Early American Military Music

Howe, Warren P. American Music; Champaign Vol. 17 Iss. 1, (Spring 1999): 87-116. From a search in Trefry Library at American Public University System and found at Proquest.

From the abstract it is learned that the American War of Independence provided impetus for musicians to write music, standardize repertoire, author instructional methods, and form bands – bands meaning (I assume) brass bands or orchestras. The text begins with a brief overview of who Henry Blake was and his attempts at writing down exact notations of fife music perhaps to help standardize it and avoid confusion in relaying information to troops on the battlefield. Brief intro of Baron von Steuben and his role in Washington’s Continental Army, including holding music to be of such importance that he established a subordinate inspector just for music. John Hiwell became the first. Highly capable and experienced, Howe covers Hiwell’s “Music Returns” which are accountings of personnel, instruments, and accessories. Howe details four of these returns, discussing fifes, drums, B Clarinetti, “The Drummer’s Book of Music,” needs of instruments, music paper, other items, personnel reports, a reorganization plan, why “fifers and drummers” was turned into “fifers and learners,” and the significance of these returns (tactical communication, camp organization, ceremonial activities, and morale, Washington’s attention to organizational detail, and establishment of training post war). Sections are then given over to the near-post war years, including West Point and when the Army was reduced by Congress, growth of the Army and its music, Benjamin Clark’s 1797 “Drum Book,” and when military bands became official, including a long section on the West Point Band. A fine read, detailed, well documented as one would expect from a professional journal.