The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-06-23
.Innes Declares Building
Is One eofthe BestIn Coun.
try for Purpose.
CONCERTS PROVED
NOTABLE SUCCESS
Big Attendance on Closing Night
Delighted With Fine Work Of
Chorus and Orchestra.
WharBsndmaster Says
About Necessary
Changes.

y
Before another great audience that
filed the big, new City Auditorium.
tho Wednesday Clubs hrst popular
music festival came to brilliant and
successful close last evening. the final
program proving the most enjoyable
OF the entire series. Apart from the
notable work OF the Reunion Chorus,
under Mr.. Walter C. Mercer, and OF
the famous orchestral band, under Pro-
fcssor F. N. Innes. the concert afforded
conclusive test OF the adaptability OF
the Auditorium to such purposes. and
probably marked the beginning OF an
era of popular-priced, high.class mu-
sical productions In Richmond. This
teSt. which Will have an important
bearing upon the plans OF the wednes-
day Club during the coming seasons.
has significance entirely distinct
from the concert itself. and the sue
cess of II is matter OF much graft
floation and some relief to those who
were making the experiment No ex-
preston on this point could mean more
to music-lovers OF Richmond. or scoNd
OF Professor lines himself.
What Innes Says.
When seen at the Jefferson Hotel late
last night after the concert, the noted
director said: Z
@The .cience of .cou.tics i.
among the unknown arts. hut
many methods of Improvement have
been discovered from time to
time.
"The sugEestfons that the COM
crete floor of Richmond Audi
tortum be covered over with pIanks
and that a canvas ceiling be
placed overhead seem 10 me to
be unwiAe and unconservattye.
"Neither In my opinion wsuId do
4 the aliHbtest good. A concrete floor
II considered good acoustic ma
terial, and canvas roof would
he n mere. waste of money and
time. = q
81 consider your Auditorium a, one OF
the very beat in this country.
"It II certainly one of the most
satisfactory know OF, provided
few changes are made. In some
respects 1T may be improved, and no
may others. It In now in an unin-
ished state, but With the expenditure
OF about $4,000, the sum which has
been suEEested for improvements,
1t can be made one OF the finest
music and convention balls In the
country, from the point OF view of
acoustics. ~
Curved Lines Best.
"Sharp angles and acoustics do
not go together. Acoustics are In
harmony with curves. The boxes
on either side of the stage inten.
sify the III effects arising from
saunrc corners. and the exposed
rafters Interfere as well. Tho
stage should be built ont to the nrst
two Girders. the dressinR-rooms re-
moved from either side, and the
corners curved out. The top should
be sealed with plank, 80 as to pre-.
vent the sound from scattertnr
among the exposed rafters.
"The concrete floor is already
satisfactory. People make more
fuss with their feet on. wood than
on concrete. There should be NO
steps leading from the front OF the
house to the stage. There should
be gradual slope, Instead Of steps.
III these changes were made. Il
believe the Richmond Auditorium
would become noted one. ana that
1t would pny for Itself In hve
years. , &
Children's Chorus.
The children's festival iof song tool
the matinee hour yesterday. hnndrads .
OF children from the Richmond public
schools In white being seated on the
great platform erected on the Audi.
torium stage for the occasion. 7
The orchestral band. under the gdi-
rection OF Professor 1nnes held the
front OF the Platform. and played sew
eral opening numbers with a akin
and modulation which brought con.
tinuous applause. Professor 1nne.
scanned especially gratined at the an.
probation OF the children In the cho.
rus, whose enjoyment OF the band
music was most evident. The over
ture, "Rienzi." from Wagner. met
with general approval. the complete
harmony OF the hand. and the skin
Continued on Ninth Page)