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The Staff

or

Drum-Major’s Guide

and

Leader’s assistant

POSITION.

As it is very important that every man in the band should know his position in the ranks. it would be well to form in the band room, and march in twos; or after having been placed in position it becomes necessary to break ranks, they should get into position on the street with as little confusion ,as possible.. (See Evolutions about forming twos, &c.) The following Diagram will illustrate the position of each in a band of 22 men; including Drum-Major.

EXPLANATORY REMARKS

The First Eb Bass (or Tuba), Second Eb Bass (or Tuba), Bb Bass, Second Tenor, First Tenor, and Baritone, constitute the Front Rank or First Platoon. The Solo Alto, First Alto, Second Alto, Second Bb Cornet, First Bb Cornet, and Solo Bb Cornet, constitute the Second Rank or Platoon. The First Eb Cornet, Second Eb Cornet, Second Bb Clarionet, First Bb Clarionet, Eb Clarionet, and Piccolo, constitute the Third Rank or Platoon. The Bass Drum, Cymbals, and Side Drum, constitute the Fourth Rank or Platoon.

The Baritone is on the right of the Front Rank (or First Platoon), and should be the guide of the Rank; that is, all the men in the Front Rank (or Platoon), should keep in line with him while marching. The Solo Bb Cornet, being on the right of the Second Rank is the guide of the Second Rank (or Platoon); the Piccolo, the guide of the Third Rank (or Platoon); the Side Drum, the guide of the Fourth Rank (or Platoon).

The Baritone, Solo Bb Cornet, Piccolo, and Side Drum, constitute the First File; the First Tenor, First Bb Cornet, and Eb Clarionet, constitute the Second File; the Second Tenor, Second Bb Cornet, and First Bb Clarionet, constitute the Third File; the Bb Bass, Second Alto, Second Bb Clarionet, and Cymbals, constitute the Fourth File; the Second Eb Bass (or Tuba), First Alto, and Second Eb Cornet, constitute the Fifth File; the First Eb Bass (or Tuba), Solo Alto, First Eb Cornet, and Bass Drum, constitute the Sixth File.

The Baritone is leader of the first file; the First Tenor, of the second file; the Second Tenor, of the third file; the Bb Bass, of the fourth file; the Second Eb Bass (or Tuba), the fifth file; and the First Eb Bass (or Tuba), the sixth file.

When marching, every man in the second, third, and fourth ranks (or platoons), should keep directly in line with the corresponding man in the front rank; that is, cover his file leader.

The Baritone, and the men that constitute the first file, (all directly behind him) are on the Right Flank.

The First Eb Bass (or Tuba), and all the men that constitute the sixth file, are on the Left Flank. The Drummers should always cover the flanks. The Ranks or Platoons are numbered from front to rear. The Files are numbered from right to left.

The following Diagram gives the position of a brass band of 16 men, including Drum-Major.

DISTANCE BETWEEN MEN.

The distance between the men in the ranks or platoons should be about thirty-five inches; that is the Baritone and First Tenor, First Tenor and Second Tenor, &c., should be about thirty-five inches from one another. The distance between the ranks or platoons should be about five feet; that is, the Solo Bb Cornet should be about five feet behind the Baritone, the Piccolo five feet behind the Solo Bb Cornet, and the Side Drum five feet behind the Piccolo.

It is not strictly necessary to place all the men as represented in the diagrams, but it is very important that each different class of instruments should be together; that is, Basses together, Tenors together, Altos together, Bb Cornets together, Eb Cornets together, and Clarionets and Piccolo together.

There are many ways of placing the men, but none better than the general idea of placing the Basses, Tenors or Trombones, and Baritone in the front rank; Altos, and Bb Cornets in the second rank; Eb Cornets and Reeds in the third rank.

The Baritone should, if possible, be placed on the right of the front rank; but in some cases where there are many Tenors or Trombones in the band, it is advisable to place it on the right of the second rank. '

Some bands have the Eb Cornets on the right of the third rank, others on the left, while some have them on the right of the second rank. If the Leader plays Bb Cornet, it is best to place the Eb Cornet on the right of the second rank, and the Solo and First Bb Cornets on the left of the third rank; Clarionets and Piccolo in the same rank. The Tenors, or Trombones, should never be separated; neither should the First and Second Altos, nor the Second and Third Bb Cornets.

COMMANDS.

There are two kinds of commands. The preparatory command and the command of execution. In the command Forward March, Forward is the preparatory command, which indicates the movement that is to be executed. March, the command which causes the execution.

POSITION AND SIGNALS OF THE DRUM-MAJOR.

