physically exhausted that the audience calmed down
and the exercises proceeded。
A Chorus of Ten Thousand。
During the World's Fair at Chicago my present band was giving
nightly concerts in the Court of Honor surrounding the lagoon。
Onone beautiful night in June fully ten thousand people were
gathered round the bandstand while we were playing a medley of
popular songs。
Director Tomlins； of the World's Fair Choral Associations； was on
the stand； and exclaiming； 〃Keep that up； Sousa！〃 he turned to the
crowd and motioned the people to join him in singing。 With the
background of the stately buildings of the White City； this mighty
chorus； led by the band； sang the songs of the people…〃Home； Sweet
Home；〃 〃Suwanee River；〃 〃Annie Laurie；〃 〃My Old Kentucky Home；〃
etc。； and never did the familiar melodies sound so grandly
beautiful。
The influence of music to quiet disorder and to allay fear is quite
as potent as its power to excite and to stir enthusiasm。 A case in
point happened at the St。 Louis Exposition； where my band was
giving a series of concerts。 There was an enormous audience in the
music hall when； in the middle of the programme； every electric
light suddenly went out； leaving the house in complete darkness。
A succession of sharp cries from women； the hasty sh
