Discoursing Sweet Music: Gets the Impression That the Com- Troversy Was Never Far from Stephen

Pittsburgh History, Summer 1991 ofincompetence before the enemy. tion's adoption. His stalwart sup- him,and hispersonal conduct could Generals Anthony Wayne, John portofTreasury Secretary Alexander be offensive and unbecoming for Sullivan and James Maxwell were Hamilton's controversial plan for that of a major general. On the each brought before a court martial, federal assumption of state debts other hand, after being sacked, Ste- but were exonerated. Ward finds no made him few friends in Virginia, phen conducted the balance of his proof that the Virginian was unable but gave credence tohis dedication days with decorum and a certain to discharge his responsibilities at to strong central authority. Display- grace, displaying little permanent Germantown, but notes that the ing his quirky intellectual bent, he animus. Even his plan topublish a story about Stephen being "a sor- penned a broadside, The Expostula- defense ofhis actions at Germantown did,boasting, cowardly sot"grew in tionofthePotomac, whichargued the never materialized. Anapparent life- its retelling. case for locating the nation's capital long bachelor (a daughter, Ann, The unfavorable recommenda- on the banks ofthe Potomac River. was born out of wedlock in 1761), tion of a court of inquiry alleged Inthis biography, Stephen stands Stephen had his failings and vices, that Stephen was "seen inopen view out as a seasoned, mid-level military but as presented by Ward, he of all the soldiers very drunk" and professional ina nation largely lack- emerges as a patriot devoted to the taking snuff from prostitutes, and ing a martial tradition. His experi- welfare ofhis adopted nation. that he was temporarily absent from ence with British regulars, provin- Although few ofStephen's per- his division during its withdrawal cials, militia,lightinfantry,riflemen, sonal papers survive, the author has from Germantown. Following his Continentals, Northern and South- done an outstanding joboflocating removal, a shocked and dismayed ern Native Americans and even the relevant primary sources, there- Stephen unwisely denounced seamen was superior to that of bypermitting a balanced and reveal- Washington in writing, destroying Washington. He grasped that tacti- ing view of the Virginian's career. any possible vindication by Con- cal success inAmerica could be real- Professor Ward has effectively liber- gress. ized only bya marriage ofEuropean ated Stephen from unjust obscurity One key to understanding Ste- and colonial modes of warfare. As in a museum case. \u25a0 phen can be found in his uneasy he astutely put itto Washington in relationship withWashington which 1757, his Virginiaforces were "well flared intermittently hos- disciplin'd and have this advantage /.Martin West into open Fort Ligonier Association tility. The insecure Washington of of all other troops in America that the 1750s may have felt inadequate they know the parade as well as beside hisolder, far better-educated Prussians, and the fightingina Close deputy. Inthe Revolution, he toler- Country as well as Tartars." ated Stephen to a point, but one Ward acknowledges that con- Discoursing Sweet Music: gets the impression that the com- troversy was never far from Stephen. Brass Bands and mander-in-chief would have rid Contentious, boastful and probably Community himself ofhis old rival,whenever he an alcoholic, his combative person- Lifein Turn-of-the-Century deemed itexpedient. After Stephen ality led him sporadically into im- Pennsylvania was cashiered, his division was broglios and disputes with his su- ByKenneth Kreitner quickly given to Washington's fa- periors. The author believes that Champaign: UniversityofIllinoisPress, vorite, Marquis de Lafayette. Stephen's primary weakness was his 1990. Pp. xvi,205.Preface, illustrations, Ward also documents Stephen's concern "with generalities ofcom- tables, bibliography, notes, index. little-noted political life. As early as mand," while ignoring military $22.50 1761, Stephen dared tobe a candi- routine through over-reliance on date (unsuccessfully) forelection to juniorofficers and heavy delegation the House of Burgesses, against ofauthority tohis brigade and reg- publication ofKenneth Washington. He then competently imental commanders. Such defects Kreitner's study of brass held a variety oflocal offices such as were rampant in the embryonic THEbands in the life ofselected justice of the peace, vestryman, American service and not remedied eastern Pennsylvania communities county lieutenant and sheriff. He untilGeneral vonSteuben's reforms coincides witha revitalization ofthe served rather half-heartedly in the in 1778. An inept administrator, brass band movement inthis coun- VirginiaHouse ofDelegates (1780- Stephen's