The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-30
BAND CONCERTS IN
CAPITOL PARK ARE
OVER FOR THE YEAR
OF AZ Scheduled Only Three
Were Postponed = Mrs.
Hundley Thanks Pub
lie for Subscriptions

The park concerts for the summer sea-
son came to a. close last night and the
rain caused a very abrupt close Al
though the weather was somewhat threat
ening Just before 8 o'clock large crowd
had assembled in Capitol park and
promptly at o'clock Mr.. Memoli opened
the programme with DeLuccas march,
lie Puglie."
Following the march. Mrs. Oscar r.
Hundley, chairman of the park music
committee of the Music Study club. with
sweet grace of manner. delivered a short
address from the bandstand. thanking all
who had co-operated to make the concerts
a success
Number on the programme was Lieut.
ner's popular Fest" overture, but Mr..
Memoli, thinking that the threatened
storm would blow over began as an extra
number selections from Boito's "Mefisto-
fele." His fine number was about two
thirds finished when the wind became
so boisterous that it blew the music off
the music stands of the players and the
piece had to be cut short. In two or three
minutes the rain began to fall and there
was no Fest overture. The musicians
F. waited little while, but at s:2o there
was a downpour. The audience had
scampered away and the musicians left
while the rain was falling
The summer concerts began on Sunday.
July 6, and have been continued through
out these eight weeks The contract
called for six performances each week
five week nights and Sunday afternoon
1t is noteworthy fact that only three
concerts, including that of last night
had to be cancelled on account of in
clement weather OF the IS concerts which
the Music Study club arranged for only
three were given outside of Capitol park
-one each in Behren's park, Avondale
park and Ensley park
When Mrs. Hundley appeared to make
her address she was greeted with hearty
applause. She spoke as follows:
Ladies and Gentlemen: The concert
tonight is the last OF the series of free
open air concerts-4S in number-which
the Birmingham public has enjoyed dur
ing the space of eight weeks
AS you know, these concerts have been
given under the auspices of the Music
Study club, and it was the purpose of
the club to encourage a desire for the
best music to familiarize the public with
the best music and at the same time to
please the listening public. | trust that
all of this has been accomplished, and
with the knowledge that we were actu-
ated by this motive it is pleasing to note
that the crowds in attendance this year
have been unparalleled, and that on the
occasion of the centennial commemora-
ton of Richard Wagner, and also the cen
tennial commemoraton of Giuseppe Verdi
when strictly classical programmes had
been advertisedS conservative estimate
of the attendance on each of those oc-
casions figured 5000
AS chairman of the park music COM
mittee of the Music Study club, / take
this occasion To thank those public spir-
tied, music-lovng citizens whose generos-
ity has made this seasons concerts pos
s1ble, and to express pleasure in a work
where one is met with such ready re-
sponse as has this committee
at gives me pleasure to express my
appreciation of the singing of Miss Dick
inson on the occasion of the Wagner
commemoration and of Miss Norma
Scholar on the occasion of the Verdi
commen1oration. These ladies added
greatly to the pleasure of the throng of
music lovers who We're present Also I
wish here to thank the newspapers of
birmingham for their enthusiastic support
of the Music Study clubs efforts to give
the people good music this summer
Il cannot close without commencing
Mr.. Memoirs artistic leadership of his
very capable band and to express my
appreciation of his desire not merely to
fulfill his contract, but his untiring ef-
forts to make the open air concerts of
1918 an artistic success, worthy OF the
Music Study club and of the city of Bir-
mingham.
Il thank you" CWarm applause.1