The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1896-07-17

Seated on one of the benches last
night at Thomas Square during the
time the Hawaiian Band was discours-
ing some of the sweetest strains of
Verdi's Trovatore was Herr Weinstein,
at one time tuba player in the famous
audiences on the Long Branch Pier a
dozen years ago. Herr Weinstein is too
old to play the tuba now, but he has not
lost his taste for music or tonic sol ia.
He knows a good thing when he sees
it and can tell it when he hears it. In
speaking of the work of the band to
reporter for the Advertiser Mr.. Vein
stein said last night:
"The people of Honolulu should be
proud of their band, because the mu-
sicians are above mediocrity or they
could never play the difficult pieces
which they are called upon to perform,
without greater preparation. l refer to
the compositions of Rossini, Verdi,
Wagner and other old masters Of music.
Since 1 have been here have attended
two concerts at your what-you-call-it
park, and was we'll pleased.
''The selections for Sunday concerts
in a community such as l am told Ho-
nolulu contains shows superior knowl-
edge on the part of the person who
prepares the program. The week day
concerts, too, are elegant, though the
same person shows an inclination to
give the public selections from less
noted composers than on Sunday. Of
course, to the uneducated ear, a Bra
ham is more musical than Verdi, and
here, where half the population are cos
mOpOlites, the individual tastes must
be gratified.
What l most object to is the fact
that so many of these compositions
have to be repeated one concert after
another.
when l was musician in Europe
a member of the grand orchastra in
Vienna, [ mean in the early part of my
musical career, the arrangement of
band parts from an original piano score
was attended by considerable hard Ia
Dor, but in these days, when parts for
a full band may be bought for a couple
of shi1lings, there is no reason why
your band should be forced to repeat a
single piece during the season, unless
by special request. Of course 1 have
not lived here long enough to judge the
tasts of the people in a musical way |
If they prefer light and simple compo-
sitions they should have them. There
are composers of that kind of trash who !
will furnish band parts free, merely for |
the sake of seeing their names in the |
and with the class of lnu-
sicians that l have noticed in the band |
it would be only a trif1e for them to
play them.
Yes! l understand their salaries are
from forty to flfty-five dollars month, |
and that they are underpaid for their |
services; but there is not one of the |
band-I speak from the standpoint of |
a musician-who would not rather play |
a new piece at each concert than ting |
ting over an old one
Mein Ludwig may sound pretty to |
the untutored ear when it masquerades
in Nuuanu Valley for the first time, |
but repetition CRATES upon the ears of |
a man who has devoted the best years
of his life to higher compositions.
No! | have not met Prof Berger: |
am not musician now; I merely form |
one of the audience. If the selections |
played do not suit me need not listen |
to them. But on the whole they do, and |
l am not complaining, except as to |
repetitions for which there is no ex-
cuse."