Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-01-31
The Band Concert.


Throughout all the varieties of Amusement
which have been devised there is nothing which /
is ut once so chastc, beautiful, and entirely salts /
factory as good musical entertainment. IL has
IN eleyating influence upon Those who hear and
appreciate il for all good music is matter Of
feeling Of emotion, and every sensitive soul feel, |
that somehow there is in music a magic balm 10y
every wound The well.fllcd house which greeted
the Concert by the Band on Friday evening last. |
was just recognition Of this fact, as well Us Of
their ability to furnish irst-cass entertainment
The music dscJursed by our Band is always fu
above mcd1crity but on this occasion their play
ing was superior to anything we ever heard from
this source-if indeed from any other. And this
is no cxtpyagnt praise when we consider the
thorough and laborious instruction they have re-
ceiyed at the hands Of one whose claims as first
class musician have never been questioned
considers himself under sacred obligation t.
always do his best, and who never produces any
thing unworthy Of himself or Of those whom be
endeayors to instruct The opening and closing
pieces d" Frederick March, and the " Wedding
March, the last Of which was arranged for the
Band by Mr.. Ftles, were both given with fin,
effect
On the day following the concert we accident
ally became an eayes-drofper to a discourse he
tween two gentlemen who were unknown ~ us.
One Of them was expatiatng upon the merits OF
the concert the evening previous. "Why, John,
said he. " you don't know anything about it.
have Travelled some mysclf-hayc heard some pref
ty good band playing in my day-haye heard the
anvil chorus played q good many times heard it
played at the great Peace Jubilee in Blston last
summer but III be blamed il Fales' h md didn't
play it better last night than ever heard il be.
fore" And we fully aRtee with our enthusiastic
friend. The " Cornet Polka, by Messrs Pitkin
and Grant, was beautifully arranged, and wis
rendered with a delicacy Of cnsa5ie we never
heard equalIcd. At times the parts blended so
tremendously that they bad the appearance of DO
/ ing rendered by only one cjrnet ln our humble
opinion the Quntctte," hy Messrs Fales
/ Kempton, Grant and Pitkin Brothers, was tic
finest production Of the evening at least we en-.
j1yed il the best Of Oh, particularly the fine exc
cution OF Mr.. Grant, who by the way, stands
withouta peer as c1rnot player 10 oar State
Mr.. G.. p. Pilkin added fresh laurel- 10 bis repu-
mtun a. solo player in biz rendering Of the
" Levy Polka" lt was q selection we'll
calculated TO test bis power Of execution, and the
encore which it received was but a renewed eI-
/ preston Of the opppreciatiun our people have Of
his ability. MIR. Briggs piuno SOLO, (his own com.
/ p0sition) was our much beloved national air, with
marvellous variations lie couehcd it in harmonies
rich and beautiful, dressed it IN all kinds Of nuci-
| ful DISCUSSES, and at last worked it up into grand
triumpha march /, was finely executed and re-
fleets much credit upon Mr. Briggs as a composer.
Col Hopkins sung Christmas Sing, By Glunod
but after twenty-five years experience as Civur-
tie with our people, al words Of commentator
would be superauous. The song, Waiting, %
by Miss Field, beautiful and tou,hing com.
position was rem dered with peculiar power anC
sweetness, and the marked encore which il re.
ceired proved that the audience felt amply repaid
for waiting n respon>e 10 the call She sang
another song, which we thought better adapted 9,
her voice than the first one. After all there j.
nothing in music 80 moving, 50 pathetic, as
genuine c1ntmlto vlice, and we never listen Z,
Miss Fields deep. rich, full notes, without think
ing what a fortune she has shut up in her throat
Nature has endowed her with a wonderful voice
which seems to increase in power and depth ever,
time we hear it. OF course it needs elaborate
cultivation, for her execution is far from perfect
She has a splendid instrument, but does not We
fully understand its management or capacity. /
she would devote her time and attention to mu
SIC, under competent instruction, we have II
ioubt that her extraordinary voice would lift her
70 the highest pinnacle Of musical celebrity
We always enjoy Mr.. Phillips singing Ills se
lectlons are always 50 appropriate, and he render