Band, Military Bands differ from full orchestral bands in being wholly composed of wind-instruments and drums. The musical instruments allowed by government to regiments in the service are confined to trumpets and bugles for the cavalry and artillery, and fifes, bugles, bagpipes, and drums for the infantry and Highland regiments. The usual number attached to infantry regiments is 16 drummers and fifers (or buglers). The 16 are supposed to be able to play either instrument, and are commanded by a sergeant-drummer (formerly called drum-major). The Highland regiments have each, in addition, 5 pipers and a sergeant-piper (formerly pipe-major), who form a special pipe band. Cavalry regiments have 8 trumpeters and a sergeant-trumpeter (formerly trumpet-major). These several performers, who are paid 1d. per day more than private soldiers, are allowed for the strictly military purpose of signalling commands, &c., in circumstances in which the human voice would be useless. In addition to these there are generally a number of 'acting' pipers, trumpeters, &c., who do not get the extra 1d.
To meet the instrumental and other expenses of a full musical band, the officers above subaltern rank, in addition to a fixed sum on appointment and promotion, each contribute twelve days' pay per annum to a band fund. Government allows the services of 20 men, 1 corporal, 1 sergeant, and a bandmaster, over and above the drummers, &c. already described. Boys are also allowed to the extent of 1 per cent. of the men in the regiment. This brings the number up to about 30. To make the usual number of between 40 and 50 performers, extra men are drawn from the ranks; these are, however, liable to take rank duty on a full inspection parade of the regiment or in active service. In ordinary infantry regiments the pipers and drummers are not usually in the band, as their duties employ them otherwise. In the rifles, however, the buglers, who are more numerous than in other regiments, and in cavalry regiments the trumpeters, all belong to the band, except in such rifle regiments as have their buglers organised into a separate bugle band. The number of men allowed for the band in cavalry regiments is 15, 1 corporal, 1 sergeant, besides boys, in addition to the trumpeters. Government also contributes £80 per annum to the band fund of each regiment. Cavalry regiments usually possess a double band (composed of the same performers)—namely, a brass band for mounted duty, consisting generally of valved brass instruments, treble, tenor, and bass, which can be played with one hand, leaving the other free for the management of the horse; and a reed band for dismounted duty or 'programme performance,' in which clarionets, flutes, bassoons, &c. are included. In marching regiments, where the performers have the use of both hands for their instruments, the selection is wider, and the following may be given as a type of a regimental band: 1 piccolo, 1 oboe, 2 E♭ clarionets, 12 B♭ clarionets, 2 bass clarionets, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 2 baritones, 2 euphoniums, 4 basses, 4 cornets, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones, 2 drums. A great many regiments also have a few performers able to play stringed instruments, usually violoncello and double bass, to assist in the performance of classical music; some regiments even possessing a full string band. Previous to 1857, the bandmasters in the army were almost always private individuals, mostly foreigners, engaged by the officers to instruct the band, and young players were taught by them and the band-sergeant. In that year, however, government instituted a school of military music at Kneller Hall, Twickenham. At first it occupied the same anomalous position as the bands themselves, being partly supported by government and partly by a contribution of £10 per annum from each regiment; but in 1867 the War Office took it over as a government school, and now pays the entire expenses. It has a director of music and nine professors. The primary object of this school is to train promising men, usually band-sergeants recommended by their commanding-officer, for the position of bandmasters. They spend about two years in the institution, and are fully instructed in 'counterpoint' in four parts, and in a knowledge of the compass, capabilities, and proper combination of the various military musical instruments. The army is now altogether supplied with bandmasters from this college; about twenty per annum leaving to join different regiments. They belong to the service, are warrant-officers (a rank specially introduced into the army for their benefit), and are paid by government 5s. per day and rations, in addition to £70 per annum from the officers' band fund, with an allowance for house-rent when living out of barracks; the government strictly adhering to the anomaly of the position by thus paying only half the bandmaster's salary. Kneller Hall also trains such young instrumentalists for regimental bands as are recommended by bandmasters from among the most promising of their boys. These band boys either are sons of soldiers in the regiment, or come from the Duke of York's School, the Hibernian School, Dublin, the bands of industrial schools, or any source whence boys with a knowledge of music can be got. When a boy is recommended to Kneller Hall, he is kept for eighteen months or two years, thoroughly instructed in the use of his instrument, and returned to his regiment; and if he has talent and behaves himself, he has a good chance of eventually rising to the position of bandmaster. When a regiment goes from home on active service, if the absence promises to be short, as in the case of the Ashantee war, the band is left at home till its return; if the regiment is going on long service, the members of the band go with it and assist in ambulance duty, as for instance during the Indian Mutiny.
The sergeant-drummer in infantry regiments and
the sergeant-trumpeter in cavalry regiments is the military commander of the band, the bandmaster having authority only over the music, and the men as musicians. The various Guards' bands in London, the bands of the Royal Engineers, the Royal Artillery, and the Royal Marines at Chatham, Portsmouth, and Plymouth, are allowed more men than the line regiments. The Guards' bands have also the privilege individually of accepting private engagements, when these do not interfere with their duty, in plain clothes, in addition to the ordinary engagements as bands by 'permission of the commanding-officer.' The emoluments thus open to the men, induce a better class of musicians to remain in the service than would be the case were they restricted to their pay as soldiers. The bandsmen of line regiments have less opportunity of private engagements, and can only go in plain clothes by special permission. They have, however, their chance of band engagements, the receipts being divided among the band.
The duty of regimental bands is to play at regimental parades, at 'marches out,' to the officers at mess, and when required by the officers. Formerly the music required by the band had to be arranged and 'scored' by the bandmaster, but there are now many journals published (the earliest Boosey's Military Journal, 1846) with arrangements of all kinds of music for military bands, thus relieving the bandmaster from much of his hardest work. These journals are of great service to both military and amateur bands, bringing within the reach of every one the finest music, arranged by the very best musicians of the day.
Naval Bands.—Flag-ships only are supposed to carry bands, but other large ships (commanded by officers not less in rank than a post-captain) usually also do so, at the option of the officers. They have generally from 10 to 15 performers, and are mostly supplied from the boy bands of training-ships, supplemented by retired army bandsmen who may join the ships for the purpose. As in the army, the officers provide a band fund, to which government contributes a maximum sum of £20 per annum, and from which the bandmaster's and bandmen's pay are supplemented and the other expenses met.
Volunteer and Amateur Bands.—The great development of the volunteer movement has led to a corresponding development in amateur bands, nearly every volunteer regiment possessing one. Their organisation is, as closely as the circumstances permit, identical with that of the regular army bands, and need not be further described. Other amateur bands are now common throughout the country, nearly every small town having its 'instrumental band.' Some of the amateur bands of Yorkshire and Lancashire, consisting mostly of working-men engaged in mills, iron-works, or collieries, are really good, executing all kinds of music in an astonishingly creditable manner, considering their opportunities for practice. Many districts have their annual brass band contests at which considerable sums of money are given as prizes. For other bands, see ORCHESTRA.