Music on the March: all the way from from Sousa to slapstick

If walking while chewing gum constitutes a minimal test of physical and mental coordination, surely walking while playing music defines the opposite end of the spectrum. This is the domain of marching bands. You don’t often encounter these visual and musical spectacles on a casual stroll through a city. But, when it’s time for a parade, your chances increase astronomically. Here are some of the marching bands I saw just the other day.

The history of military marching bands

Anthropologists agree on the role of military marching bands if not the precise date on which they were introduced. They boosted troop morale, conveyed information across noisy battlefields, and generally put the frighteners on their opponents. Although there is no archaeological evidence of Joshua’s army bringing down the wall of Jericho with horn blasts, there is much evidence of Greek and Roman armies employing musicians. In later centuries, every country in Europe adopted the tradition of military marching bands, followed eventually by the New World.

The American army embraced this musical genre during the revolutionary war in the form of fife and drum corps. It has since become deeply ingrained in American culture. Practitioners steadily added additional instruments; by the time of the American Civil War, bands featured bugles, with many other brass instruments soon following.

Can you guess which brass instrument this is?

Many people will recognize the name of John Philip Sousa. He was an American composer and conductor who served in the US Marines and led the Marines Band between 1880 and 1892. Sousa was known as ‘The American March King’. He composed some of the world’s most celebrated marches, including ‘The Stars and Stripes Forever’.

My favourite rendition of the song is actually on the organ. Give yourself a treat and listen to this performance by Monte Maxwell on the Naval Academy Organ. The fancy footwork and the grand finale following the rallentando at around 3 minutes 10 seconds are particular highlights. It also provides a stimulating background while you are reading the rest of this article.

Military marching bands today

Over time, military marching bands assumed a more ceremonial role, featuring only in parades and official ceremonies. I have photographed such bands several times, each making a striking impression.

Navy Band Southwest

This first band performed in their ceremonial uniform, full dress white. In the bright morning sunlight, they and their instruments literally sparkled. The musician holding up the rear of the band is playing a sousaphone, invented by Sousa himself. The sousaphone resembles a B-flat tuba. Its 18-foot tube wraps around the musician’s body, making it easier to play standing up or while marching. I snapped a selfie, reflected in the bell of one, before the start of the parade.

Third Marine Aircraft Wing Band

This second ensemble dressed in full ceremonial regalia, complete with medals. They look extremely sharp. The white caps and belts complement the dark blue jackets with gold buttons and red trim, and the blue pants with red stripes provide the finishing touch. It is awe-inspiring to look through the viewfinder and see them marching towards you.

Note the pair of sousaphones placed strategically at the back of both bands, their huge bells projecting above band members’ heads. The photo of the sousaphone player from the back illustrates how superbly the instrument is designed.

These photographs were all taken with a Leica SL2/Vario-Elmarit 24-70 mm f/2.8 combo. It’s a superb set-up for longer shots of the approaching band as well as close-ups of band members.

Marching Bands and (American) Football

Beyond the military, high school and college football represent the next most important sphere of marching band music. I included the parenthetical qualifier in the heading for this section because the only country in which this sport is not referred to as American Football is America.

The tradition of marching bands providing half-time entertainment during college football games apparently dates back to 1907, when spectators at the University of Illinois were first treated to this spectacle. These college marching bands place a greater emphasis on entertainment than their military counterparts. Thus, sections of the band might weave amongst each other in highly choreographed moves. Or, they might line up to depict the college logo.

Some college bands, most notably the one at Stanford University in California, adopt an iconoclastic, ‘free form’ approach to their performance, as you can see in this video. Those of you listening to rock music back in 1970 might recognize their theme tune: Alright Now, by Free. The first time I saw and heard The Leland Stanford Junior University Marching Band, I could not believe my eyes or ears.

A friend, who played in the Stanford band as an undergraduate, told me that when they played at the stadium of their great rivals, the University of California, Berkeley (‘Cal’), the crowd pelted them with frozen bananas. That seems to be taking rivalry a bit too far.

High School Marching Bands

The tradition of college marching bands inevitably extended to the high school domain. Even at this level, the standard of musicianship remains incredibly high. Here is a local high school band, The Chula Vista High School Spartan Legion and Colour Guard, in action.

Preceded by their flag-waving colour guard, the high school marching band delivered the complete package of patriotism, spectacle, presence, and mobile open-air concert. I took all the shots with the Vario-Elmarit at wider focal lengths (24 – 36mm) and narrower apertures (f/5.6 – f/9) in order to keep as much of the action as possible in focus.

Free-form marching bands

As the Stanford band demonstrates, regimentation is not strictly required for impact. Here are the Brass Animals, ambling rather than marching and eschewing uniforms completely. Nevertheless, they are undoubtedly descendants of the marching band lineage.

The two shots of the band were taken within minutes of each other; the camera was configured almost identically but from different vantage points. I sprinted up and across the street after taking the first one to be ready for the second. The Flugelhorn player seems to be using his pinky finger to keep his stars and stripes decoration affixed to his horn.

Scottish marching bands

I think evolutionary biologists would describe brass bands and pipe bands as an example of convergent evolution. They represent two independently derived solutions to the same environmental challenge: providing musical entertainment to crowds of onlookers in the absence of electronic amplification whilst marching down the street.

Even their uniforms exemplify parallel evolutionary solutions to the challenge of managing conditions of bright sunlight and warm temperatures: white reflective suits (see above) versus skirts (kilts) with excellent ventilation.

The two bands pictured highlight the global fascination with Scottish bagpipes, kilts, knee-socks and sporrans: branding of the highest order.

