XI 



WAR MUSIC 



An Address to a Society of Morris Dancers 

 December 21, 1914 



According to the Dictionary of Music^ the 

 military march is meant "not only to stimulate 

 courage but also to ensure the orderly advance of 

 troops." In other words, militarj^ music serves to 

 incite and to regulate movement. But these can- 

 not always be discriminated. The tramp tramp of 

 marching soldiers is ordered by the rhythm of the 

 band. This is obvious, but we cannot say how far 

 the bravery of the tune puts strength into tired 

 legs, and this would be incitement, — and how far 

 it is the unappeasable rhythm that forces the men 

 to keep going, and this may perhaps be called 

 regulation. There are occasions when the trumpet 

 comes as a signal to troops waiting to make some 

 sublime effort, and where the fierce imperious 

 sound has a lift and a sting which perhaps no pre- 

 concerted signal of a weaker t>T)e could give. This 

 is an example of incitement, but in as much as it 

 determines the moment of attack it is also a 

 regulating agent. 



* Dictionary of Music, ed. i., s.v., March. 

 195 



