FRANK SIMON
Like many men who have achieved success Frank Simon, celebrated bandmaster and cornet soloist, had to help support himself as a boy. “I was not born with a silver spoon in my mouth,” he says, “but I came up the hard way, for which I have always been thankful.”
Frank’s parents, Sol and Bertha Simon, who operated a small dry goods store in Middletown, Ohio, recognized their son’s talent in his early years.
In 1899 the ten-year-old boy began studying with the local bandmaster, Q. C. Buckles, who soon advised Mr. Simon to send his son to nearby Cincinnati for lessons. Frank studied there with W. J. Koop, then, first trumpet with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. Soon he attracted the attention of Herman Bellstedt, eminent cornet master and military band expert, who gave him lessons and great encouragement.
In his early teens Frank was doing the work of a man. He played in the local Middletown Theater for road shows and also led a dance band. At sixteen he directed the hometown band until he was hired by John C. Weber of Cincinnati as the cornet soloist of his Prize Band of America. Through the next few years young Simon toured the country with it and other professional groups.
Soon the music world was talking about Frank Simon’s skillful cornet playing. The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra offered him a job in their orchestra, a position he held for three years.
In 1914 Sousa asked him to be his cornet soloist and the assistant to Herbert L. Clarke. Upon Clarke’s retirement from the band five years later, Frank Simon succeeded him as premier soloist and assistant leader.
But after two more years with Sousa, Simon wanted to create a great band of his own. In 1920 he accepted an offer from the American Rolling Mill Company to organize and conduct an industrial band for them. Made up of fine musicians, this well-known organization successfully advertised its sponsor at many important events in our country and in Canada.
In 1930 when radio came into its own, Frank Simon reorganized his band as a purely professional group. He engaged fifty talented Cincinnati musicians for his great symphonic band which made an outstanding record of broadcasting for ten years under one sponsor, The American Rolling Mill Company. Simon endeared himself to young people by presenting on each weekly broadcast some soloist or ensemble, selected from one of our American school bands. This program became one of the most popular on the air.
During this time Simon saw the need of keeping step with the times and asked Ferde Grofe, eminent modern composer, to write some new compositions for his band. A modern strain was added to his concert band programs in the playing of numbers from Grofe’s Grand Canyon and other suites, but they did not replace the finest of classical music in these broadcasts.
Among the honors and distinctions awarded Frank Simon is a Doctor of Music degree conferred upon him by Capital College, Columbus, Ohio, “in recognition of his efforts in the advancement of bands in the United States.”
In 1932 Dr. Simon was appointed Director of the Band Department of the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. He at once established a band department in the Cincinnati Conservatory which has attracted thousands of young talented players to the school. Since the Armco Band left the air, Dr. Simon has taken on other duties besides his responsibilities at the Conservatory. He has been in popular demand as guest conductor, judge and lecturer at band festivals and school band clinics in all parts of the country.
But this has not interfered with his leadership of the artistic concert band of about 150 musicians at the Conservatory. He gives several concerts a year, featuring their outstanding vocalists and instrumentalists and playing the best in band literature. His 65-piece radio symphonic band has given local and national broadcasts.
Dr. and Mrs. Simon have two sons, David and Joseph. The older is a doctor connected with the Jewish Hospital in Cincinnati, and Joseph is with a radio station in Mason City, Iowa.
Dr. Simon has two hobbies, fishing and baseball. But his major hobby might be said to be young people, for his devotion to young musicians of the nation is widely recognized.
“Hundreds of my students are now engaged professionally in symphony orchestras, radio and recording and in our educational institutions throughout the land,” said Dr. Simon. “This, of course, is a source of great pride to me.”
The Salvation Army Band
In Three Colts Lane in an old wool-shed
Glory, Hallelujah!
We frighten the living and raise the dead,
Sing Glory, Hallelujah,
Shout Glory, Hallelujah!
And while the rats were running round,
The boys and girls Salvation found.
William Booth began the work of his Christian Mission in the poorest slums of London in 1865. He had determined to preach the Gospel to the masses of people who were not members of any church. The beginning was hard. Rough crowds gathered along the streets, shouting, yelling, pelting Booth and his followers with stones, mud or old vegetables. Many times the ‘Salvationists’ were forced to don clean uniforms before taking their places in their meeting.
But Booth and his workers were brave and persistent. They soon realized that singing, even when occasionally aided by a cornet, tambourine or drums, was not suitable music to lead their crusade. In England in that period, brass bands were at the peak of their popularity. Fortunately, just at that time—1878—the Fry family, a group of successful instrumentalists were converted to Booth’s cause. They offered the services of their brass quartette, and soon a brass band became a necessary part of the Salvation Army.
