Knabben-Kapelle Pays Its Second Visit to Los Angeles.
Famous Austro-Hungarian Boys' Military Band Returns After an Absence of Two Years.
The LA Evening, October 02, 1899
Transcribed & Published at DVHH.org 29 May 2020 by Jody McKim Pharr

 The Knabben-Kapelle, the famous boys band from the Austrian-Hungarian West Point at Billet, has gone to housekeeping in a vacant hall over the Orpheum. No hotels for soldiers. Beds were put up all around the room, and in 10 minutes it looked like a barracks. Each tiny soldiers' military clothing was hung just so with each little dolman spread over immaculate and precise as the wardrobe of a West Point cadet.

     On the stage the Magyar band has delighted thousands with their stirring music. They are called a "warm card" in the vaudeville houses, and the managers love them mightily—for a reason. But the public misses the best part—by far the best part.  Off the stage the boys are a joy forever to a military heart. Imagine 50 lively boys working at a given task with the swift agility of a trained soldier and in almost dead silence! The discipline is perfect.

     Standing in the center of the room this morning directing quietly with a nod and a gesture and rarely with a word was a spruce little man in dapper citizen's clothes, but a soldier by his shoulders his figure, his eye, his manner, by a certain something which makes a man once a soldier always a soldier. This was Nicholas Schilzonyi, bandmaster, musical director at Billet, and  ranking as a captain In the Austrian army. He is at once commander, adviser, instructor and mother to the whole half hundred. His highest credential is that under his care the boys never get homesick.

     Every morning comes an hour and a half of band practice under Captain Schilzonyi, then two hours' study in common school branches under Captain Schilzonyi, then an afternoon of amusement or sightseeing under the chaperonage of Captain Schilzonyi.

     The boys were in America two years ago  and toured for 18 months. When they went back to Billet they were cocks of the heap. But lording it over the less fortunate cadets was vain glory, and one by one they came to their beloved bandmaster and diplomatically suggested that they kick the dust of the mother country off their heels again and go back to America. The result was a leave of absence for another year and their present tour.

     When they were here before the matinee girls fell in love with the tiny drummer, just 6 year old then and solemn as an owl. He is g now but more solemn.

     An Express reporter asked to be presented to him this morning.  Captain Schilzonyi called out in sharp soldier sylables: "Michael Braunn."

     A little figure stepped out from a bustling group in a far corner and approached, walking, clack clack, with sharp quick steps as regulars walk. At five paces, two tiny heels snapped together, a tiny fist rose palm to the front to the glazed cap. Michael Braunn had reported.

     Michael Braunn shook hands without a change of countenance. Two shakes, quick and sharp. Then Michael Braunn sprang back to "attention" and waited for orders.  Never a word had he spoken from first to last, when a nod from the bandmaster gave him permission to face about and clack back again.

     Michael Braunn was unduly solemn this morning. He has just met with a great affliction. Coming down on the train, he lost his pretty blue red-piped fatigue blouse and was disconsolate beyond expression in a long military overcoat.

     The boys have four uniforms—all of them handsome and elaborate without being too fancy. The fatigue uniform is dark blue piped and welted with scarlet. A modification of this is a second fatigue uniform with white trousers and blue blouse.

     There are two full dress uniforms. One is red with a black cap topped with an aigrette, silver frogs and red boots. A ! handsome dolman over one shoulder and a saber and saber tache give the outfit a swell finish.

     The other dress uniform has dark red trousers and a blue blouse with yellow frogs and with the dolman and sabre and black boots.

     On the way out here the boys paid a visit to West Point and the cadets. The West Point band serenaded them and they  serenaded back They watched the cadets drill and did a few stunts themselves. There is probably no body of troops in the world that can lay the West Pointers it) the shade, but by the sparkle in Captain Schilzonyi's eye It is evident that the boys did not fall down or disgrace him.

     The boys of this band are by no means playing soldier They are grinding away through their studies in the army. The Austrian school gives two degrees one of bandmaster and one of a commission in the fighting branch. Some of the boys are toward one degree some toward the other

     Many of them come from military families and were raised to the lullaby of a bugle. For an instance the father of Michael Braun, the drummer, is drum major of the Forty-third Austro-Hungarian infantry. The band spent most of the morning in rehearsing and will make Its appearance this evening at the Orpheum.