Conclusion

The term marching band now covers a diversity of ensembles, varying in size, formality, age of performers, instrumentation and musical style. But they all share that blend of visual and musical impact, radiating a kinetic energy that differs from a stationary musical performance on a stage. They create a sense of occasion that is hard to match in an outdoor setting. I am a huge fan and look forward to my next encounter with this unique musical genre.

What has been your experience of photographing musicians on the move? What camera gear did you use? Let us know in the comments below.

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11 COMMENTS

  1. Dear Keith,

    I love the vibrant colors and the story about traditions. In fact marching is a lot easier with music played or sung.
    To be honest, the first thing that came to my mind was a bit different.
    I thought about the song “Travelin’ Soldier” by the Chicks …

    “One Friday night at a football game
    The Lord’s Prayer said and the Anthem sang
    A man said, “Folks would you bow your heads
    For a list of local Vietnam dead.”
    Crying all alone under the stands
    Was a piccolo player in the marching band
    And one name read but nobody really cared
    But a pretty little girl with a bow in her hair”

    Greets Dirk

    • Hi Dirk, many thanks! Vibrant colors are definitely a feature of photography in Southern California (as you will know). That glorious sunshine lights up every scene. Thank you for expanding my musical horizons with your reference to The Chicks. I am not usually a fan of country music, but I found their performance of this song online and it is magnificent. I was aware of the controversy that led to their name change from the Dixie Chicks to The Chicks, but was not that familiar with their music. I have a joke related to Country and Western music I will tell you if we get to meet in person. 😉 All the best, Keith

  2. Growing up in pre-integration South Carolina, parades often featured marching bands from both black and white high schools. The black marching bands were always a treat, as dancing while marching and playing was common. (So you think marching and playing at the same time is challenging?) It wasn’t until much later, when my own children were in high school bands, that dancing bands was common in any modern schools I knew of.

    My son was appointed Drum Major in his senior year. Against the recommendation of his band director, he would toss the baton way into the air, the baton tumbling over and over, and somehow catch it perfectly, all the while marching ahead.

    Yes, I too love marching bands! Thank you for this article.

    • Hi Martin, thank you for your comments. I hope I have the opportunity to witness a dancing, marching band one of these days! I agree, it takes physical and mental coordination to yet another level. As you highlight, the drum major deserves special mention as a hallmark feature of marching bands, particularly military bands. I did not see the drum majors of any of the bands in the local parade pull off the sort of feat that your son did. I have no doubt that it would have caused a sensation, and been greeted with open mouths and cheers from the crowd. It could be that the liability insurance for performers at this parade specifically forbids such maneuvers! All the best, Keith

  3. Keith
    Thank you for posting this entertaining article on a musical theme. I read it to the organ accompaniment of Stars and Stripes Forever. I also liked your selfie; blue trainers and a straw hat are very dapper.
    How is it that the Navy band wears sunglasses but the Marines don’t? Perhaps the white uniform has something to do with it.
    The annual Edinburg Military Tattoo is the event to see a variety of marching bands from around the world. Members of the Oman Royal Cavalry all-female marching band and Mounted Pipes and Drums went all the way to Scotland to take part in the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo in 2018.
    I saw it on TV and it was very impressive. As you know I served in the Sultan’s Armed Forces over 35 years ago. One task I had was to organise a National Day Parade which included all male massed bands and a mounted band. Oman has certainly developed since then.
    Chris

    • Hi Chris, I am glad that you enjoyed the article, and the musical accompaniment! The differing policies on use of sunglasses is not something I had noticed before you pointed it out. Could be that it’s a no-no for that more formal Marine’s uniform. Sounds like you have had a fair share of experience on the parade and marching band front yourself! I think I will stick with watching and photographing them! Cheers, Keith

  4. “..What has been your experience of photographing musicians on the move? What camera gear did you use?..”

    Well, I use a Sony RX100 MkVI for marching bands – often in Ascona, Switzerland, at the edge of the lake (..they have a jazz festival there each year, as well as frequent jazz bands just walking through, along the esplanade..) – and it’s great because:

    (a) it’s pocketable
    (b) it has a 24-200mm (equivalent) lens with fast, smooth zooming to frame what you want exactly how you want it
    (c) it has very fast autofocus – and you can choose a teeny central (or move-around) focusing rectangle, for focus-&-recompose, just leica leica
    (d) it also shoots terrific video – useful for marching bands – with great audio, and 250fps (frames-per-second) and 1000fps slo-mo (at 1920×1080 hi-definition) if you want
    (e) it has a great little pop-up dioptre-adjustable viewfinder, and a pop-up tiltable flash (for normal or just bounce/fill-in flash) besides the usual rear screen
    (f) shutter speeds: 30″ – 1/32000th sec
    (g) ISO 125-12800, for shooting in winter and in blazing summer
    (h) ..I’ve run out of superlatives now

    That’s what I use for marching bands. For static bands you can, of course, use anything! ..And it doesn’t matter so much if it takes a minute to swap between single-focal-length lenses ..as long as you don’t drop one in your haste!

    (..I think maybe the Flugelhorn player is hooking his pinky finger to around the little curved whaddyamacallit (that’s the technical term) which holds the horn steady while the other fingers press down the valves. That’s the picture which does it for me!)

    • Hi David, many thanks! I can tell you are a fan of this Sony camera! It does seem extremely versatile. I can see you also recognize the additional challenges of photographing a band on the move, as opposed to one sitting or standing on a stage. Because I was a volunteer member of a photography team covering this particular parade I knew where I would be stationed, what time the parade would begin, and how my photos would subsequently be used (e.g., for promotion of future events). So, it was feasible to take along a more substantial camera rig than the one you describe. If I had been a casual visitor who stumbled upon a parade I would almost certainly be carrying a smaller, lighter piece of gear. Sounds like the Sony would be perfect for that situation. Cheers, Keith

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