It was a wise choice. Trumpet tones and drum beats could silence an unruly mob, and also carry the hymn tunes far and wide over the crowd. Not only could a band play effectively in the open air, but the players were able to carry the instruments and march as they produced the music.
The Christian Mission was reorganized in a military fashion. The name was changed to the Salvation Army with General Booth at the head. The Salvation Army brass bands began to multiply rapidly.
In 1880 George Scott Railton, an officer in General Booth’s Salvation Army, arrived in New York from London. With him came seven fine, wholesome-looking young women to aid in bringing Christianity to the poor, down-and-out slum dwellers in America’s greatest city.
This small group of Salvationists was well aware of the valuable help given by band instruments in their work. But on this first appearance in the Bowery they had to depend on their voices alone. The little company had sailed across the Atlantic in the steerage where there was no room for their trumpets, drums and other instruments. Bravely they marched along the street singing hymns set to the tunes of the popular songs of those days.
The words of All Around the World the Salvation Army Rolls were sung to the tune of Old Black Joe. What a Friend We Have in Jesus was fitted to the tender melody of In the Gloaming. These and many other touching songs brought numerous converts from among the listeners.
Before many months had passed Commissioner Railton found a number of instrumental players among his members. Instruments were collected, a brass band was assembled to inspire the people and “banding”—the Salvation Army’s word for it—began in America. Songs had a great influence in this religious campaign, especially when accompanied by a good brass band. The rhythmic, catchy tunes were carried to the watching crowd and many an unsavory barrage of stale eggs or tomatoes was stopped by the strains of the music.
As a “militant religious” order, the Salvation Army naturally follows the military-like rules and regulations issued by the International Headquarters in London. These rules apply to bands as all band members are required to belong to the Salvation Army. They must obey all regulations pertaining to their habits, their personal living, religious beliefs, wearing of the uniforms and their support of the organization.
The Salvation Army Band’s top man is the bandmaster who is responsible for all the music produced by the organization. He chooses the band members after each one has been carefully investigated by the Salvation Army authorities. The bandmaster also trains his group, and conducts the rehearsals and concerts.
The bandleader, or band Sergeant, conducts the religious services for the band members only. He is responsible for their spiritual welfare. It is he who gives the bandsmen advice, counsel and discipline. According to an unwritten law, each bandsman—unless previously released by an acceptable excuse—attends every rehearsal and engagement throughout the entire year.
The officers of the Salvation Army are chosen from the soldiers in the ranks, who have had a high school education. They receive nine months’ training in one of the four Salvation Army Schools. This is a varied course which even includes instruction in how to choose a wife or a husband. No officers are permitted to marry anyone not in the Salvation Army, nor without the consent of their superior officers. Army wives always hold the same rank as their husbands.
Cadets, in addition to their other courses, learn to play several musical instruments, including the accordion, euphonium, trumpets and trombones. They are graduated as a probationary Lieutenant. After one year of correspondence study—still on strict probation—they are given the commission of 2nd Lieutenant and the standing of ordained ministers of the Gospel. Their training continues through various ranks: 1st Lieutenant, Captain, Major, in staff as Brigadier, Lieutenant Colonel, Colonel, Lieutenant Commissioner to Commissioner.
The Salvation Army bands are in three different grades. The top-ranking ones are the various Headquarters Staff Bands, all well-trained, expert musicians. The Corps bands come second—there are many of them—more bands of this class than in any other musical organization in the world except school bands. One night each week band rehearsal is held in each Corps hall and all the youngsters in the neighborhood gather there, welcome to listen and learn. Many Corps bands hold a summer camp, two weeks or more, for young musicians who are anxious to play in a band.
The third band group is selected from the young people of the Salvation Army with fully 18,000 members. These youth organizations are feeders for the Corps bands. Many young musicians have been helped by this organization. When a boy, Harry James—the famous trumpeter—played in a Salvation Army band in Texas. George Paxton also took his early instruction on the cornet in a Salvation Army boy’s band in Newark, New Jersey.
No members of a Salvation Army receives any salary for his services. James Petrillo once asked a bandsman in a street corner Salvation Army band “What union do you belong to?” “The Union of God,” the player answered. Petrillo made no reply but threw a coin on the drum as he passed on.
