The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-10-24
THE SOUSA CONCERTS
Local Music Lovers Enjoy a Rare
Treat at TOmlinSOn Hall.
The Bandmast> Becomes at Once Pop
ular with an Indianapolis Audience
-SOloists and Chorus.

master mas before received In Indianapolis.
And there you have the cause and effect.
1t was an error on the part of the great
band leader not to have abandoned his
Marine Band in Washington several years
ago. Now that Gilmore is dead no one is
here to dispute the leadership with this
graceful director, who seems to have a
wonderful magnetism at the end of his
baton, no matter through what gyrations
he twists 1t. There are a great many things
that can be said of Sousa, but aside from
his skill there is one thing apt to make him
very popular. He is most accommodating in
the matter Of encores and he seems to take
genuine pleasure in RESPONDING as often as
the people desire
The audience last night was hardly what
the entertainment deserved. Heretofore it
has been customary on the part of Indian
apolis folks to almost fill ToInlinson Hall
when any great musical attraction is pro-
vided. There were many unoccupied seats
last night. major portion of the May
festival chorus was grouped back Of the
band. The work of the chorus was a
feature of the evening performance.
There is much of a difference between
a concert band and band of brass. Such
a band as Sousa has organized, with the
balanced gives a better effect with clas-
steal music, perhaps. than an orchestra.
But Sousa by no means confines himself
to the classics. The bands rendition of
popular airs last night was as well re-
ceived as the rendition of the works of the
masters.
The first Of the numbers was the Tam
hauser overture, and a member Of the old
Partisan Jockey Club would almost have
forgotten his spleen against Wagner had
he heard Sousa's band play this overture
last night. The soft blending Of the reeds
in the beautiful opening measures brought
the layman into the spirit of the compost
ton. The programme Of the evening spoke
Of the influence of Gonnod's unfold. Ye
Portals to make better men and women
through the grandeur Of the piece. Why
did the programme not include this dirge-
full portion of the Tannhauser overture?
1t certainly has a most peculiar effect on
great many people-an effect for the better.
Perhaps 1t Is portion Of the overture sug-
costing the visit of the knight to Venus
berg that gives unmusical people an idea
of Wagner's "clashing harmonies." Few
concert bands Of pretension fail to include
this overture in their repertoire, but few of
them indeed are able to give 1t the touches
that Sousa's band gives.
Speaking from this same lay point OF
view, popular impression is that Rubin
stein only composed works for the piano
forte. The ballet suite, "Feramers," with
the dances Of the Bayaderes, is happy
composition for concert band, and was
admirably set to follow the Tannhauser
overture. After this came piano solo by
Miss Henrietta Kitchell. 1t was concert
waltz by Moszkowski- The young lady
has a charming address to add to her quail
tiles as an artist. Musicians were very en-
thusiastic over her performances yesterday,
Ysedicting brilliant future for her-for she
IS young: They say her technique is Won
derful: She responded to hearty encore.
The chorus sung, THE Heavens Are Tell
ing" The Indianapolis public is well ia
iar with the S Wors or TINS enr b
fore the thirty minutes intermission was
LISTS Hungarian Rhapsody No, 2.
The numbers of the orchestra were
cores, and as the audience would catch
strains heard everywhere ta e~sr bne
a reception Push Dem Clouds Away did
receive. The dignified chorus. the chorus
that sang fe nst aa as
delight as the rest of the folks, the folks
who did not pretend to know a great deal
Of classical music Ts.s, Then there was o the
will the home band thrill the music-loving
people with this contagious air. The small
boy, if he was at the concert, last night;
will 1ake up the popular strain again, ana
make life burden.
After the intermission, when a reception
was rendered the band master, the Semi
ramide'' overature given. The audi
ence was not as enthusiastic over this as
the other selections. and 1t may be IN
ferred that Rossini has not become as pop
ular as the other masters.
Signorina Nice Moreska did not sing un-
til the evening performance: she Is prac-
tically unknown to an indianapolis audi
ence but created a favorable impression
last night. Her number was a solo from
lie Prophetic" The Signorina is thorough
a perfect mastery of that delightful Italian
enllnciation, and sings with the pathetic
verve, if 1t may be so styled. that Is SO
marked among the native singers or sunny
Italy. She is not a high soprano, yet her
voice is flexible and she has a perfect ease
in holding a note without trilling or giving
Much was expected of the band masters
own composition, the SYMPHONIC poem I'm,
diana people would naturally have more
than a passing interest in it. synopsis
has been printed Of the work and also
sketch of the manner in which Sousa came
to write it. The descriptive work is. no
doubt, very fine; it is something that can
be readily appreciated. In the synopsis the
different features Of the race are CLASSIFIED,
but if the piece is open to criticism, 1t
might be said that the synopsis is not well
pointed in the music. The chariot race Is
charioteers, the rumoling of the heavy
wheels the cracking and flashing of the
WINS the CHATTER of the horses feet-the
musical poem is fully descriptive OF all
these. But the voice of Ben-Hur is not
there. if it is the strain is merged TOO
much in others. The blaring of the uum-
pets would make the lusty-lunged men OF
heraldry days look to their laurels; The
poem was well received by the audience,
however 49,,
Padarewskfs minuet is an exquisite little
soft cadences Bonnauds "Serenade En-
famine was included in the same number
with the ninuet, by the band. The reeds
had all the work, and the effect was eX-
trenely pleasing. The two were excellent
foils to the Chariot Race.
Miss Lenore Won Stosch has the charm OF
youth and beauty Youth, beauty and art
make an invincible trilogy The fair vio-
linist was picture as she stood in a quaint
pose, with violin clasped in front of her.
The andante of the Mendelssohn concerto
gave her opportunity TO draw out the pur-
est of tones from her instrument, which
she handled with delicate skill. She gave
as an encore some plaintive aria The
programme was concluded with the chorus,
''Unfold, Ye Portals" from Gounod's Re
demotion."
Mr.. j. II. Stem, whose efforts brought
Sousa's magnificent band here. is not dis
appointed at the small audience. He did
not expect to make money off the venture.
He had talk with Mr.. Sousa last night,
and IL may be that the band master will
come back to Indianapolis some time In
December He will be given much bet
ter reception if he concludes to come
AT THE MATINEE.
n. Sol