The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1908-07-19

again. to some intricate gem Of the masters
OF composition. .
Hundreds of letters every week come to
the bandmaster, to various members Of the
orchestra, to the Park Department, asking
hat certain selections be played, and these
requests without exception designate favor
ties from Bach, Liszt, Grieg, who Is par
tioularly popular with the Russians and
Scandinavians; Beethoven, Brahms ct al,
Puooini leading the modern composers.
Often Italian arias are implored, n an
equal number Of Teutonio requests for
the idol Wagner are received. s.'
just at Q the last strains OF the last
selection are heard. Thousands Of bright
oolored parasols are closed, displaying
equally resplendant headgear. The police
gather up handfuls of children and with
nice seleotive faculty return them to
rightful owners; friends meet and chat
sedateiy. the music still lingering and. az In
q church. making loud conversation and
laughter in~congruous. Young men and
maidens wander homeward.
A large part Of the crowd which have
had seats Of honor near the band stand
wait to give their weekly ovation to the
kappelmeister. whose work Is thus re-
warded. +.
Among these a large woman with a
small Psyche knot and a nodding plume
Of green pushes a thirteen-year-old girl
into the lead Of a bunch Of children and says
shrilly:
.'Mr. Frankie. I want to tell you that
you're me daughters ideal musician
The orowd laughs. the ice is broken. and
musical; conversation. congratulations and
comparisons all half an hour.
A little later. Kappelmeister Nahan
Frankie talks with enthusiasm On the subject
OF the park concerts to the representative
Of THE Sun.
This is the third year 1 have played
at these concerts and tho first I ave broken
away from precedent and had a symphonic
orchestra ineead Of the usual military
band. Not only has the attendance In
creased during these Sundays over last
year., but I ave had innumerable requests
to have it's continuance after the few
Sundays Of trial. The evidence Of it's
success you have witnessed yourself.
A first the park authorities were afraid
that l would not be able to make the music
carry 30 that the o crowds might
be satisfied. Ihave made the study Of acous-
tics one Of especial importance in my musical
career and know that an orchestra OF strings
properly handled will In reality show greater
carrying power than the brass or military
band. This has been proved already. and
I hope the hafd dozen Sundays will be double
next year and that the lovers OF stringed
orchestration may be more fully satisfied.
The brass band Is one only Of brass or
wind instruments, and the string band, while
it has a majority of strings. with the violins
as instruments Of special prominence. really
carries q number Of wind instruments as
well, the c%larionets. horns and others, 30
that force Is assured. But carrying power
is not all. and 1t Is evident even to the music
lover who may not Know the technique Of
the profession that the wonderful music of
Beethoven. Brahms, Tschaikowsky, which
was never written for the military band,
cannot be adequately rendered by II.
The olarionet. which In the brass band
takes the place Of the first violin, cannot |
possibly be modulated to the delicate grada- |
OF that finer instrument, inc music |
for certain instruments must be |
more or less distorted when 1t has to be |
given by other instruments for which it