The Salvation Army in the United States is divided into four territories and each has a music secretary who directs all the musical activities in his section. At present, these officers and their territories are as follows:
| Brigadier William Broughton | —West | —San Francisco |
| Major Frank Longino | —South | —Atlanta |
| Captain Richard E. Holz | —East | —New York |
| Lieutenant Bernard Smith | —Central | —Chicago |
There are approximately 700 large, all-brass Salvation Army bands in this country. These are among the most outstanding:
| Flint Citadel (Michigan) |
| Oakland Citadel (California) |
| Boston Palace (Massachusetts) |
| Detroit Citadel (Michigan) |
| Lehigh Citadel (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) |
| Brooklyn Citadel (New York) |
| Los Angeles Congress Hall (California) |
| Syracuse Citadel (New York) |
| Atlanta Temple (Georgia) |
| New York Temple (New York) |
| San Francisco Citadel (California) |
The International Staff Band at the Headquarters in London is perhaps the most widely-known of these Salvation Army bands. Many prominent official positions and men of noted various professions may be found playing beside a music-loving laborer or some one in a lowly walk of life.
The New York City Staff Band of thirty men was organized in 1887 and has played continuously ever since. This is the most famous Salvation Army band in the United States. Brigadier William E. Bearchell, the bandmaster, is an outstanding musician, versatile and talented. He is a composer, a chorus conductor, organist and former bandmaster of the Brooklyn Citadel Corps Band, which was then known as one of the finest Salvation Army bands in America.
The New York City Staff Band is remarkable for its distinctive tone color. This is due to the use of several unusual instruments: the flugel-horn, the E-flat cornet and the G-trombone. The handle of this trombone slides the slide down farther than other trombones and makes the tone much deeper.
This famous band has given many concerts throughout Canada, toured England where they played at Buckingham Palace, Crystal Palace and various famous places in London. They have played at the White House for every President since Theodore Roosevelt first invited them. They have been heard in New York at the Metropolitan Opera House, Carnegie Hall, Madison Square Garden, at the World’s Fair, and in great halls, universities and cathedrals in all parts of the United States.
The Chicago Staff Band of the Central Territory Headquarters is another nationally-famous band. This organization is highly rated by music circles in the United States. With their outstanding bandmaster, Captain Carl Lindstrom, these thirty bandsmen were recently guests of the Texas Music Educators’ Convention.
In 1883 a music publishing department was established in London. There all vocal and instrumental music was carefully edited and published. This was in accordance with the rule that all music used in the Salvation Army must be composed or arranged by its members and published by the organization. This regulation is to insure the use of music that is absolutely suitable for the service in order to obtain the proper atmosphere and results. Good, appropriate music is essential. The Salvation Army music is not intended for the use of the public but for the Army alone.
The music material is thoroughly screened. Each number is played by the Headquarters Staff Band for the Music Editorial Board, which carefully judges its fitness and desirability.
Today in the United States the Salvation Army music is published in San Francisco, Chicago and New York under the same rules and restrictions as were originally observed in London. The instruments used by the Salvation Army bands all over the world, are made in the Army’s instrument factories at St. Albans, England. As with the Army music, these instruments are sold only to Salvationists.
No longer can the music of the Salvation Army be classed as cheap or inferior. For more than fifty years, high-ranking musicians, composers, and outstanding performers on various musical instruments have successfully done their part to build and keep the music and the bands of the Salvation Army to a high standard of content and performance.
While contributions to Salvation Army Music are made by musicians from all parts of the globe, three of the most prominent composers are Americans. They are Erik Leidzen, considered by many as the foremost arranger for bands in the world today; Emil Soderstrom, staff arranger for NBC in Chicago; and Brigadier William Broughton, who has written more music for the use of the Salvation Army than any other American composer.
That the Salvation Army bands have achieved a high rating is proven by the interest shown in them by Sousa in his time and by today’s noted bandleader, Dr. Edwin Franko Goldman. And also by Albert Spalding, Marian Anderson and other “greats” in the music world who have appeared on the Salvation Army Band programs.
The Salvation Army bands proclaim salvation through their music. It sustains the religious feelings, spirit, and fervor of the converts. Salvationists regard their music as the greatest part of their religious service. Some officers say it is fully sixty per cent more effective than their preaching.
That the Salvation Army follows the ideas of the ancient Greek philosophers is true: “the first duty of music is to ennoble the soul.” Perhaps the musicians of the Salvation Army have come closer to the real use and meaning of music. They know its power to rescue hardened souls from sin, to inspire the disheartened with courage, to do right and to instill new joy into saddened lives.