reputation in both the try.AsKreitner points out, fromthe 1785), and was county overseer for Forbes Campaign and Pontiac's War Mexican War to World War Ithe the poor. Stephen retained enough was tarnished by allegations of amateur band was arguably the most respect tobe Selected as representa- conflict ofinterest improprieties. His conspicuous and influential musical tive to the 15*88 Virginia Ratifica- revolutionary years were marked by institution inthe United States. Its tionConvention for the new federal rancorous questions ofseniority for music served a kind of "aural logo" constitution. Anardent advocate of promotion in the Virginia Line by for countless community events. a powerful federal government, he Congress. The demands ofdivision- This heyday was followed by such a spoke forcefully for the constitu- al command were perhaps beyond marked decline that brass bands 92 Book Reviews reached the "endangered species" tory workers and bookbinders, to Kreitner accomplishes what he status among musical organizations. name afew. Often a band depended had set out to do: examine a small But thanks inlarge part to the vision on one or two families to provide slice of the pie as minutely as possi- and determination of Pittsburgher several skilled musicians, fillingout ble in order to impart a more inti- Robert Bernat, who sparked a brass its ranks withless experienced play- mate understanding of the brass band revival with his launching of ers. Uniforms and instruments were band tradition anditsplace inAmer- the River CityBrass Band in!981, frequently paid for by the band's ican history. Byconfininghimself to a growing audience is once more treasury, which was derived from a five-year period, he was able to able to enjoy the discoursing of paid performances and general avoid the murky waters ofless well- sweet music by community brass community support. Typical per- documented histories of earlier bands. Kreitner's book should be of formance schedules included pic- bands inthe area, some going back particular interest tothat readership, nics, parades, dinners, receptions, to the 1820s. Butsuch an approach— not tomention to the thousands of dances, holiday celebrations and precludes an important element one-time high school band various commercial and civic events that ofthe origins ofthe brass band instrumentalists. such as the laying ofa cornerstone. tradition. Was ita purely American Kreitner approaches the subject Kreitner is admittedly on less phenomenon, or was it imported from a case study basis using his firmground when he takes up the fromthe BritishIsles,as is generally hometown ofHonesdale inWayne matter of the actual sounds that supposed butnot conclusively dem- County as a locus. Beyond its were produced by these ensembles. onstrated? Kreitner does not en- familarity to him, Wayne County To begin with, a significant part of lighten the reader on that subject. was eminently suited tohis purpose; the repertory performed by the While he sets his Wayne County he describes it as entirely typical of Wayne County band is known in scene in terms ofindustry, transpor- the ruralNortheast at the turn ofthe name only. Unlike piano sheet mu- tation, and typical occupations, he century, and as an area witha thriving sic, which was published in abun- fails tonote the ethnic origins of the musical tradition inboth its villages dance for the home market, very earlier nineteenth century residents, and larger industrial towns. Kreitner littlemusic forbands was published; and he does not present evidence of briefly sketches the economic and band directors would write their ethnic musical traditions ororgani- social conditions that shaped Wayne own arrangements and the musi- zations that preceded the bands. In County communities during the cians would copy them into their his finalchapter he refers onlyfleet- nineteenth century. Hecharacterizes blank part books. Unfortunately, ingly to community fraternal orga- Honesdale as anessentially attractive the actual part books of the Wayne nizations, such as the Liederkranz and stable community whose citizens County bands did not survive. Kre- and Maennerchor singing societies. were proud of the town's past, itner bases hissuppositions on extant And who were the Red Men, a confident ofthe futureand conscious scores and part books from similar fraternal organization which was that itwas a good place to live. bands. He relies on even more ten- among the more frequent sponsors For a detailed exploration of the tative evidence when he speculates ofHonesdale brass band appearanc- role of town bands in community onthe performance level the bands es? The reader is left to wonder life,Kreitner chose the five-year pe- were able to achieve. He judiciously which of these contributed to the riodbetween 1897 and 1901. Local reads between

Load more