The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1913-03-12
FIRST CONCERT
MUSIC SCHOOL
A BIG SUCCESS
THE SAN CARLOS AUDITORIUM
CROWDED BY MUSIC LOVERS OF
CITY, WHO WERE TREATED TO
AN EXCELLENT PROGRAM.

The nrSt concert OF the Pensacola
School of Music was held last evening
in the auditorium Of the San Carlos
hotel, and the audience that greeted
the initial entertainment was not only
most representative. but was SO much
larger than had been anticipated by
the management that it was impos-
sible to seat everyone, even when
many additional! seats had been pro-
vided. and many stood during the en-
tire performance, although Mr.. %.
Walker, who was the master of cere-
monies, assured those who could not
gets seats that their money would be
refunded at the door, If it was so de-
sired.
Owing to the unavoidable absence Of
Mr.. J. W. Lurton-leader for many
years Of all that is best in music in
Pensacola-who was called from the
City on business, Mr.. J. o. Walker,
himself a musician of prominence.
made the opening address, which was
in part as follows:
1t is unfortunate for this goodly
audience that Mr.. Lurton, who was to
have been the patron saint Of this &C.
casion. it's good angel, should have
been suddenly called away from the
city, and the management has asked
me to oficiate in that capacity. 1t
certainly is gratifying that this first
attempt to exploit a school Of music
should meet with such quick and en-
couraging recognition. Pensacola has
been, and is, making such rapid strides
forward in everything that makes for
the city's mental moral and physical
betterment, that it is deemed eminent.y
appropriate that the attempt should
now be made to establish a school OF
music, and tonight you will see just
what that attempt has produced, after
only two or three weeks have passed
since its inception. 1t certainly would
seem that this city which, on account
OF it's prominence in this part of the
state, might be called the capital Of
West Florida, has arrived at that
stage in it's development when the
wonder is, not that she should now
have a school of music, but that she
should never have had one before;
and you are to be congratulated that
the opportunity, the occasion. and the
man have arrived; and the people of
Pensacola are to be congratulated that
in the person of Prof. Gilfllan Scott
we have at once that rare combina-
ton of master of music and
genius for organization which he, dur
ing his two years residence with us,
has shown himself to be. Here, then,
you can see what he and his splendid
staff of specialists can do, have done,
in less than a month of their organiza-
ton During a rather long life I have
been in many cities in this and the
old world, and believe me, have never
lived in a place where there was more
amateur musical talent; but unfortu-
nately it is if the kind that is segre-
gated, unorganized, undeveloped, en-
bryonic. 1t is the function of this
Pensacola School of Music to take this
talent in hand and give to it the touch
that it needs, of the master hand, and
the master mind.
During my fourteen years residence
in this city I have seen many a brave
attempt to establish such a musical
center, only to go down in defeat;
and right here is where I would like
to scold you a little, for it has not al
ways been the fault Of those who have
attempted the project, as Prof Shat
fers, Miss Cawthon, Prof. Seals and
others, as it has been your own fault,
for projects like this must have sup
port; you cannot sell your wares where
there are no buyers. Peter Pieman
could never have lived to make more
pies if nobody had bought his wares
and he had had to give them all to
Simple Simon So say, now that you
have this school, with such a staff,
give it your support, encourage it, fos-
ter 1t, and let us show that we are peo-
pie of an enlightened community
What of music?
God is its author, and not man; he
laid
The keynote of all harmonies; he
planned
All perfect combinations. and he made
Us so that we could hear and under
stand"
The trio-violin. cello and cornet, by
afessrs- Victor Riddle. Athe1stan Charl-
ton and Charles Starke, was a delight
full opening to the concert. Mr.. Riddle
is violin instructor, and later in his
of THE Meditation"
was exceptionally fine.
Mr.. Charlton is teacher OF the cello
in the Pensacola School OF Music. and
in his rendition of Otto Langey's
"Canzonetta" exhibited the beauty of
tone and almost human voice effects