U.S. NAVAL ACADEMY BAND - MARCH OF THE MIDDIES - ROARING 20'S VICTROLA.MP4

This is the first commercial recording, coupled with Anchors Aweigh, by the U.S. Naval Academy Band, made in 1920. Altho called a march, it has a good bit of one-step influence in it. I'm not certain what "Middies" means unless it is midshipmen.

The United States Naval Academy Band, the longest-lasting music group in the United States Navy and the third-oldest active-duty military band in the country, was founded in 1852, though the history of instrumental music at the Academy can be traced back to its founding in 1852. John Jarvis, a drummer, and William Bealer, a fifer, are the best-remembered servicemen from the Band's early years, though the first Marine Musicians to serve were named Tommy Diggins and William Hoeke. Musicians with the band performed calls, like tattoo and reveille. When the Band was officially funded in 1852, bandmaster and performer John Philip Pfeiffer selected the first musicians, who performed their first concert in 1853 for the Secretary of the Navy. During the Civil War, the Band's musicians were deployed, while the Academy was temporarily transferred to Newport, Rhode Island, returning in 1865. At the end of the War, band members were transferred to the civil personnel of the Academy, as opposed to drawing pay as a member of the Navy. With this shift, performers' pay decreased, and the difference was made up by charging midshipmen and officers at the Academy a monthly fee. Soon after, Superintendent David Dixon Porter modernized and professionalized the Band, expanding its size and providing attractive uniforms. In the 1880s, woodwind instruments were added to the Band, which had previously been exclusively brass; new instruments included clarinets, oboes and piccolos. The youngest bandmaster in the organization's history, Charles Adams Zimmerman, took office in 1887, and is known for establishing a theatrical group and becoming very popular among the cadets at the Academy.

David Dixon Porter, Superintendent of the Academy, modernized the Band. In 1894, the uniform of the United States Marines Corp Band was prescribed for the Naval Academy Band, and wore that uniform until 1925. Zimmerman remained the bandmaster even after being offered the more prestigious position with the Marine Corps Band in 1897, and is perhaps best known for composing "Anchors Aweigh" in 1907, intending it to be an inspiring and timeless piece of music that could be used as a football marching song. Under Zimmerman's successor, Adolph Torovsky, the Academy Band made its first commercial recording, in 1920, using Zimmerman's "Anchors' Aweigh", and one of Torovsky's own pieces, "March of the Middies". In 1939, the Band began performing on Maryland radio stations and represented that state at the World Fair, while the director, Lieutenant Sima, composed the "Victory March", one of the most well-known and popular pieces produced at the Academy. Under Alexander Cecil Morris in the middle of the 20th century, the Academy Band performed on television for the first time, established a weekly radio show and acquired entirely new instruments and facilities.

In the 1970s, under bandmaster Ned E. Muffley integrated women into the Naval Academy's music program, while the Academy's first rock band, Tidal Wave, also saw some national success. His successor, William J. Phillips, established lush, thematic performances featuring largely original compositions; the changes attracted new audiences and the Academy Band became internationally renowned. In 1973, Gayle Slayter was recruited for the Band, becoming known as the "Naval Academy's First Lady of Song" over the course of her twenty year career.[6]
The Naval Academy Band also encompasses a brass quintet, wind quintet, marching band and other units. The Academy is also home to a number of other noted music groups, including the United States Navy Sea Chanters and the Men's and Women's Glee Clubs.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• U.S.
• NAVAL
• ACADEMY
• BAND
• MARCH
• OF
• THE
• MIDDIES
• ROARING
• 20'S
• VICTROLA
• 78
• rpm
• jazz

[75capriceconvertible]

This is a new one on me... nice military 'march' sounding tune. I can picture those middies, all in step. Another one of my parents' records I cannot locate, is Sousa and marching songs... on a monaural LP... I have to start methodically searching for my lost records! haha

[VictrolaJazz]

@75capriceconvertible It was a new one on me, too, altho it's 91 years old! I had a Sousa electrical recording of the Stars and Stripes Forever, but didn't get it posted in time.  I may post it for July 4.

[rordorica]

I´ve always liked military bands. nice one!.

[VictrolaJazz]

@rordorica Thanks! I find them very inspiring, too!

[althazarr]

Very nice March!!!

[VictrolaJazz]

@althazarr Thanks! Kind of a March-Two Step.

[VictrolaJazz]

@lepaysandu Thanks! Probably fairly rare.

[lepaysandu]

Very beautiful thank you, thus the record is rare?