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

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.