The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1870-03-15


Concert of the Richmond Musical As
.GE sociation.
Tuesday was one of the most miser-
able Of days, and though the sky cleared
towards nightfall, the air was piercing,
and the general condition Of the wealth
er without, rendered staying at home a
luxury to be appreciated. This will per
haps account in part for the smallness
Of the audience that assembled in Ly<
ceum II all to listen to the musical enter
tainment of the r. NJ, A. Less than
two hundred persons being present, the
overwhelming preponderance of empty
chairs presented a demoralizing specta-
Gle to the ambitious musicians.
The programme openediwith an'Over-
ture' by Boieldieu. An excellent COM
position, and very fairly performed,
though a preponderance of the Brass
over the String instruments was obser-
vable in the Forte passages. The. Or
chestra consisted of twenty members,
and with judicious pruning and proper
training might be made body which
would do credit to the musical reputa-
ton of our city, e EaEaT 5 Ez@ggz
The chorus Hail to thee Liberty from
Semiramide introduced the full strength
of the Association, EN- bracing fourty five
singers and twenty instrumental per-
formers. The chorus is we'll adopted to
Amateur performance and regarded as
a whole was we'll done The principal
fault seemed to be very noticeable
weakness in the Bass, which was entire
ly drowned by the numerous Sopranos
and the power Of the Orchestra. The
Bass was but family heard during any
of the concerted prices, with the excep-
ton Of the closing anvil Chorus
Either the genvius of Konsky or the
taste OF the performers was evidently
at fault in the eight hand piano caprice
which followed. The piece was long
and would have been wearisome but for
the Serio- comic appearance of the lea
der posted Just in rear of the lady per-
formers and between them and the au-
dience, beating time with both hands
and feet, with q vehemence which must
have been intended for the AMUSEMENT of
the audience as it evidently had no con
nection with the performance in pro-
gress.
The Solo of the popular violinist,
Master lack, was omitted on account of
the indisposition of that gentleman
Although explanation to this effect was
made from the platform. the audience
was evidently disappointed.
IS Chorus, See the conquering Hero
comes,' was succeeded by the Sleigh
Polka an Orchestral descriptive perfor.
nance of much merit and faithfully rem
-dered.
The Quartette, Hear me. Oh Lord
was given exceedingly we'll, both in
rhythm and accentuation. The singing
Of the Alto being particularly good.
The Duet Two Cousins was given in
q somewhat indistinct and confused
manner, and was almost unintelligible
at the rear of the Hall.
The sPiano Solo with Orchestral Ac-.
compartment, by Hummel,' was so ex
ceedingly long as to try the patience of
tho most devoted lover of Music. Con-
tanning as it did many beautiful passa-
ges. they were not sufficiently connected
to sustain the interest of the audience.
The poor support from the violirs aided
in distracting the attention of the now
restless spectators, who enlivened the
long delay which followed by nervous
stamping not characteristic Of our usu-.
ally modest and patient audiences.
The Musical Extravaganza Bill of
Fare was more spirited and satisfacto-
ry than any of the preceding efforts.
Though an entire absence of enthusiasm
prevailed throughout the evening.
The concert closed with the Anvil
Chorus from IL Trovatore' at half past
ten o'clock. The many long delays
which seem inseparable from an ANA
teur exhibition having prolonged an al
ready lengthy programme until it became
without apparent fault ofthe musicians,
EXTREMITY tiresome.
Recognizing as we do the high aim of
the Association to elevate and refine the
musical standard, knowledge and appre.
citation of this city, we yet fail to see
how this is to be attained by a weak
and faulty rendering of the music of
the Great Masters, before an audience
but little larger than the company of
performers themselves. A course OF
severe and thorough training in Music
better adopted to the capacities Of the
members will DO more toward the de
velopment of real musical taste and ed
ucation than such ambitious attempts.
We hope the performers will not take
this advice unkindly, as it is not un
kindly given. The Association contains
much that is really excellent and with
pruning and training may improve over
their present creditable degree of pro-
ficiency.
Our going to press prevents de-
scription Of the entertainment Wednes.
day evening.