From Town Band to School Bands: A Brief HistoryNOTES DA CAPO – By John L. Puffenbarger,
WVMEA Historian Winter 2007 The town band in Men and boys were
the primary participants and were taught to play by various methods -
self-taught, private instruction, and in the local town rehearsals. New and
used instruments were obtained from various music businesses and from
individuals. The average size of the bands around 1900 was ten to fifteen
players, with an instrumentation of mostly brass instruments, two or three
percussionists, and an occasional clarinetist and/or saxophonist. Town bands were
organized in most communities throughout the country. Rupert Hughes, eminent
musicologist and writer on music, stated, "by
1897 Sousa marches had been sold to 18,000 bands." It appears to be
impossible to prove that the statement is true; however, the Carl Fisher
Publishing Company grew so fast in 1900 that it had to expand its building. Around 1942, the
town band began to decline, and the young school band movement, which had begun
during the 1920s, filled the void. It is believed that the town band declined
because of the technological developments of the twentieth century and a
changing society and lifestyle. The music industry saw this development as a
new source of business and vigorously promoted school bands. Who were the music
pioneers who began the school band movement in The Ravenswood
Band was organized in 1927 by D.M. Whetstone, a leading figure in the development
of school bands. By 1929, there were 40 members in the group. Lawrence Cappilenti contributed much to the growth of the band in
the 1950s. The 120 member band, under the direction of Jim Porter, attended the
Y.F.W. National Convention in Harold Leighty organized the first Magnolia High School Band in
New Martinsville in 1926. In 1935, he transferred to Mr. Christianson (first name unknown) organized the first band
program at The Elkins High
School Band was formed during the 1928-29 school year. Phillip "Prof'
Davies served as the The first
Buckhannon-Upshur High School Band was established in 1923 when II boys at the
school developed an interest in having a band. Seward Reese became the director
of the group, and Bartlett L. Lyons, who was also director at School bands were
not the only musical groups developed during the first half of the twentieth
century as choirs and orchestras also began to flourish during this time. For
instance, the first organized Shepherd College Choir sang before the college
assembly on November 4, 1936. Professor Carl 1. Farnsworth was instrumental in
organizing the choir. Professor Asa Bush, who created
the music program at the college, taught a class in vocal music without
compensation to promote the new program. What about the
music program in your school? Who were the music pioneers who started the
choir, orchestra, or band programs? If there is no history of these groups in
your department, take time to do some research. Interview some parents in your
community who may have participated in one or more of the organizations. After
you have gathered some facts, take time to write an historical document about
music education in your community, and send a copy to me so that I can place it
in the WVMEA archives. Your efforts will enrich the musical heritage of your
school. (Note: The first four paragraphs of this
article were taken from the Master's Thesis, The
Rise and Decline of the Town Band, 18901942, by Mel Saunders, WVBA
Secretary. Used by permission.) |