First Marine Band Presidential Performances
1801

Since its founding in 1798, the Marine Band's primary mission has been to provide music for the President of the United States and the Commandant of the Marine Corps. Whether performing for South Lawn arrival ceremonies, State Dinners, receptions, or accompanying famous entertainers, Marine Band musicians appear at the White House more than 300 times annually.

White House Debut

Every President of the United States except George Washington has heard the music of the Marine Band and all have expressed enthusiastic support for the band. The Marine Band made its White House debut on New Year’s Day 1801 at a reception given by President and Mrs. John Adams. Since that time, the Marine Band has furnished music for every Chief Executive at official functions at the White House and for other State occasions.

Inaugural Debut

On March 4, 1801, the Marine Band performed for Thomas Jefferson’s inaugural and has performed for every Presidential inaugural since that time. Jefferson has been referred to as the "godfather" of the Marine Band, and it was he who gave the band the title "The President’s Own."

July 4, 1801, marked the first Independence Day celebration in the "President’s House." This was the first time a body of troops was reviewed by the Commander in Chief at his residence in Washington. Margaret Baynard Smith, wife of the publisher of the National Intelligencer, wrote in a letter to her sister, "Martial music soon announced the approach of the Marine Corps of Captain Burrows who, in due military form, saluted the President, accompanied by the President’s March played by an excellent band attached to the corps."

A visitor at one of President Jefferson’s receptions remembered that "an exquisite band of music played at intervals martial, patriotic, and enlivening airs, which reverberated through the spacious dome." One of those "enlivening airs" was "To Anacreon in Heaven," first sung at the White House on July 4, 1806, by a "Mr. Cutting." Eight years later this well-known melody was given new words by Francis Scott Key and became very popular as "The Star-Spangled Banner."

First Inaugural Ball

In 1809, the Marine Band performed for the inaugural of James Madison and, that evening, its music opened the first Inaugural Ball. Music under the Madisons became a vital element of their hospitality. The Marine Band played frequently at various events as it did on the New Year’s Day in 1811 described by Catherine Mitchell: "When we reach’d the grand entrance the sound of sweet music entered our ears...Upon entering the spacious hall we beheld on one side a number of musicians seated round a table, on different instruments, playing enlivening airs for the entertainment of the company."

On Sept. 6, 1825, the Marine Band performed for a celebration honoring the birthday of the Marquis de Lafayette. President John Quincy Adams arose and proposed to him the first toast in the White House. President Adams was responsible for another major change in White House social customs when he brought dancing to the White House on Dec. 15, 1828, to music by the Marine Band.

"Hail to the Chief"

"Hail to the Chief," with its preceding fanfare known as "Ruffles and Flourishes," is traditionally played to announce the arrival of the President at State functions. Possibly derived from an old Gaelic air, "Hail to the Chief" was used in James Sanderson’s musical play of 1812, The Lady of the Lake. It appears in a gallant boating scene honoring the highland chieftain, Sir Roderick Dhu. The song was already very popular when the Marine Band played it from a barge for the opening of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal on July 4, 1828, in the presence of President John Quincy Adams.

President John Tyler is believed to be the first to use "Hail to the Chief" as the official Presidential honors. "Hail to the Chief" had been played in the White House under Presidents Jackson and Van Buren, but it did not become the official Presidential honors until First Lady Julia Tyler instructed the Marine Band to play it whenever the President made an official appearance. President Tyler also instituted weekly public concerts on the White House grounds, a tradition that continued on Saturday evenings from spring to fall until the administration of Herbert Hoover. In 1856 President Franklin Pierce approved legislation allowing the band extra pay for playing "on the grounds of the President and the Capitol."

For more information about “Hail to the Chief,” click here.

For more information about the Marine Band’s Presidential Performances, click here.