Presto

29
PRESTO
June 26, 1920.
SPECIAL DECORATIONS
FOR BRAMBACH GRAND
Artistic Treatment of Case of Fine Instrument for
Wealthy Greenwich Resident.
9L? Master Player Piano
Suppose ' A does cost us both
a little more—-&zs
PMNO GOMB4NY Cklca&o-DcKalUll.
The accompanying cuts illustrate one of the most
uniquely decorated grand pianos that has ever been
made. This instrument was sold by John Wana-
maker and will adorn one of the wealthy summer
residences at Greenwich, New York.
The decorations are the work of a celebrated
group of artists who have their studios in Long
HIGH G R A D E
after the Marine Corps was organized (probably in
1801) Lieutenant Colonel Archibald Henderson
brought from Naples a group of thirteen Italian mu-
sicians, which was the inception of the organization
as an instrumental band.
Here are some historic facts that are reliable:
An act to establish a Marine Corps was .approved
by President John Adams on July 11, 1798. This
law provided for a drum and fife corps, consisting
of sixteen drummers and sixteen fifers, one of whom
should act as fife major. This constituted the Ma-
rine Band until the arrival of the Neapolitans about
three years later.
For several years the band had no special leader;
first one member and then another acted as fife
major. This practice continued until August 14,
1815, when J. L. Clubb, of the sloop Lexington, was
regularly appointed, and served until 1824. He was
succeeded by Eutins Friquet, who served until Oc-
tober 29, 1830, when Francis Schenig was appointed,
-34 SBAV S i u a i p g
'Zf%\ 'ZZ J9ci m 3}dag ]i}un SuiAjas
lieved by Francis Scala, who served until 1848, and
again from 1854 until December 13, 1871.
It was under Scala's leadership that the band first
became famous. He inaugurated the open-air con-
certs at the White House and the Capitol grounds,
for which Congress allowed extra compensation in
1856. These concerts grew in such favor that steps
were undertaken to improve the organization, which
was still officially known as a fife and drum corps.
Legislation was obtained to reorganize it as a band,
with a principal musician and thirty members. On
July 25, 1861, President Lincoln affixed his signa-
ture to a law that recognized the first band as part
of the military service of the United States.
In 1898 the band was again reorganized. In order
to bring it up to the standing to which it was en-
titled as the leading military band of this country, a
law was passed which President McKinley signed,
March 3, 1898, increasing the band to seventy-three
members, consisting of a leader, with the pay and
allowance of a First Lieutenant of the Marine
Corps; a second leader at seventy-five dollars a
month and allowances; thirty first class musicians
at sixty dollars; thirty second class musicians at
fifty dollars; ten privates and a drum major. The
members are enlisted for four years. The men must
be trained musicians before they are accepted. There
is no apprenticeship or probationary course.
Folding Organs
School Organs
Practice Keyboards
Dealers' Attention Solicited.
A. L. WHITE MFG. CO.
215 West 6£d Place, CHICAGO* ILL.
6 7 Years of Improved Effort Are
Behind Every Piano Turned Out by
CABLE&SGNS
THE OLD RELIABLE
ESTABLISHED 1852
Factory and Offices i
H. C. Dickinson, vice-president of the Baldwin
Piano Company, has returned to Chicago from a
trip to Denver, Colo., where the Baldwin house has
a division headquarters.
550-552 West 38th Street
NEW YORK
EVERY MAN. WHETHER
Directly or Indirectly Interested in
Pianos, Phonographs or the General
Music Trade
Should have the three booklets compris-
ing
PRESTO TRADE LISTS
No. 1—Directory of the Music Trades—
the Dealers List.
No. 2—The Phonograph Directory—the
Talking Machine List.
No. 3—Directory of the Music Industries
(Manufacturers, Supplies, etc., of
all kinds).
Price, each book, 25 cents.
The three books combined contain the
only complete addresses and classified
lists of all the various depart-
ments of the music indus-
tries and trades.
Choice of these books and also a copy of
the indispensable "Presto Buyer's Guide,"
will be sent free of charge to new sub-
scribers to Presto, the American Music
Trade Weekly, at $2 a year,
You want Presto; you want the Presto
Trade Lists. They cost little and return
much. Why not have them?
Published by
Presto Publishing Co.
407 So. Dearborn St.,
CHICAGO/ILL.
Island City and make a specialty of this character
of work. The sides of the case, as can be seen
in the photograph, are most ornate in decoration, the
illustrations blending most harmoniously in color.
The decorations were carefully planned so as to
harmonize pleasingly with the environment into
which the piano-will be finally placed.
ROMANCE OF THE U. S.
MARINE CORPS BAND
Unofficial Historians Still Persist in Belief That
Original Organization Was a Kidnapped One.
From time to time somebody tries to sift the truth
of the tradition relating to the original Marine Band
—that it was kidnapped in Sicily.
The story goes that one Captain McNeil, of the
American frigate Boston, was cruising in the Medi-
terranean, when his soul yearned for the sound of
real music, an art that had been little developed in
this young republic. When ashore he heard a regi-
mental band play so tunefully that the bluff old sea-
dog became inspired. The inspiration was promptly
put into execution. In his suavest manner he in-
vited the Sicilians aboard his ship to play for "a
ball." The invitation was accepted with alacrity, in-
duced no doubt by the prospect of American gold.
A few nights afterward the entire organization
was on board the frigate with its instruments, when
the captain suddenly found it expedient to return to
the United States. So it was up anchor and away be-
fore the astonished Sicilians could protest. There is
no authentic record of what became of this band of
Italian musicians, as many of the Marine Corps
archives were destroyed in 1814.
The official records do show, however, that shortly
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