Staff Bands
The staff bands are the top level of Salvation Army banding. A staff band is sponsored by a territorial headquarters. The staff bands were originally made up of staff members from the headquarters. Although most staff bands still have many Salvation Army officer and employee members, non-staff players are more common in the modern staff band. The staff bands are among the most formal Salvation Army groups. Most have long histories, and travel and record on a regular basis.
There are nine staff bands that are generally recognized as major staff bands. The International Staff Band is considered to be the premier band of the Army:
- Amsterdam (Netherlands)
- Canadian (Canada and Bermuda)
- Chicago (USA Central)
- German (Germany)
- Hong Kong (Hong Kong and Macau)
- International (United Kingdom)
- Japan (Japan)
- Melbourne (Australia South)
- New York (USA East)
- Southern Territorial Band (USA South)
Read more about this topic: Salvation Army Brass Band
Famous quotes containing the words staff and/or bands:
“Each one threw down his staff, and they became snakes; but Aaron’s staff swallowed up theirs.”
—Bible: Hebrew, Exodus 7:12.
“Nearly all the bands are mustered out of service; ours therefore is a novelty. We marched a few miles yesterday on a road where troops have not before marched. It was funny to see the children. I saw our boys running after the music in many a group of clean, bright-looking, excited little fellows.”
—Rutherford Birchard Hayes (1822–1893)