Brontekst bekijken van Musician (rank)

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
[[File:The Gravestone of Mark Timothy Petch.jpg|thumb|Gravestone of Mark Timothy Petch with rank given as "Musician"]]
[[File:PresidentsOwnheader.jpg|thumb|American military musicians from [[United States Marine Band|"The President's Own"]] ]]
'''Musician''' ('''Mus''') is a rank equivalent to [[Private (rank)|Private]] held by members of the [[Royal Corps of Army Music]] of the [[British Army]] and the [[Royal Marines Band Service]]. The rank was also previously used in the [[United States Army]] and [[Confederate States Army]].

There were two types of historical traditions in military bands. The first was military field music. This type of music included bugles, bagpipes, or fifes and almost always drums. This type of music was used to control troops on the battlefield as well as for entertainment. One example of controlling the troops was the drum beats setting the march cadence for the troops.  Following the development of instruments such as the keyed trumpet or the saxhorn family of brass instruments, a second tradition of the all [[Brass Band|brass military band]] was formed.

==United States==
[[File:Unidentified soldier in Confederate uniform with saxhorn LCCN2012648233.jpg|thumb|[[Confederate States Army]] musician with [[saxhorn]].]]
The rank of Musician was a position held by [[military band]] members, particularly during the [[American Civil War]].  The rank was just below [[Corporal]], and just above [[Private (rank)|Private]].  In some units it was more or less equal to the rank of Private.

During the American Civil War, military leaders with the [[Union Army|Union]] and [[Confederate States Army|Confederate Armies]] relied on military musicians to entertain troops, position troops in battle, and stir them on to victory — some actually performing concerts in forward positions during the fighting.<ref>[http://www.goarmy.com/band/history.jsp GoArmy.com > Army Bands > History<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

There were two types of musicians in both armies.  Each [[Company (United States Army)|company]] was generally authorized two musicians whose job was to announce daily activities when in camp or garrison (i.e. [[reveille]], [[Taps (bugle call)|taps]]).  During battle they would signal various commands, such as when to attack or retreat, as otherwise the orders could not be heard over the din of combat.<ref name="ECWM">Schroeder-Lein, G. R. (2008). The Encyclopedia of Civil War Medicine. United States: M. E. Sharpe Incorporated. p. 225-226</ref>  These would be [[trumpeter]]s for cavalry, [[bugle]]rs for [[field artillery]], or a [[drummer]] and a [[fifer]] for infantry, heavy artillery and engineers.  Trumpeters were armed with [[sabre]]s and [[pistol]]s while the rest were armed only with a musician's sword.  While not expected to perform the ordinary duties of a soldier in camp, musicians could be used for [[fatigue duty]]. It was also common practice to recruit boys under the age of eighteen as musicians with their parents' or guardians' consent.<ref name="Kautz78">Kautz, A. V. (1864). Customs of Service for Non-commissioned Officers and Soldiers, as Derived from Law and Regulations, and Practised in the Army of the United States: Being a Handbook for the Rank and File of the Army, Showing what are the Rights and Duties, how to Obtain the Former and Perform the Latter, and Thereby Enabling Them to Seek Promotion and Distinction in the Service of Their Country. United States: J.B. Lippincott & Company. p. 72-78</ref>  The second type were musicians who formed dedicated bands assigned to [[Brigade (United States Army)|brigades]] and some [[Regiment (United States Army)|regiments]].  Bands would perform for special occasions such as during inspections and parades, and would put on concerts to entertain the troops and visiting dignitaries.<ref name="ECWM"/>  Artillery and [[United States Volunteers|volunteer]] infantry regiments were authorized a band of twenty-four musicians, while volunteer brigades were authorized bands of sixteen musicians.<ref name="Kautz78"/>

A second duty performed by musicians during battles were to act as [[stretcher bearer]]s and [[orderlies]], for which they received their training from the regiment's surgeon.  Their performance in these roles brought mixed results, and while some could be effective others proved to be more hindrance than help.  The need to address this problem would eventually result in the creation of a dedication [[U.S. Ambulance Corps|ambulance corps]].<ref name="ECWM"/>

Besides basic musicians, most units were authorized principal or chief musicians.  They were responsible for instructing the musicians below them, maintaining a roster and detailing musicians to various duties as needed.  The related titles of [[Drum major (military)|drum-major]] or chief trumpeter had similar responsibilities.  If there was no dedicated leader of the band, a principal musician fulfilled the role.<ref name="Kautz78"/>

Several U.S. Army Musicians were awarded the [[Medal of Honor]] during the Civil War. These recipients include:

*[[William J. Carson (Medal of Honor)|William J. Carson]] (Musician)
*[[John Cook (soldier, b. 1847)|John Cook]] (Bugler)
*[[Richard Enderlin]] (Musician)
*[[Benjamin F. Hilliker]] (Musician)
*[[William H. Horsfall]] (Drummer)
*[[Orion P. Howe]] (Musician)
*[[Willie Johnston (soldier)|Willie Johnston]] (Musician)
*[[John S. Kountz]] (Musician)
*[[James P. Landis]] (Chief Bugler)
*[[J. C. Julius Langbein]] (Musician)
*[[William Lord (Medal of Honor recipient)|William Lord]] (Musician)
*[[William Magee (Medal of Honor recipient)|William Magee]] (Drummer)
*[[Robinson B. Murphy]] (Musician)
*[[George Henry Palmer]] (Musician)
*[[John T. Patterson (Medal of Honor recipient)|John T. Patterson]] (Principal Musician)
*[[Charles W. Reed]] (Bugler)
*[[Ferdinand F. Rohm]] (Chief Bugler)
*[[Charles Schorn]] (Chief Bugler)
*[[Julian A. Scott]] (Drummer)
*[[James Snedden]] (Musician)
*[[Alason P. Webber]] (Musician)
*[[Thomas M. Wells]] (Chief Bugler)

==References==
{{Portal|American Civil War}}
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite journal |title=Union Musicians and the Medal of Honor During the American Civil War |first=James A. |last=Davis |journal=College Music Symposium |volume=54 |year=2014 |jstor=26574367}}

[[Category:Military musicians|*]]
[[Category:Military ranks of the United States Army]]
[[Category:United States military enlisted ranks]]
[[Category:Military ranks of the British Army]]
[[Category:Military ranks of the Royal Marines]]