The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-07
FESTIVITIES END In SONG
The Last of the Inauguration Con-
certs a Brilliant Affair.
Fifteen Thousand People ThrOnE the
Pension Building md Listen to
the Chorus of 500 Voices - Presi-
dent Mckinley Unable to Attend.

| The Inauguration festivities were
| brought to a fittingly brilliant close last
| night in the final great concert at the
! Pension building. The last of the five In
| auguration concerts was the climax of
the series in every way. The Inaugural
| ton chorus of 500 voices was the chef
| attraction and its work was pronounced
| superb. The audience was by far the
| largest of the series and also the largest
gathered under the roof at any time
! during the Inauguration functions. 1t
was estimated by the ushers and ticket
sellers that there were at least 1900 peo-
| pie present during the evening. The build
| ing was packed throughout its immense
length ana breadth and on all its floors.
Looking down on the great assemblage
| from the upper galleries it seemed i'm
| possible that another couple could find
! standing room. Nothing but sea of
heads could be seen. The people were
massed together so compactly that it was
! almost impossible to get in any direction
! from the beginning to the end of the pro-
( gramme. In the rooms on the second
! floor which had been occupied by Presi-
dent and Mrs. Mckinley. the Vice Presi-
dent, and others there was also a dense
] throng always passing to and fro. The
4
and those who wished to listen to the
chorus and look at the audience from
above.
The final concert of the series was Of
| ficiaIly styled the Inaugural Chorus
Concert" 1t was given in honor of. the
people of the United States, represented
/ by the President and his Cabinet
The official visitors at the concert oc-
| cupying the President S box were Senator
Depew and his niece, Miss Paulding; Mrs
Reginald De Koven, and Commissioner
Evans President Mckinley sent to the
Musical Committee his regrets that he
WIS unable to be present.
Scattered through the audience We're
many well known Washington people, and
a sufficiently large number of visitors to
show that the Inauguration crowd has
not yet all left Washington by any
means.
The chorus. under the direction Of Percy
S. Foster, has been trained by him for
this especial occasion for many weeks
Many musical people stated last night
that 1t is tine finest chorus he has e. er
gathered. Its fine training was at all
times evident in the perfect time in the
delicate Shading of tone, i'll the piano pas
sages, and in the wonderful swelling
bursts of sound in the patriotic numbers
like The Star Spangled Banner" AMI
America. Its Efforts were greeted With
prolonged applause on several occasions
The Marine Band. under the direction
of Prof. Santelmann, rendered its part of
the programme with its usual fine tech
nique and spirit. and was also well re-
ceived. G. De LUca, the piccolo soloiSt of
the band. renuered the beaut full. Night
ingale'' solo as a special feature of the
programme. The sweet tones of the in
strument were heard throughout the vast
hail. lifting above the heads of the audi
ence. and IN and out among the tremen-
dous arches. like the first spring song
of the bird from which the solo was
stolen.
The programme was fellows:
tbJ American National Hymn. Kellar
Inaugural Chorus
Observation-Disclosures Wagner
Marine Band
ca Hard Times. Come No More. Foster
% To Til e, Country. .Eichberg
Inaugural Chorus. 3
Marine Band.
Freedom. Our Queen. - r. Burton
Composed for this occasion.)
inaugural Chorus
Piccoio Solo-"The Nightingale" Julien
Mr.. G. De Luca.
Unfold Ye Portals, Redemption .GOunod
Inaugural Chorus
Grand Fantasia III Trovatore" 80. Verdi
Marine Band.
(a) Song of the Flag.
(b) ''RecessionaL." l..-..-......De koven
Inaugural Chorus.
SlavOnic Dance. No. .Dvorak
Marine Band.
New Hail Columbia, ''Tobasco" Chadwick
Inaugural Chorus.
The Star Spangled Key
Inaugural Chorus and Marine Band.
The Pension Office building is now I'M
dergoing the disma ntling process. Before
tonight all the wonderful fairyiand deco
rations that have made IL so beautiful
will have disappeared, and IL Will again
resume its regular function OF Office for
the 2 900 clerks OF the Pension Office The
thousands of yards of drapings that have
covered the walls and ceilings and the
many carpets procured for this especial
occasion will be sold to the highest bid
de- In ha mi