The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-03-19
SOUSA'S BAND WELCOMED
THE SPLENDID MUSIC RENDERED
WAS THOROUGHLY ENJOYED.
4 March Played as "A Token of Re-
spcct for General Harrison-PIeas-
ing Work of the sOIoists.

The concert in Tomlinson Hall last night
by the famous Sousa Band was the most
brilliant ever given by that organization
in this city. Doubtless one secret of the
unusual charm OF the affair was in the fact
that Mr.. Sousa and his men have made
so many visits to indianapolis that they
have come TO feel a sort of kindred with
its people. At any rate. they played with
as much spontaneity and hearty good will
as if they had been on terms of intimacy
with every one in the audience. Whenever
Mr.. Sousa perceived that his admirers de-
sired an encore he instantly grasped his
baton and the players manifested quite as
much willingness 10 please as did their
genial and accomplished director.
a feature of the playing of this band
that has been frequently commented upon
is its remarkable mastery OF the tone quail
ity of instruments of wind, which in or
binary bands supply volume rather than
sweetness. The distinguished director
composer can, with his magic baton, call
forth as splendid a burst Of harmony as
the most ardent enthusiast could wish TO
hear. Contrariwise he can also, by some
subtle motion of his little body or upper
ceived gesture Of his nervous fingers, evoke
subdued melody of a sweetness and ap-
pealing power scarcely to be surpassed by
a symphony orchestra. For an example
of volume combined with grandeur of ex-
preston one has only to recall the great
selection from Giordano, the grand scene
and ensemble from Andrea Chenier,''
which was the second number before the
intermission The overture from Suppe's
Isabella" the first number on the pro-
gramme, was given with such brilliance OF
execution as to call forth an insistent en-
core. When the band plunged into the
stirring strains of The Stars and Stripes
SOusa's patriotic march, which he and his
men understand so thoroughly, the music
tor a time was mixed with applause. Mr..
Arthur Pryor, the trombone %soloist. scored
a well-deserved triumph by his charming
rendition of THE Patriot" one of his own
compositions. For an encore he played Il
Can't Tell Why 1 Love You, but L Do"
The versatility of the band was pleas
ingly shown in its performance of the Sc
lection from Luigini-Sebek entitled Pie
lures from the Orient" subdivided:
(a) Dance of the Bashibazouk." (b) THE
Odalisque" and Co "A Dervish Chorus in
the Sudan" This number was rightly
named, for. as played last night. it was a
series of very clear and vivid pictures of
the sensuous life led by Orientals.
The appearance of Miss Blanche Duff
field as the soprano soloist was the young
woman's debut in this city, and therefore
the cordiality of her reception must be
taken as an indication of recognition that
she is an artist. indianapolis lovers OF
music are very chary about setting the seal
of their approval upon any aspirants for
their favor. Miss Dufheld's voice is re-
markable for its liquid sweetness and for
the ease with which il reaches the higher
notes. She sang SOusa's delicate. sympa-
thetic ballad, Where Is Lover and Tor
an encore gave a beautiful composition OF
MARBLES and trills, entitled The Spring Is
Coming"
In delicate recognition of the deep sorrow
that overhangs Indiana's capital at this
time Mr.. Sousa interpolated in last nights
programme his splendid funeral march.
The Honored Dead" which was played
Following the intermission came Webers
dainty Invitation to the Waltz, which
called out 1.-The Blue and the Gray PATROL
and lei Captain" by way of encores. The
programme was unusually marked by new
compositions, one of the most enjoyable
of which was the 'Serenade Rocco by
Meyer-Helmund. One of the events OF the
evening was Mr.. SOuSa new marcn,
Hail to the Spirit of Liberty" which fully
realized all the agreeable anticipation
that had been felt concerning 1t, as the
piece had to be repeated in its entirety.
With a graciousness quite in keeping with
his freedom OF encore-glving, Mr.. SoGsaf
provided for his local friends a trio or
clever s~oloists. Two of these have been
mentioned, but the third, and by no means
the least-talented, came last. Miss Bertha
Bucklin, violiniste, in her playing OF Rles s
"POiOnaise in n MINOR, showed SucH rare
mastery Of the instrument that she was
greeted by a clamorous demand for an en-
core. The young woman responded with
Sarasate's enhancing Spanish Dances,
which she played with c~onsummate skill
and depth of feeling. The closing number
was the czardas from Johann Strauss
'Ritter Pasman." The affection in which
the people of Indianapolis hold Mr.. Sousa 5
hand was given full expression when the
audience remained in the hall to demand an
encore at the end of the performance.
M as-,,41r NOS hnNyax-Rr VNpaFiP6 from
his protracted exertions and merely bowed
low several times in polite acknowledge
lnent. An interesting fact about Mr.. Sousa
is that he was director OF the celebrated
Washington Marine Band during General
Harrison's administration, and this added
greatly TO the impressiveness of the per-
Torrance of his march, The Honored
Dead"