United States military bands
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There are many military bands in the United States military. Some are assigned to specific military bases or units; there are also bands at each of the service academies.
Seven bands are considered to be premier, with members selected by screened competitive audition prior to enlisting in the particular service. Members of these bands often come from prestigious conservatories and schools of music.
They perform in parades, military parades, or seated, in concert.
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[edit] United States Army Band
The United States Army Band was officially created in 1922 by General John J. Pershing, and continues to be known as "Pershing's Own." This organization contains over 270 personnel and eight official ensembles, including the U.S. Army Herald Trumpets. The Army Band has led every inaugural parade since 1925.
[edit] United States Marine Band
Established in 1798 by act of Congress, the United States Marine Band (nicknamed "The President's Own") is the oldest professional musical organization in the United States. It is well-known for its public performances (about 500 per year across the U.S.) and performances at the White House and Inauguration Day festivities. The United States Marine Band includes the Marine Band proper as well as the Marine Chamber Orchestra, and Marine Chamber Ensembles. John Philip Sousa led the Marine Band from 1880 to 1892. The Marine Band was headquartered at Marine Barracks at 8th Street, SE and I Street, SE in Washington, D.C. until September 2004, when it moved to the new Marine Barracks Annex and Marine Band Support Facility, located at 7th Street SE]] and Virginia Avenue SE.
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- See also: Fleet bands and United States Naval Academy Band
Officially designated in 1925, the United States Navy Band is composed of 172 enlisted musicians and four officers. The organization is composed of a concert-ceremonial unit and four specialty units: the "Sea Chanters" chorus (1956), the "The Commodores" jazz ensemble (1969), the "Country Current" country-bluegrass group (1973), and the "Cruisers" contemporary music ensemble (1999). The band also has several chamber music groups. The Navy Band is based in the Washington Navy Yard. Captain George N. Thompson is the current commander.
[edit] United States Air Force Band
The United States Air Force Band is part of the United States Air Force Bands Program,[1] which consists of 10 stateside bands,[2] 4 overseas active-duty bands,[3] and 11 Air National Guard bands.[4]
Within the USAF Band there are six performing ensembles: The Concert Band, Singing Sergeants, Airmen of Note, Air Force Strings, Ceremonial Brass and Max Impact. Collectively, these musical groups perform a wide spectrum of styles, including classical, jazz, popular, patriotic and ceremonial music.
The band's official military life began on September 24, 1941, with the formation of the Bolling Army Air Forces Band under the sponsorship of Lieutenant L.P. Holcomb, commanding officer of the Air Base Group at Bolling Field. From 1955 to 1961, the Air Force Band was joined by the WAF Band as twin ambassadors of the USAF, though USAF policy kept the WAF Band from overseas appearances. The WAF Band, founded as a local base band in 1951 at Lackland Air Force Base, were stationed alongside the all-male USAF Band at Bolling from 1953 to 1957 after which the popular women's band was invited to Norton Air Force Base where they stayed until being disbanded in 1961. Some 235 women served in the WAF Band's ten-year lifespan. Today, the United States Air Force Band is made up of male and female airmen and is headquartered at Bolling Air Force Base in Washington, D.C.[5]
[edit] United States Coast Guard Band
In March 1925, the United States Coast Guard Band was organized with the assistance of Lt. Charles Benter, leader of the United States Navy Band, Dr. Walter Damrosch, conductor of the New York Philharmonic, and "American March King" John Philip Sousa, former director of the United States Marine Band.
Forty years later, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Congressional Legislation that resulted in the Coast Guard Band becoming the permanent, official musical representative of the nation's oldest continuous seagoing service. This event established the Coast Guard Band as one of the five premier service bands in the United States.
The duties of the Coast Guard Band have greatly expanded since 1965. Originally a small command band located at the Academy and used primarily for local purposes, today the band routinely tours throughout the United States and has performed in the former Soviet Union and in England. It represents the Coast Guard around the nation and the world, at presidential functions, and for the Secretary of Homeland Security and other cabinet officials on formal and informal occasions.
The Coast Guard Band is headquartered in New London, Connecticut.[6]
[edit] References
[edit] See also
- Navy School of Music (Army, Navy, Marine Corps)
