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.
Copyright © 1990 by the author or Christianity Today/Christian History magazine.Click here for reprint information on Christian History.