The position of the Drum-Major is six feet in front of the band, opposite the centre. The Staff is held in the right hand, below the chin, the back of the hand to the front, the head of the Staff near the hand, the ferrule pointing upward and to the right. After each signal the Staff is restored to this position.

This is the military position for holding the Staff, but not always maintained by Drum-Majors at the head of civic bodies. Generally the Staff is held in the right hand. In marching, the Drum-Major keeps time to the music with his Staff, and supports the left hand at the hips, the fingers front, thumb to the rear.

To Play.- Face toward the band, and extend the right arm to its full length.

To Cease Playing.- Extend the right arm in the same manner as to play.

To March.- Turn the wrist and bring the Staff to the front, the ferrule pointing upward and to the front; extend the arm to its full length.

To Halt.- Reverse the Staff and hold it horizontally above the head with both hands, the arms extended; lower the Staff with both hands to a horizontal position at the height of the hips.

To Counter-March.- Face the band and give the signal to march. The counter-march is executed by the file leaders on the right of the Drum-Major, wheeling individually about to the right; those on the left, to the left; the other men of each file follow their file leaders. The Drum-Major passes through the centre.

To Oblique.- Bring the Staff to a horizontal position, the head opposite the neck, the ferrule pointing in the direction the oblique is to be made; extend the arm to its full length.

To Right Wheel.- Bring the Staff to a horizontal position, the head opposite the neck, the ferrule pointing to the right; extend the arm to its full length.

To Left Wheel.- Bring the Staff to a horizontal position, the head opposite the neck, the ferrule pointing to the left; extend the arm to its full length.

To March by the Right Flank.- Extend the arm to the right, the Staff vertical, the ferrule upward, the back of the hand to the rear.

To March by the Left Flank.- Extend the arm to the left, the Staff vertical, the ferrule upward, the back of the hand the front.

To Diminish Front.- Let the ferrule fall into the left hand at the height of the eyes, the right hand at the height of the hip.

To Increase Front.- Let the ferrule fall into the left hand at the height of the hip, the right hand at the height of the neck.

SALUTES.

The General.- Bring the Staff to a vertical position, the hand opposite the neck, the back of the hand to the front, the ferrule pointing upward.

To the Color.- Bring the Staff to a horizontal position at the height of the neck, the back of the hand to the rear, the ferrule pointing to the left.

The Assembly.- Bring the Staff to a horizontal position, the hand apposite the neck, the back of the hand down, the ferrule pointing to the front.

In Marching in Review.- The Drum-Major passes the Staff between the right arm and the body, the head to the front; and then salutes with his left hand.

At Parade.- The Drum-Major before making his report at parade, salutes, by bringing his Staff to a vertical position, the head up and opposite the left shoulder.

EVOLUTIONS.

When the band is in position, and the Drum-Major or Leader gives the signal, Attention, every man in the band should stand erect, with head and eyes straight to the front, and heels on the same line, and as near each other as possible, with the toes turned out equally, and forming with each other an angle of about sixty degrees.

When the order Forward March, is given, at the command Forward, (or at the signal of Attention by the Drum Major), throw the weight of the body on the right leg without bending the left knee, and at the command March, (or Signal), step off with the left foot. Always step off with the left foot first, and maintain an even step.

In marching, the men on the left flank, and in the centre, should always endeavor to keep in line with the right guide. The military step is twenty-eight inches, but for civic processions it is not necessary to take so long a step.

When the order is given to Halt, the men should stand to Attention, until they get the command Rest, at which command the men are no longer required to remain strictly in their places, or are they required to preserve silence. In marching, or standing to Attention, the ranks should be kept straight, and the distance between the platoons and files carefully preserved.

The Drum-Major, or Leader, should always give ample time between the signal or command for Attention, and that of the evolution to be performed.

The Facings.- The command, Right (or Left) Face: At the command Face, raise the right foot slightly, face to the right, turning on the left heel, the left toe slightly raised; replace the right heel by the side of the left, and on the same line. The facing to the Left is executed upon the same heel as the facing to the ;right. The command, About Face: At the command About, turn on the left heel, bring the left toe to the front, carry the right foot to the rear, the hollow opposite to, and three inches from the left heel, the feet square to each other; at the command Face, turn on both heels, raise the toes a little, face to the rear, and when the face is nearly completed raise the right foot, and replace it by the side of the left.

