Christian History Chronology: Major Events in Salvation Army Music
1878: Publication of Songs of The Salvation Army, formerly known as “The Christian Mission”;, first brass bands formed
1879: The War Cry begins weekly publication and introduces songs
1880: Booth encourages development of brass bands in a General Order in The War Cry; publication of Salvation Army Music
1881: Second General Order on regulations and rules for brass bands; Fred Fry appointed to produce brass arrangements for Army bands
1882: Fry releases first band tune arrangements
1883: Publication of Salvation Music, Volume II, first music book with original material by Salvationist authors and composers; first music department formed under supervision of Herbert Booth
1884: First Band Journal (now General Series) is released
1885: General Order in War Cry states that “henceforth Army bands must use only music published by The Salvation Army”; four major songbooks published, including ones for soloists and young people
1886: The Musical Salvationist, the Army’s principal vocal publication, first released in magazine format
1887: Booth sponsors a song competition with eight prize winners published in The Musical Salvationist
1890: Songs of Peace and War, containing 86 songs by Herbert Booth, is published
1896: First music board formed to administer music publications and other musical activity
1898: Songster Brigades (choirs) formally recognized and commissioned
1899: Publication of Salvation Army Songs, first congregational songbook with significant proportion of songs written by Salvationists; first Bandsmen’s Councils held
1900: Band Music #1, the brass “companion” volume, is released; The Local Officer magazine, forerunner of The Bandsman and Songster, begins publication
1901: Booth decides to permit band music for which no words had been composed or intended
1902: First true band selection and full-scale march published for brass bands are issued in General Series
1903: First Bandmaster’s Councils
1904: By Third International Congress, Army boasts 17,099 commissioned brass bandsmen; Bramwell Booth announces that exams may be instituted to determine proficiency of Army music leaders
1905: “Original March” composition contest held
1906: Second Band Competition; first Bandmasters’ training classes
1907: The Bandsman and Songster begins weekly publication; a band inspector appointed for British Territory
1910: First “descriptive music” allowed to be published
1912: William Booth dies, August 20
By Ronald W. Holz
[Christian History originally published this article in Christian History Issue #26 in 1990]
Dr. Ronald W. Holz is chair of the division of fine arts at Asbury College in Wilmore, Kentucky, and author of several studies of Salvation Army music.Next articles
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