The Air Force Band plans to purchase an 18th-century cello as Congress debates the strategic value of military bands.
The Air Force put out a solicitation Tuesday for a particular cello from famous Italian craftsman Joannes Gagliano in 1787 — two years before the U.S. Constitution was ratified in 1789, and 160 years before the Air Force was founded. The cello would be used by the U.S.A.F Band.
The precise and exacting standards that the Air Force applies to fighter jet missions carries over to their musical missions. The contract documents state that the Gagliano cello is the best instrument for the Air Force’s musical missions.
“After playing over 50 similar instruments, this is the only one that meets the rigorous demands required by U.S.A.F band,” the solicitation reads. “This world-class instrument is an ideal choice for members of The USAF Band and the demanding standards required for our daily mission preparation and execution,” the Air Force says in the contract solicitation.
The Pentagon spends about $437 million a year on the 137 bands throughout the five military branches. Even though that’s a tiny part of the military’s $1.11 trillion budget, many in Congress think that money would be better spent elsewhere. (RELATED: Congress: Every Dollar Spent On Military Bands Is A Dollar NOT Spent On Defense)
The House of Representatives’ version of the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) includes a restriction on military bands playing non-official functions outside of war zones. Assuming the amendment survives when the House and Senate sit down to reconcile the two versions of the bill, and assuming President Obama doesn’t veto the entire measure, military bands won’t be allowed to perform “for certain entertainment purposes … including dinners, dances and social events,” the provision reads.
Supporters of the band say Congress and the Pentagon should not discount the strategic value of music in the military.“The people who think that limiting military bands to ceremonies and funerals is a good idea have no idea what we do,” Lt. Col. Domingos Robinson, conductor of the Eighth Army Band told Defense News. “We make Americans feel good about their military and their country; we create connections between cultures; we set the stage for strategic talks; we bridge the gap; we provide context; we help people celebrate and we help people mourn.”
A White House petition created June 19 argues that military bands provide an important public service in performing at social events in the U.S. “If these events were contracted to civilian musicians the cost would be significantly higher,” the petition reads.
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