The U. S. Navy Band
The Brandywine, an American man-of-war, entered on her payroll of July 26, 1825, the name of James F. Draper, a musician at “ten dollars per month.” This was the first name on the band list of our Navy, but other names were added rapidly. James F. Draper, whether fifer or drummer we do not know, may not have rated as much of a musical man in his day, but his name is the first of a noted organization in the world of music.
Soon other ships had three or four musicians whom they called out on special occasions. When battles with pirates and other enemy ships thinned the numbers of the crews, the bands were sent ashore to recruit men to fill their quotas. The bands marched through the streets, loudly rolling their drums and tooting their shrill fifes, to call landsmen to join them in sailing the seas to find treasure and adventure.
Thirteen years later, 1838, a naval band was officially entered in the Pay-Table of the Navy’s Register. It consisted of a bandmaster, four first-class musicians, and one second-class musician. From that time on, bands were found on many ships, but this increase in the number of navy bands was due to the wishes of the individual commanders of ships, fleets and stations.
Their instruments were drums, fifes and trumpets. The music aboard ships was available for balls, entertainment programs, and funeral services. Some ships carried fine bands of as many as twenty players each. These bands became very popular and were soon considered a part of a ship’s life.
There was no distinction made between the musicians and the ordinary seamen. The bandsmen had to perform regular sailors’ duties such as shoveling coal, scrubbing the decks or doing whatever they were called on to do. In the beginning they were rated as seamen. After the year 1830, musicians were entered as first-class though they were still paid ten dollars per month.
In battle, bandsmen, like other sailors, had their own posts assigned to them. In the early days when they served as ammunition passers so many received injuries to their hands that the bands were depleted. It was then decided to detail them as stretcher bearers.
Bandsmen always keep on at their regular schedule of musical business, even in wartime unless engaged in battle. Rehearsals are held in the morning, concerts on deck at noon for the crew, and concerts for the officers in the evening. The band plays at all ceremonies. It plays colors when the ship is lying in port, plays at Sunday morning church services on the ship and also for a Sunday evening concert.
During World War I band music was very popular. Everyone—soldiers, sailors and civilians—wanted music, and the government gave them good music. Outstanding Navy bandleaders directed the finest talent obtainable in playing the music that everyone loved to hear. There were Sousa’s thrilling marches and there were songs that inspired courage and gave cheer—Over There, Smiles, Keep The Home Fires Burning and dozens of others. In this period, America’s noted “March King,” John Philip Sousa, took over the leadership of the Great Lakes Navy Band and made it a world-famous organization.
With the Armistice came the breaking up of the marvelous service bands. But the Navy Department, now fully aware of the great necessity for band music, appointed a musical unit to officially represent the United States Navy. They chose their foremost musical group, The Navy Yard Band of Washington, D. C. The selection of a leader was most important, but after careful consideration, Bandmaster Charles Benter was appointed to the post. Lieutenant Benter left a successful term of service on the U.S.S. Connecticut to reorganize and direct the Navy’s band of eighteen members. That the new leader was well qualified was soon plain to all. By 1923 Lieutenant Benter had sixty-three enthusiastic, capable performers playing twenty varieties of instruments. Under this able director, the Washington Navy Yard Band soon made a place in the hearts of all in the Capital city.