Wheeling.- The command, Right (or Left) Wheel: At the command or signal, Right Wheel, the front rank (or platoon) wheels to the right on a fixed pivot; the guide right (Baritone) stands fast, merely turning his body to maintain the same front with the others. The guide left (1st Eb Bass, or Tuba) conducts the marching flank, and the others should keep in line with him. The marching guide should merely keep up his regular step, and the others having less distance to march should step shorter. The Left Wheel is materially the same; but the guide left (1st Eb Bass, or Tuba) becomes the pivot man, and guide right (Baritone), the marching guide. In a Right Wheel it is guide Left, and in a Left Wheel guide Right. The guides in the other platoons should preserve the same distance from the men in front, keeping their regular step. The pivot men should slightly reduce their distance from the pivot man in the front rank (or platoon). As the band moves in a solid square, the men in the rear ranks (or platoons), should move slightly in an oblique movement; that is, in a right wheel, move a little to the left to preserve the square, and in a left wheel move to the right. In making a wheel never hurry, but let the men on the outside flank have ample time to arrive at the new front, for when the front rank (or platoon) has completed the evolution, it will take a little more time for the other ranks (or platoons) to arrive at this line; therefore, each platoon as it has completed the evolution, should keep up a short step until all the platoons have arrived in position.

The Oblique.- The command, Right (or Left) Oblique. If the command is Right Oblique, the band makes a half turn to the right, and marches straight in the new direction. If the command is Left Oblique, the band makes a half turn to the left. In marching obliquely the men must preserve the distance. To resume the original direction the signal or command Forward is given.

Turning, or Flank Movements.- The command, Right (or Left) Turn: At the command Turn every man faces to the right or left, according to the order, and moves forward in the new direction until the order for Front is given. In turning each rank or platoon is then a file, and each man follows the leading man in his own rank or platoon.

The Counter-March.- At the command or signal to Counter-March, the men on the right of the Drum-Major turn to the right about and march to the rear. The men on the left to the left about. The Drum-Major turns to the right about and marches down the centre. The men in the front rank (or platoon) should not turn about until the Drum-Major has passed their rank (or platoon), thus giving him six or seven feet the start of them.

As seen in the diagram, this evolution reverses the positions of the men, but by counter-marching the second time, as on dress parade, the men are brought into their right positions again. After counter-marching, the 1st Eb Bass (or Tuba) is the guide right, and the Baritone the guide left. When the signal or command is given to counter-march the second time, the men that turned to the left about in the first counter-march, will turn to the right about in the second counter-march and vice versa. After counter-marching, the band should dress its ranks as quickly as possible.

There are other counter-marches, but the one illustrated here is the only one recognized in military tactics.

To Form a Column of Twos.- When the command is Twos Right, the Guide Right and the man next to him in the front rank (or platoon) march straight to the front, while the other men in the front rank (or platoon) make a half turn to the right, and form in twos, falling in their regular places behind each other as shown in the diagram by the different characters representing the men. The Guides Right and the men next to them in the second, third, and fourth ranks (or platoons) take their respective positions as indicated, followed by the other men of each rank (or platoon) making a half turn to the right and forming in twos, just the same as the men in the front rank (or platoon.)

When the command is Twos Left, the Guide Left and the man next to him in the front rank (or platoon) march straight to the front, while the other men in the front rank make a half turn to the left and form in twos, falling in their regular places. The same order is observed in the other ranks.

When there are five, or any odd number of men in a rank (or platoon), and the command is Twos Right, the fifth or odd man will form in with the guide right of the next rank (or platoon) behind him. When Twos Left, the odd man will form in with the guide left of the next rank (or platoon) behind him.

Each rank (or platoon) forms a section in a column of twos, with the guide, right or left, and man next to him, as leaders. When forming Twos Right, the two men on the right flank of each rank (or platoon) must step short until the men on the left flank have marched into column, and vice versa when forming a column by Twos Left. The same order is observed when forming a column of Twos, right or left, in a band of smaller numbers than here represented.

To Re-form Platoons.- The command, Form Platoons, Left (or Right) Oblique, March: At the command March, the leading two of each rank (or platoon) take the short steps, and the others oblique to the left (or right according to the order), until they get their right distance in the ranks (or platoons) when they resume the Forward March.

INSPECTION.

During the inspection of military bodies the band should play; but on approach of the inspecting officer to inspect the band it ceases playing, and each man as the inspector approaches him, raises his instrument in front of his body, reverses it so as to show both sides, and then returns it to its former position.

It often happens at a parade of civic bodies, that the line is inspected by the Mayor, or other officer of the city or town. When such occurs, as the Mayor, or other officer approaches the line, the band should play "Hail to the Chief." If several bands are in the line, the first band in the line takes up "Hail to the Chief" and as soon as this band ceases playing, the next band takes it up, and then the next, and so on until the end of the line is reached.

