Evening star., 1897-03-05

regard to the band and the orchestra. and
every number in the promenade concert
program played before the dancing began,
received most emphatic applause. The
whole musical program was well selected
and was the, subject of favorable comment
on all sides.
Victor Herbert's I'D Regiment Band was
at its best. In the opening number. the
overture to "Tannhauser, the most deli
cate shading. coupled with a magnificent
volume and tone. WAS noticeable Every in
strument seemed with the spirit of the
grand fete and added its fun quota to the
splendid effects produced by the directors
baton. In the Second Hungarian Rnap
sod:e. one of Liszt's best known numbers.
the wonderful proficiency of all the musi-
clans in the aggregation was plainly APP
parent. In spite of the difficulties of the
work. however. ii was given with all the
skill. expression and volume of tone that
has made Gilmore's Band and its successor.
the Band of the I'D Regiment of the New
York National Guard of the best
known in the world. In the last number
OF the promenade concert given by the
band. fantasie of American airs.
| ranged by Victor Herbert. the band made
decided hit and the number met with de-
cided approval, more. perhaps. than was
accorded any other number.
Zoe much credit cannot be given Mr.. Will
a. Haley for his successful organization of
| the splendid orchestra that furnished the
dance music of the great ball. In spite of
| the snort time he lad in which to work the
men together to drill them thoroughly in
the numbers selected and to produce an
organization capable of playing the music
| called for by such an event, he succeeded
admirably. ana there was not the slightest
| 1ault to be found with any portion of the
| mrsic given by his orchestra. The balanc-
| ing of the different instruments exactly
| suited the great hail. while the arrange
ment of Them made possible the splendid
effects brought out The orchestra gave
| as its first number. the second in the prom
| enade concert program. selection from
| Faust. embracing all of Gounods most
| beautiful airs in that work. AS as
| the first strains were heard it was plainly
| apparent that the immense body of mu-
| sicians was fully up to all the require
ments. In i.i'itners overture. Fest" the
orchestra showed an ability to interpret
| delicate passages with consummate skill.
while in the more fiorid variations the vol
| ume Of exquisite sound penetrated every
1 nook and corner of the immense court.
| AS the closing number of this part of the
| program a number of selections from the
opera Wizard of the Nile were given.
the lively number being followed by a
| nearly round of applause. The efforts of
! botE band and orchestra were thoroughly
| appreciated by the great assemblage that
| was present and when after the departure
| ol the PRESIDENTIAL party the crowd had
pegun TO thln out, dancing was INDUCED
IN, The excellence of the orchestra for that
| class OF work was plainly demonstrated.
| and those who had attended previous in
| auguration balls were emphatic in their
4 declaration that never had such dancing
| music beer heard before i'm an inaugura.
| tion ball room. Both bodies of musicians
were larger than en- any similar occasion.
4 the band Numbering SiXty-fiVe and the or
| chestra one hundred and twenty-five musi-
| clans. A pleasant little incident occurred
| with the orchestra just before the time for
| beginning the program when Mr.. Goodman
1 stepped Upon the conductors stand, and in
| few well chosen words presented Con-
| ductor Haley with handsome gold medal
from the members of the orchestra as a
testimonial of their appreciation of his
! efforts in behalf of Washington musicians
| alltSion being made to the fact that the
| large proportion of this great orchestra
| was composed of Washington performers
| Mr.. Haley, though taken by surprise
| thanked the members of the orchestra for
| their manifestation of good will, and
| said that his interest i'll the future should
| be. as in the past. directed to upholding
| ana advancing Washington musicians
During the evening Chairman Bell went
up to the orchestral gallery and made a
| nice little speech to the members, compii-
| menting them for their excellent playing
| and thanking them in behalf of the com.
mittee.
| Excellent Arrangements.
On every side were heard expressions o.
admiration for the excellent work done OIL
every committee. There never Were NOR,
jealous woI kers and probably there neve
were committees which had harder work
surmounted more obstacles and accom-
plished better results. Mr.. Charles j. Bell
upon whose shoulders SO much depende,
at the moment of the reception of tn
| President and Mrs. Mckinley. was equa
| to all the dema nds. Mr.. Edward McCauley
Il chairman OF the floor committee, had al
important task and acquitted himself of i
with entire satisfaction to every membe
of his large committee, as well as tn
pleasure of the ball guests. Mr.. .Iorn w
Thompson, chairman of the finance com
mittee, was one of the earliest Of the com
ure of again assisting ir the splendid man
agement of inaugural entirely success
full In every way.
The Banquet at the Ball.
| Arrangements for the great banquet a
the ball were all perfect, the crowds beini
handled in a most systematic manner. an,
1t is safe to say that this feature of tbs
occasion surpassed any banquet on a smi
lar occasion in the past. The menu
particularly long one, but SO thorough,
had the prelimnaries been attended t.
that it was served in a manner befittin,
the dignity and elegance Of the ball. TIL,
tables upon which it was served Were
put in place in the lower corridor of th'
building along the north side. and in tn,
rooms well the halls. Each tabl,
was twenty-four feet in length. so tina
there were ample accommodations for sew
| eral hundred people at time. Catere
EsSner had provided a force of 125 skilled
| walters, and these were supplemented by
a number of the most efficient of this clas:
of help in the city. The committee OF
banquet, of which Gen. George B. Will
Jams was the chairman. had worked fol
months. and their selection of Mr.. Essnel
to supply this important feature of tn,
festivities was a happy one. Apart from
the preliminary arrangements for the ban
quet, the manner in which ii was served
was perfect. and general satisfaction wa:
expressed by every one who partook of it
After the presidential party had left tn.
dining room the apartments were thrown
open and supper was served until almos
the end of the grand affair The menu
which was the most elaborate ever serve,
on Similar occasion. was as follows:
Raw Oysters.
| Consomme in Cups.
| Broiled Oysters.
| Oysters a la Poulette.
- ..-. Chicken Outlets.
Sweetbread Patties.
| ~. ---- Terrapin.