BAND, Military, an organized body of musicians in the army service. In all countries bands are organized and maintained in each infantry regiment, or battalion if the latter is the unit. The strength of these bands and the number and nature of their instruments vary considerably, as also do the rank and status of the bandmaster. Bands in the United States army are recruited generally for that specific purpose, the members being enlisted men, usu ally 28 in number. Instruments are supplied by the Quartermaster's Department, and a school for army bands is maintained at Gov ernor's Island, N. Y. Bandmasters in Eng land are specially trained at KneIler Hall, re ceive extra pay and are recruited from boys from military institutions, schools and training ships. The leading military bands of Europe are the Royal Artillery, Royal Marine and Guards' Band, of England; the Kaiser-Franz Grenadier Band, of Germany; the Guides' Band, of Belgium; the Garde Republicaine Band, of France; the Imperial Guards Band, of Austria; the Ottoman Palace Band, of Turkey; the Bersaglieri Band, of Italy; the Czar's Reg iment of Guards Band, of Russia. Consult (United States Army Regulations) for compo sition and equipment of United States army bands. For band instrumentation consult Clappe, A. A., 'The Wind Band and Its In struments) (New York 1911). Consult also Grove, 'Dictionary of Music) (London 1903); Rode, 'Musikalisches Konversations-Lexicon) (Berlin 1877).
a genus in the family Cepolidtr, having the body much elongated and compressed, and is covered by very small scales. The dorsal fin is very long and con sists like the anal of soft rays. The tail verte brx are very numerous, and the whole struc ture of the body exhibits unusual delicacy, so that specimens are seldom obtained in. an un
injured state. All the species inhabit quiet depths and are unable to contend with waves and currents. The snake-like form and the beauty of their colors make them objects of great interest. One species, the red band-fish (C. rubescens), not uncommon in the Medi terranean, is occasionally cast ashore by storms on the British coasts. It is about 15 inches long. Its brilliant appearance, when seen mov ing in the water, has suggested the names of fire-flame and red ribbon, by which it is known at Nice. The home of the genus is in Japanese waters. See OAR-FISH.
In early Metho dism Wesley encouraged the system of bands. These consisted of not more than five or six persons of similar circumstances in life, and to some extent of similar taste, who met to gether to converse freely touching their Chris tian experience and their habits of life. The examination of personal character was very strict, and the intention was to promote a more holy and useful life. Each band met weekly for its own religious services; but they also occasionally met in general band-meeting. Band meetings, however, were not enjoined as a rule of discipline, and they were not at any time generally observed. In 1812 the Wesleyan con ference endeavored to revive and extend their mission. In America these meetings were never organized to any great extent; they were held in a few of the cities and of the larger towns, but at present they are almost unknown.