THE STRING BANDS 

By

CHARLES E. WELCH JR.

(Re-Print from the 1966 Show of Shows Program) 

The string bands were not on hand to welcome in the twentieth century, but they missed it by only a year. The late Bart McHugh, and the late Abe Einstein suggested to John F. Towers that he lead his band in the parade. Here is Mr. Towers story printed in the MUMMERS MAGAZINE of 1948:

"Birth of the String Bands"

(As told by Jack Towers, one of the four who originated the String Bands)

In the fall of 1898, I was employed in one of the leading department stores in Philadelphia. Just as with the young men of today, we would meet at noon hour and discuss different topics. One day the subject of music was mentioned. A chap by the name of John Wygand said that he played 'banjo' and that he, with three others would play against any four string instrument players at any time. It just so happened that I played 'flute' with three others who played 'banjo', 'mandolin', and 'guitar'. His challenge was accepted and we arranged to have a 'contest' to see who were the better players.

We met the following week and after tuning up, I started to play a number that the three boys whom I had with me were familiar with. The other four, instead of waiting to play their number, immediately started to play with us. That was the start and the end of the 'contest'. We became so interested that we played the rest of the evening together and arranged to meet every week. From time to time, new boys came to rehearsals and before the following New Year's day, we had about 30 pieces, all string except the flute.

After two years, we were asked by Bart McHugh, who was then an entertainment promoter and who was interested in the Mummers Parade, to go into the parade as a novelty. We agreed. The came the problem of a costume. We decided on a black face minstrel outfit. The entire cost was not as expensive as one string band captain's suit of today. After three years, another string band was formed 'The Oakey'. From time to time others followed. The competition was of such a friendly nature that harmony prevailed both in music and spirit and while other instruments had been added -sax, accordion, bass, etc.- to lend volume, yet the string instruments predominated as of today.

This is a brief outline of how the string bands came into being. I do not want to take all of the credit to myself, but being the only surviving member of the organizers, I wish to share it with my departed friends, John Wygand, William Siebert, and Louis Samuels, whose memory I cherish.

The first string band was named the Trilby after the heroine of George DuMaurier's novel of that name, which was quite popular at that time. There were no provisions for prizes for the string bands in that early parade; however, the judges awarded a consolation prize of $25.00 to the Trilby to encourage its future participation. The Trilby String Band marched in the parade until 1921, and won many prizes. It 1935 it was reorganized by Dave Nelson and has been active since that time.

Before the Trilby started the tradition of string bands in the parade, it had been the custom of local musicians to band together into small groups and tour South Philadelphia entertaining their friends. Mr. Harry Hodgson, a life-long resident of South Philadelphia, remembered as a very young man, seeing a group of nine musicians marching up the car tracks between Washington Avenue and Carpenter Street at Third. The year was 1894, the date January 1st. These men, dressed in high hats and dusters, and wearing masks and mustaches, were playing a variety of instruments. Mr. Hodgson recalled a triangle, two violins, one flute, one clarinet and a small kettle-drum. The audience had to hush to hear the music. An extra touch was added by the sign that they carried which proclaimed in gold letters on a blue background, that they were the 'Missing Nine'. This ensemble gives us an idea of the instruments used by the early marchers.

For an insiders picture of these days we have a reminiscence of the late Joe Ferko, who was made a member of the Mummers' Hall of Fame in 1957:

"When I was in South Philadelphia with the old Fralinger String band, those days people used to give the various clubs cakes. We would go to our various friends, knock at the door, and then we would open the door a little and say:

'Here we stand before your door

Just as we did the year before

Give us whiskey, Give us gin

Open the door and let us in.'

The band would start to play a number, and we would go in and came out with the cake, and about two weeks after New Year's we would have a so-called cake cutting. Anyone who presented us with a cake would receive two free tickets."

The string bands have grown from a few scattered groups in the early nineteen hundreds to many highly organized clubs. This growth has been gradual, and to give us some insight into its process, here is an interview with Joe Ferko:

"Back in December 1914, a group of boys were standing on the corner, and we thought we would organize a string band. Those days there were only two string bands, the Trilby and the Oakey. So I was employed by a pharmacist down in South Philadelphia by the name of Dr. Fralinger. So. I asked him if he would buy us a banner and take us out New Year's Day, to which he consented. And on January 1st, 1915, was the first year that I was on Broad Street with the Mummers."

