Until 1891, the U.S. Marine Band had played exclusively in Washington, D.C., for events of national importance, presidential events, holidays and White House activities.
The band began touring across the country that year under the leadership of its 17th director, John Philip Sousa, and since then (except during the Great Depression and World War II), the band has performed in a fall concert tour (starting in October and ending the first days of November).
Tonight John R. Emens Auditorium will be the setting for the "President's Own" U.S. Marine Band, America's oldest professional musical organization.
In 2003 the band performed in Muncie, and they're back this year, sponsored again by The Star Press and free for Ball State University students and the Muncie community.
Thomas Caneva, director of bands at Ball State said professional band ensembles are rare. They are different from orchestras.
"I think that what people need to know is that it's one of the premier wind bands in the United States," Caneva said. "And these are dedicated musicians that have prepared for years and years and were selected from many people that auditioned; there are very few openings in these bands."
The band's repertoire includes new wind ensemble works, traditional concert band literature and patriotic marches.
"It is a free concert, and it's a good time for people to experience something new," said Darcy Wood, associate director of marketing at Emens. "This is going to be quite a large symphonic band, so anybody who is in the fine arts program or has been involved in band before might find some interest in the concert."
The band will offer different master classes and programs to the students from the fine arts area throughout the day, Wood said.
"So those students might want to come and experience that, because they have met them in the afternoon," she said.
Some students are attracted by aspects other than the music. Freshman political science major Barbara Chitwood said she knew some time ago about the band and wants to seize the opportunity to watch them out of pure patriotism.
"This is a military band, and I fully support the military," she said. "I think it's going to be fun, at least to go hang out with friends and learn something new."
More about the band
Performance:
- The Marine Band will play at 7:30 p.m. at John R. Emens Auditorium. Tickets are free for students and Muncie residents from the box office.
- The Marine Band accompanied President Abraham Lincoln to Pennsylvania when he delivered the Gettysburg Address.
- The Marine Band performed a special wartime concert on the White House South Lawn for President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill. Despite steady rain, Roosevelt and Churchill stayed throughout, singing "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" with the band at the concert's conclusion.
- The Marine Band accompanied President George W. Bush to New York on Sept. 11, 2002, to mark the one-year anniversary of the World Trade Center attacks.
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