Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1896-02-21
THE GREAT SOUSA.
A LARGE AUDIENCE SPELLBOUND
BY HIS GRAND MELODY.
He Rays on the Harp of a ThOus.
and Strings by the Wave of His
Magic Baton.

.
is presented for listening to must
like that presented by Sousa's band
at Olympia Theater, Saturday after
noon. Probably it never could HAY
occurred unless the nearer attended
Worlds exposition, or has happene,
to be at Manhattan teach the pas
season, where alone an opportunit,
for hearing Sousa's great band an,
compositions has been presented. Tn,
music is simply grand, and its mod
OF expression superb.
The band was seated in sections
The clarionets, the flutes, the piccolo
and kindred Instruments occupied til,
left OF the stage; the comets and lead
ing brass horns the right; the from
bones in their rear and the heav'
brass horns and drums the center an,
rear. The front instruments repre-
scented a semi circle, in the center O
which, on an elevated platform, stoot
Sousa, the knight of the wand, b,
whose magic the machine is con
trOlled, the move OF whose arm o.
wave of whose hand gave tone to eacl
part, voice to each instrument anc
expression to the whole alike wher
united in gentle ripples of melody OF
in perfect clash of majestic harmony
The very pauses which intervene
alter the great maestro takes his stanC
on the throne where he is indeed mon
arch with scepter in hand, until it j,
raised in command, is suggestive Of
harmony. AS he stands with baton
erect there steals upon the ear a gentle
reverberation in the distance which
may be likened to the soughing of the
wind in a dense forest; slowly the rod
descends while the tumult breaks
more distinctly on the ear; then as
the directors arm falls TO his side
comes the darkening cloud and the
faint roar of the tempest, followed by
the fash of lightning and the roar oil
thunder, and the storm breaks in all
its majestic fury, while the audience
holds its breath in admiration of the
mimic display. Now a liquid stream
OF melody runs the length of the reed
instruments, leaps over the conjuror's
head and tangles up in the snarls oil
the comets, makes a circle OF the
French horn, is held in close embrace
and thrown to arms length by the
graceful trombone, caroms on the sax
horn, and is finally lost in succession
of profound bubbles as it sinks in the
depths OF the wide-mouthed ophicleide.
During this time spray from stream
OF liquid melody has been pattering on
the kettledrums and awakening q
gentle vibration in instruments OF
lesser note, such az the triangle, the
cymbals and metallone. But this is
all prelude. The maestro now warns
up to the work. He throws o smile OF
recognition to his left, and the reeds
break forth into wonderful trills OF
melody; q ta-ta to the brazen- throated
division on the right and they imme-
distely peal out ravishing concord of
harmony; bow to the .throated
and heavy -chested throng in the rear,
and they pulsate with a grandeur of
rhymetic sweetness that enchants the
senses, while wave to the fnesse di.
vision brings out all the ornamental
tions which serve to embellish the ar
lists work and pail the senses with a
profusion OF charms, like the addition
of fragrance to the full blown rose,
perfume TO the lily, the sparkle to the
wine. q blush to the cheek of beauty
and the glance which gives expression
TO words unspoken from lovers eye.
But this is but the preparation for
the fray. The hearers ear now catches
the notes OF martial music. It pic
lures to the eve the advance of hos.
tile legions. They advance with meas
ured tread to one of Sousa's own in
SEPARATIONS; they met amid the clash
of musketry; they struggle with the
desperation which shows it to be a
hand.to-hand conflict: the shouts oil
triumph, the groans of despair, the ar
rival OF re-infUrcements, the revival oil
hope and final repulse OF the enemy
are all voiced to the imaginative heart
by the majestic harmony that assails
and captivates the ear under the some.
times vigorous, but always graceful, ges.
ticulations and genuhections of the
controlling spirit-and we are back tc
where we began, the wonderful Sousa
With the concluding strains, the olive
branch becomes visible to the eye al
ear catches strains of melody which
breathe peace on earth and good will
to man, and the notes Of the thrush
and the robin are mingled with the
harmony that trembles on the reed.
as the maestro steps from the platform
am id thunders OF applause.