And so it went from one community to another, from South Philadelphia to North Philadelphia and hence throughout the city. Today, the numbers have increased and the quality has steadily improved. The music has developed into a unique style, a style that is particularly expressive of the spirit of the 'Shooters'. It is down to earth, made up of simple melodies and lacking complicated chords.

One of the most famous songs is the Mummers Theme, "Oh! Dem Golden Slippers", written by James A. Bland in 1879. This distinctive song was adopted by the Mummers early in the twentieth century, and has been heard every year since then. So popular has it become, that it has given its name to the characteristic dance used by all Mummers young and old: The Golden Slipper or Mummers Strut.

Strong individualists, the Mummers have developed as many variations of the Strut as there are dancers and paraders. The youngsters maintain a rather straight-up stance; as they swing to the music, they use their parasols to add to their rhythm. It is almost impossible to describe, and must be seen to be appreciated. They generally use a hopping gait, taking one step forward and a half-step back, after repeating this five to seven times, they spin around from left to right, and then repeat their motions again, as long as the music lasts, usually with the Golden Slipper, the chorus to which they dance, it is a minute and a half.

Joe Ferko is credited with starting the custom of the Mummer captains dancing in front of their bands. Known as the dancing captain, he had a unique style which captivated the imagination of all. Joe followed the usual pattern of one step forward, a half-step back, but did not spin at the end of the first series, instead he made a turn using the same steps back. Instead of a tight turn, he made a long oblique one, and ended with a curtsey holding the lapels of his costume if it had any, or his cape if he had no lapels. As he danced he would not straighten his knees or back, giving the general impression of an Indian doing a war dance to a very slow tempo. This style was dictated by a temporary infirmity incurred during one of the early parades. Resting on the tailgate of a truck during a break, he bent his knees in such a way that they were temporarily locked. Suddenly the call came to start again, and he could not stand straight, so he danced with his knees bent. This style caught on with the crowds, and he performed in this manner until his death in 1964. Today each string band captain has his own individual strut.

From the earliest times, percussion instruments have been popular; along with fifes and accordions, these instruments made up the small Mummer bands. As the years passed various stringed instruments were added; later, these were supplemented by flutes and saxophones. The basic instrumentation was guitar, mandolin, banjo and violin and when the need for more volume was felt, the clarinet was added. Shortly thereafter saxophones and accordions were introduced - then the glockenspiel.

The glockenspiel, who's bell like tone is always heard above the strings, is one of the most important instruments in the string band. This lyre-like instrument was brought to America by Ernest A. Hegeman, a native of Holland, and founder of the Hegeman String Band. The first man to play one in the string bands is said to be the late Fred J. Kesel Sr., who was placed in the Mummers' Hall of Fame in 1959. There are usually only one or two glockenspiels to a band, and they carry the melody. It is especially important because it does get out of tune in the open air, as do the strings.

Most of the instruments in the band are tuned up on the accordion, because that instrument retains its quality outdoors. The accordion makes a contribution to the string bands which is quite distinct; it forms the base for the strings, and gives them a quality which would normally be impossible to achieve outdoors. There is today a remarkable combination of instruments; violins, bass viols, banjoes, clarinets, saxophones, drums, guitars, mandolins, glockenspiels and guitar-banjoes.

A maximum of sixty-four men are permitted in a band, most of them read music, and the music is arranged. Violins are not 'fiddled', but are used in an orthodox manner, using a rounded bridge and all of the bow, the Mummers play all positions. There is a ratio among the various instruments in the string bands. With saxophones, this ratio to other instruments is one to four and sometimes one to six. All keys are played but the most popular are C, F, B-flat, A-flat and G. All makes are used.

One of the largest instruments in the band is the bass viol, here there is a ratio of only three to sixty-four. With banjoes, the general ratio is one to four, they are stroked and have steel strings in most cases. The old-timers are proud of the fact that they play them outdoors without gloves. A combination of camphor-ice and Vaseline is used to protect their hands. Guitars have been losing popularity over the years, because they carry no volume, and as all types of amplification are forbidden this can pose quite a problem. No steel guitars are used. There are usually eight standard accordions to a band. In addition there is one bass drum and one snare drum.

This combination, together with the fact that the music is played outdoors while the musicians are marching (the tempo is almost always march time) makes the string bands unique.  

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