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82 MILITARY MUSIC AND ITS STORY.
says Mr. Grattan Flood, the era of volunteers (1774-84) was marked by band music, and almost every corps had a wind band. The superiority of these bands may be easily accounted for. First, the musicians were engaged, not enlisted as soldiers. Secondly, the colonels and officers were generally wealthy noblemen and gentlemen resident in the counties, and well able to maintain these bands. The bandmasters were invariably eminent local musicians.
The famous astronomer, Sir William Herschell (1738-1822) was at one time bandmaster of the Durham Militia {circa 1759). John Kohler, the instrument maker, was bandmaster of the Lancashire Volunteers some time prior to 1780. The well-known John Parry (1776-1851), composer and critic, was bandmaster of the Denbigh Militia (1797-1807). Samuel Mather (1783-1824), the founder of musical festivals in Yorkshire, and a fine organist, was bandmaster of the Sheffield Volunteers (1805). Johann Logier (1777-1846), the inventor of the " chiroplast," was bandmaster of the Kilkenny Militia (1807).
Among these bands of the auxiliary forces there were some curious combinations. For instance, the R.E. Middlesex Militia, about 1776, had a band of "Pandean reeds," for which the bandmaster, H. Eber-hardt, published a tutor, the preface of which contains instructions of such an original character that they are worth reproducing. First we are told that the " Pandean pipes are instruments now generally used in regimental bands and much approved of in the King's |
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