The modern concert military band may be de scribed as a result of the following causes: ( I ) A development of the brass band; (2) a desire to give more complete artistic expression to the increasing repertoire of band music; (3) the prominence given to the wind band, in the com position of the great modern orchestral com posers. To the latter cause, and to the easy transition from orchestra to band of most modern orchestral compositions, may be indi rectly attributed the great increase of the wood wind section of the concert. band—flutes, oboes, clarinets, and contra-bassoons (contra fagotti). An instance of this may be found iu Wagner's 'Elizabeth's Prayer.' where the wood-winds are used alone. Similarly, in many of the most beautiful passages of the Nibelungcu music, the strings are not used at all. The reflex influence of such music on the concert band has been to cause the invention and introduction of new instruments, in order to secure the desired tone color. The military concert band has received its greatest impetus in the United States, where it may be said to have been inaugurated in the Fourth of July concerts given by the Boston City Government as a feature of the regular Inde pendence Day celebration usually held on the historic Common. The series of promenade con
certs which followed met with remarkable suc cess, and brought Patrick Sarsfield Gilmore (q.v.) into prominence as a bandmaster. D. W. Reeves succeeded Gilmore at the latter's death, but soon resigned in favor of Victor Herbert, who is held to have rivaled John Philip Sousa (q.v.) in the advancement of the military band. The organization known as Sousa's Band, marked at the beginning of the Twentieth Century what was universally regarded to be the highest type of concert military band. Sousa, who had at tained national eminence in connection with the United States Marine Band at Washington. re signed his position in order to devote himself to concert work entirely, with a band whose membership was as carefully recruited as those of the great orchestras. The band of the French Garde was his model, and he has succeeded in placing his organization at the head of the concert bands of the world.