The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-09-11
CooN MUSIC soorHs CHICAGO EARS.
Bandmaater Ordered TO Drop the Classics
and Give the Crowd h II Wants.

and Give the Crowd What IL Wants.
From he Chicago Tribune.
Commissioners Dunton sat on his celebrated
green bench In Lincoln Park last night and
saw the vindicatlon OF himself and the coon ="
song. Fifteen thousand people frinRed the
edges Of the lagoon opposite the island on
which Prof. Johnny Hands band gave It's reGu-
lar Wednesday night concert. In obedience to
tho orders OF Commissioner Dunton Band
master Hand had laid aside Wagner and given
Meyerbeor the double CROSS" COMMISSIONS
Dunton had ordered coon " songs. and last
night over half the programme was given up
to music garnered fresh from vaudeville the
atres and roof gardens.
The result Of the change from the sternly
classical to the purely popular is best expressed
by Commissioner Dunton. who was u deeply
interested listener.
when pieces from those operas. Martha
and 'Boccaccio.' were played" said he. "they
didn't get q hand. When the coon songs
were played the people went wild and couldn't
have too many of them. I think I am vindi-
Gated"
As far as external appearances 60 the returns
last night were enthusiastically and over
whelminEly In favor Of the Ethiopian ditties.
and Commissioner Dunton could have been
elected on that platform to almost any place
within the gift Of that portion Of the ~populace
that thronged the park.
1t was by far the biggest crowd that has at
tended q concert in Lincoln Park this summer
The band stand is on an island out In the largest
Of the lagoons. Around the edges nearest the
music and reaching far back along all the
paths and on the grass were people fourteen
and fifteen row deep. Vehicles Of all sorts
throngcd the drives. and 1t seemed as though
evory bicycle rider In Chicago was there.
Prof. Hand was uneasy and could not get his
mind Of the Niger Frlcasse." The pro-
Eramme opened with Pride Of the Navy"
which smaeked somewhat, Commissioner Dun
ton thought. Of his enemy, Wagner. but which
was saved by it's title. Then q selection from
Suppe's Martha was PLAYED.
Commissioner Dunton strolled away and
bought q cigar. After It was over he came
back and rested easy until "Boccacclo" was
~ told Hand to pass up grand opera" said
/ can stand one or two numbers. butt wish he
W9qB!odc Sst do|Sd dt e t a%aS So aPd s sSe fEaish that fell
boathouss down to the Lincoln monument and
over to CLARK street.
numbers. .Bandmaster Hand sat with his head
In his hand, as though in silent prayer.
ba IoSn as n : G ssPG { p9dt o sad 4 s sTord snd RRltE t his
e eRsTgy n o o, + d Sto 2 fe q 2 m6ms0 9 a. tSa1afS In In
battery, Then his baton swung down and on
the delighted g ted fbt% nn's her ), there he Sb swel Ned the
to SSash%is'!k9FffSs st PS tSe .t S9it!!1Y sRs IitdtfSs Id. his hands
D hihSn t2s"S SSa ~" BSe. EY Ise PGn Ma snirs h aR9
other sonl-stirring melodiee Of the, vaudeville
orSS Icng The TS SPPl S e t tFb. f8Pl n Q ! vas gSid loud
Brigade" and then the. great triumph Of The
evening and the yindifstiop Of the %rcqon""
swelled across the water the applause drowned
the music: The verse and chorus were played
Then ouch cheering as rose from the shores
q the Lincoln Park laEoons has not been heard
tT5 a mSn do%n T N th sfiqP ma6 oh thS iIGiaS Gf aP PpSesd
alton. The boats rocked with the excess Of ex-
element, and the crowds on shore walked as
and o he DSia and SiI eRee sS Do water "0uiu permit
FiHaily ths 6a9d responded with an encore:
Down n Old Philsdslphls:" And sang i
tthh s Ssrses sYFs a9 sssES 1852 know ' b. T sR6Fu g.
Lou" YVES SUNG bya chorus over q half mile
lbS4lfi y xa Tas SSoG rom rff che . fae t hsSPl a 90 . ans
and sung on the tops ofthe hills. When It was
going SSS. beg GOOD Sdln nlsSt.s he said Il am
Ef ksssE 2 q bag $f FsSs S Sss sea Fs$E y ss!a S94st $S4s!
MN Se5 2e;ss, hi1I%Ssls$P fo sso Y; T Ard + t6af hIISSs H.
Am Black" Then came another. The We'd
fdhinG. q the c RLT.ss and the Coon" followed by
When the last coon " melody was finished
there was more applause. and the band came
Ing. Prof.. Hand said: Eyes. in future 1 viii
play some more Of, what you call coon songs,
But 'Boccaccio' and Martha, ach. they are not
classical. No, In Paris In Berlin. in Vienna
they are called popular, But this coon song, it
like If Sc th Saa, It I has 0f no "a dsi Ia n if; IA no ia, d Iss IL; 81; so 81
feeling. It has no soul. It comes in at one ear
and goes out the other. But l will play those
ah, how can I give them up |"