The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-04-18

The afternoon concert of the United
States Marine Band on Saturday was at
tended by about 600 people. At night
about 5000 were in the great barn-like
auditorium of the Agricultural Pavilion,
which, on account of its confusing echoes,
great space and rough walls, is i'll adapted
for musical entertainments. 1t is great
pity that movable partitions are not pro-
vided, so that one of the wings could be
cut off and turned into concert hall to
seat about 5000 people. If that were
done, it would be very frequently and
profitabiy used, as there are many times
when and many purposes for which a
very spacious hall is needed here.
The band, led by the mastery con-
ductor Sousa, is superb organization.
It differs from Gilmore's in being a per-
feet military band. Its playing was the
and precision, and in other essentials it
is up to the highest standard. Its method
is marked by virility, depth Of express
sion, warmth and great variety of shad-
ing. 1t is remarkably fine in delicate
passages, and in the management of the
reed instruments there has been nothing
heard here at all comparable to the work
of this band. Simplicity and elegance of
style characterize the instruments tion in
its dealing with classical music-in fact,
in the daintiness and refinement with
which the band played Mascagni's inter-
mezZo sinfonico, "Cavalliria RuSticana. ,,
for instance, was manifest one of its best
achievements, though in selections call
ing for volume and strength it proved
itself splendid organization also. But,
unfortunately, when the exquisite num-
Der referred to was played-and the idea
of arranging it without stringed instru-
ments is novel and bold-to the great
mass of the people it was inaudible, be-
cause half hundred people in the GAL
leries insisted upon walking from the
north to the south gallery and back again
constantly, while hundred others
tramped about the upper floors. The
placed barriers to prevent the promenad-
ing in the galleries.
As the RECoRD-UNION forecast, the
afternoon programme was much the bet
ter, there being less noise in the auditor
ium and the selections being of a more
pleasing character. The William Telp'
overture was superb piece of execution
it was never heard in Sacramento be-
fore upon such plane of excellence.
Both programmes, however, greatly
pleased the audiences, and the applause
was generous and discriminating and the
encores just.
The prima donna soprano, Marie Decca
Mrs. Francis Leon Chrisman), more than
surprised her hearers. Such a voice has
not been heard in Sacramento since Kel-
logg sang here, and it is cool Judgment
that in some respects, notably in the
eveness of the volume of her tones,
Decca's voice is Of higher rank. 1t has
just enough of the metallic quality to
make it penetrating. just the vigor for
bravura singing, and all the softness es-
sential to sympathetic and gentle pass
ages. Despite the fact that she sang
against space 800 feet in one direction
and $50 to her right and left, with bare
rafters and a coarse tceiling eighty-fiye
feet above her, her voice was heard dis
tinctly, perfectly in every part of this
great barn-like auditorium. There was
not a note lost, her lowest as well as her
highest tones were distinct in the remot-
est parts of the three immense conyerg-
ing halls. 1t was a vocal achievement
that astonished her hearers, and led them
to such enthusiastic plaudits as have
been accorded no artist who has pre-
ceded her.
Something Of sentiment that the lady
is an American singer, moved the audi
ence, possibly; but aside from that, adj.