From: http://www.mummers.com/
|
The
string bands started out as a very small - even non-existent part of
Philadelphia’s huge New Year’s Day Mummer’s Parade. Bart Hugh, the parade director in 1902, thought it would be fun
to invite a local marching band to perform in the parade. This band still marches (not the same
members of course) today as the Trilby String Band. The next year a few more bands marched. It all just gradually built up to what it
now is today. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- String
Bands originally consisted of only four instruments – the mandolin, banjo,
guitar and flute. More instruments,
like the glockenspiel, clarinet, drums, and fiddles have been added over
time, but even through the addition brass instruments are not allowed. Without these instruments the string bands
keep their unique sounds that everyone has grown to know. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- In 1916, the String Bands were given a category and contest of their own during the parade. At first the prize went to the best sounding band, but this changed over time as well. One man, Joe Ferko, thought it would be interesting to teach his band how to dance and “strut” through the parade. This led to dancing, and who knows where it will lead next. Obviously society's need for bigger and better shines through in this section of the parade. It may as well because if it did not it would fall behind all the rest of the divisions of the parade. |
From: http://www.wb17.com/misc/mummers2000/history.htm