The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1914-02-28
Richmond's Concert Band

before had been heard in our city, that time when
Schmitties Cincinnati Military Band with
us during previous Fall Festival, there were at
least two distinct thrills that went through the
being of every citizen who heard it. The first
was the thrill of the good music that made you
swing along in time on the sidewalk or if you
were strong weak enough to resist such public
manifestation of good music's power, that made
something beat time within you. The second
was deep thrill of civic pride. You proud
that Richmond numbered among her men
capable of forming, training and being trained
into such splendid organization. No small
measure of the great success Of the last Fall
Festival was distinctly due to the Concert Band.
Only few weeks ago, your hearts wrung by
the tales of want, privation and desperate suffer-
ing among certain of your less fortunate breth-
rem, you gathered one evening in the tabernacle
to hear charity concert. Every penny OF the
more than $1,000 you contributed for tickets of
admission went to help those in dire need Today
you chiefly remember the charity concert on ac
count of the good music rendered there by the
Richmond Concert Band. Just as you contribut-
ed to charity at the box office, SO did the men,
bers of this organization contribute to charity on
the stage. They gave the numbers they played
freely and gladly though they represented the
work of many hours spent during a number of
weeks in rehearsals. Thus the Richmond Con-
cert Band made it's second bow to the public and
again you were thrilled two-fold.
Now the Richmond Concert Band makes its
third bow before the public and asks you, what
of future-what of the future of your civic
band? Will you cooperate with in the spirit
of neighborly citizenship to make lasting
civic organization, shall we dsband?"
Now don't answer this offhand.
Consider first the personnel of the organiza-
tion and the conditions under which they make it
a valuable organization by reason of the results
it obtains in it's sphere of endeavor.
The Richmond Concert Band is composed
almost entirely of men drawn from all the
walks of working life. Factory men, business
men and professional men form this organization
of citizens. They give it life and efficiency of re-
suits by spending many of their spare hours aft
er their daily work is through in musical study
and rehearsals. In view of your two past pleas
ant experiences of the results of the work and
spirit of this organization, can you honestly say
that it is not civic asset of real value? If YOU
agree with us that it is and will realize with US
that experience has shown Richmond never gives
up anything which proves itself of value and last
ing use, you will further agree with us that ev-
cry reasonable means should be made use of in
order to provide sufficient incentive to keen this
organization intact and alive
Any organization will atrophy and 90 out of
existence unless it is continually renewed and
spurred on by incentive. In the case of the Rich
mond Concert Band portion of this incentive
already exists. In the first place. there is the
CIVIC pride and spirit actuating these band men
IN just the same varying degree that all YOU var
lous citizens are moved by the same feeling. Tn
the second place, there is the pleasing remen,
brance OF appreciation the part of fellow-citi
zens for past performances. In the third place
there is pleasant recollection of their efforts
having been considered worthy of pay as during
the three days of the Fall Festival
The past, unfortunately, is always recedino
forever becoming DINNER and more shadow. It
IS only by renewing or re-creatng the incentives
OF the past that we make the present more eniov
able and the future more certain. Therefore if
the Richmond Concert Band is to continue to af
ford us pleasure in our community life hv reosor
OF Its beng useful pleasure for the individual
members OF 1t to continue their spare time work.
you must provide reasonable number of occas
ions for renewing the incentives of the mast
The tate OF the Richmond Concert Band i+s
1uture usefulness utter decadence laroo1,,
rests at the present time with the members of tho
music committee of the Commercial Club. ITnon
them devolves the responsibility of encouraoino
some plan such as has already been suggested of
giving several concerts this winter. The receints
above expenses of these concerts, it has been
proposed, shall go to form fund from which q
Reasonable amount may be appropriated with
which to purchase music for the oroop;,,4;. - =,