A special act of Congress, signed by President Coolidge on his inauguration day, made this organization the permanent, official band of the United States Navy. Congress also gave the U. S. Navy Band the official right to play for three organizations: the American Legion, the DAR and the American Red Cross. The band’s name was changed from the Washington Navy Yard Band to the United States Navy Band. Another noticeable change was made then,—the band gave up wearing the traditional bell-bottomed trousers, adopting instead the regulation Chief Petty Officers’ uniform, dark blue in winter and white in summer.
The United States Navy Band spends its working time in Washington, D. C. within the walls of the Naval gun factory. Their great library is housed here and also their valuable band instruments. In the huge, historic, sail loft the band practices, gives concerts and plays its radio broadcasts.
The regular duties of the U. S. Navy Band include playing at the Presidential Inauguration ceremonies, at many White House affairs, and in numerous parades held in the Capital. The U. S. Navy Band plays at the funeral services of all Navy men buried in Arlington Cemetery, as well as at funerals of statesmen, congressmen and other prominent officials.
The Navy Band has toured the United States playing in most of the large cities in every state. Canada, where it is a great favorite, Alaska, Panama, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Haiti and the Virgin Islands, have all been visited by this popular organization.
Many young men are eager to enlist in the Navy Band. They are attracted by its glamour and by the opportunity to get a good education and to see the world. But it isn’t easy to get into the music department of the United States Navy.
Every candidate must have a high school education or its equivalent and must pass the tough mental and physical examinations when he enlists. If he passes these—and not everyone does—he goes up against stiff examinations of his aptitude in music and his training and experience in it. Then follows a period of basic training in a “boot” camp. After this comes the real test, an eighteen months’ course of hard work in the United States Navy School of music in the Washington Navy Yard. He studies ear training, harmony, theory, music history, two instruments and band music—all of these added to the regular military discipline and drill. After this course is all completed these well-trained Navy musicians are sent in regular band units aboard battleships, cruisers and carriers. Eventually some fortunate bandsmen return to Washington to fill vacancies in the U. S. Navy Band.
The whole idea of the Navy School of Music was planned and carried out by Lieutenant Benter during his leadership of the Navy Band. After almost twenty-five years in this service, Lieutenant Benter retired from his post January 1, 1942. He passed on his baton to Charles Brendler, the Assistant Band Leader, a member of the Navy Band since 1917. At this time the Navy School of Music was removed from the supervision of the U. S. Navy Band, and Lieutenant James M. Thurmand, Jr. was made director of it.
When Commander Brendler took over the leadership of the U. S. Navy Band he began to work on his theory that the band should play all types of music for all kinds of people. He increased the organization to one hundred members, and he also formed a number of different units within it. Most of these players are accomplished symphony orchestra performers and a dozen or more are recognized soloists. The Navy Band contains a complete symphony orchestra; a modern “swingphonette” which plays equally well light opera or the latest “bebop”; and small groups for dances or concert programs.
This versatile band has broadcast thousands of radio programs, of which the “Navy Hour” is the best known. Their summer evening concerts on Capitol Hill are attended by huge throngs of devoted listeners. Commander Brendler loves music and music-lovers, and wants his band, which he pronounces the world’s finest, to play for all America. Truly this is a band for all the people.