At inspection of civic bodies the band should wheel into a position with the men of their front rank in line with the rank of the column. (For the position of a band at inspection of military bodies, see "Posts of the band.") As inspections of civic bodies are generally on, the street, it often happens that the ranks (or platoons) of the band are compelled to be in close order. When such happens the distance between the men in the platoons should not be diminished.

DRESS PARADE.

When all the companies are in position and brought to a parade rest, the Adjutant takes his post, and commands Sound Off, and then takes the position of parade rest. The band playing in quick time, marches forward a few paces, then wheels to the left, passing in front of the Captains, to the left of the line, then counter-marches back to the right of the line, and as it arrives at the point it made the left wheel, it wheels to the right, marching past its former position and counter-marches back to its first position in line with the column. As soon as the band has finished playing, the retreat is sounded by the trumpeters, or field music.

After other ceremonies, such as reports of officers &c., the Adjutant faces about and commands, Parade is dismissed. At this command the officers march towards the centre of the column, and at the order Forward, Guide Centre, March, the officers march towards the commanding officer. As the order is given the band plays a quickstep and stops playing when the Adjutant gives the command Halt; and then, as the officers disperse, the music is resumed, the band continuing to play until the companies clear the battalion parade ground.

When the line at parade is very short, the band can play a slow march in common time, or a waltz, taking one step to the measure in the waltz. The band can play thus to the left of the line, ceasing during the counter-march, and then march back in quick time without halting.

GUARD MOUNTING.

The band takes post on the regimental parade ground, so that the left of its front rank (or platoon) shall be twelve yards to the right of the Guard when the latter is formed. At Adjutant's Call, the details are conducted to the regimental parade ground, the band playing a quickstep.

After various ceremonies, the order Parade Rest, Sound Off, is given by the Adjutant; the band commencing on the right, plays along the line in front of the officers of the guard, to the left, and back to its place on the right, the same a_ at dress parade.

After the Guard is formed the order is given by the officer of the day to March the Guard in Review, Sir. After the proper salutes, &c., the Adjutant faces about, brings the Guard to a carry, and commands Platoons Right Wheel, March. The band wheels to the right and places itself twelve yards in front of the first platoon of the Guard. Then the Adjutant gives the command Pass in Review, Forward, Guide Right, March, the band marches forward playing in quick time. The band having passed the officers of the day, wheels to the left out of the column, and places itself opposite the officers of the day, and facing them, ceases to play when the rear of the column has passed. After various ceremonies the Guard is marched to its post, the officers of the day salute each other, and the band retires.

POSTS OF THE BAND IN MILITARY MANEUVERS.

In line, the band is habitually posted twelve yards in rear of the file-closers, the left opposite the left of the left center company. At Reviews, Parades, and Inspections, the band is posted on the right of the battalion, the left of its front rank twelve yards from the light of the front rank of the battalion. In column, except at Review, and Inspection, the band is twelve yards from the center of the column, on the flank opposite the guide. If the guide be changed the band (unless otherwise directed), passes by the rear of the column to the opposite flank. In line, if the battalion wheels about by fours, the band (unless otherwise directed,) passes around either flank to its position in the rear.

In all battalion maneuvers the band moves at quick, or double time, by the shortest practicable line, to its position in line or in column; the march being so conducted as not to pass between the subdivisions, or delay their march. When the battalion in column, wheels about by fours, the band executes the counter-march; when the battalion executes the right, left, or about face, the band faces in the same manner.

When the signals for the Drum-Major are not used, the band is maneuvered as explained for a "Squad" in "Upton's Military Tactics," the command Band being substituted for Squad. In marching, the different ranks (or platoons) of the band always dress to the right.

As there are other duties of bands in military service which are not introduced in this work. I would advise all Drum-Majors, and Band Leaders connected with military, or semi-military organizations, to procure a copy of "Upton's Military Tactics," and carefully study that portion which needs the service of the band.

MISCELLANEOUS.

In regard to the respective duties of the Drum-Major and the Band Leader in the regular Military or Militia service, the Drum-Major has charge of the band, or parade, and gives all orders so far as tactics and marching are concerned, and at Inspections, Dress Parade, or any Military service, gives the order to play; but the Band Leader selects the music, and directs the band in everything that pertains to music.

In the amateur band service, the Drum-Major is subordinate to the Band Leader, and simply gives the signals 'Dr commands to march, halt, &c.

The Band Leader places the men in their positions in the ranks, and gives all orders for the band to play, when and what he sees fit, he being the commanding officer of the band.