Music as Diplomacy Music has been an essential part of life in the White House from the earliest days of our nation, not only as a "companion" to divert, delight, and "sweeten many hours," as Thomas Jefferson professed, but also as an element of the pageantry accompanying international diplomacy. Through the years the United States Marine Band has musically represented the nation before world-wide audiences, including kings and queens, presidents and prime ministers, in war and peace, in triumph and in tragedy. The White House calls upon the Marine Band to perform at welcoming ceremonies, state dinners, receptions, and other official functions.