Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1916-07-14
. NOTABLE MUSICAL
= DEPARTURE In WILDWOOD

4 has always been the custom to have a
band to please the crowds that have
come year after year for their summer
recreation. These bands were made
up of possibly Is to 20 pieces, a from
bone, a couple of drums, two or three
comets, the same number of %clarionets,
a flute, piccalo, several baritone brass
instruments, cymbals, etc., and the
band master.
In one sense these bands filled the
bill we'll, as far as noise was concerned,
because of the fact that the average
excursionist, and many of the resi-
dents, delighted then in a band that
made fittings hum" and as rag time
selections were for a while very attrac-
tive to the average over the week guest,
a large majority went to their homes
satisfied that they had been very
happy because of the music.
Perhaps it has been through the
admirable work of the Philadelphia
Orchestra during the past few years in
educating the public to a higher stand
ard of music that a radical change for
classic music has come over the citizens
of Wildwood as well as Philadelphia.
A new auditorium has recently been
erected in Wildwood, partly on the
shore and partly or the boardwalk.
1t is a building that the city is really
proud of, as indeed it should be. The
interior of the building is "a thing of
beauty" it has a large and spacious
hall with high roof, admitting an
abundance of fresh air, and also q free
dom from outdoor noises. Indeed, it
is something that is really "a wonder
of goodness"
There was, however, a problem to
be worked out as to what class of
music should be used; was 'srag time"
and the blare of brass instruments to
have full sway, or should a total
change be made?
After much careful consideration the
conclusion was reached that the time
was ripe for a fine, up to date orchestra.
But, naturally, the question of money
had to be taken into consideration for
a brass band of IS pieces was one thing,
and an orchestra with twenty five high
class artists was another thing. 1t
meant practically that it largely
enhanced the cost.
The gentlemen who financed the
erection of their new auditorium, came
to the conclusion that the building
warranted the best music that could
be obtained, as the residents and visi-
tors to Wildwood were entitled to have
a class of music that might make
them think that they were listening to
music such as they would have to pay
80 cents to $3.50 per seat for, in the
Academy at Philadelphiat
Therefore, the decision was made,
and Wildwood for the first time is now
listening to ar orchestra of 25 pieces,
and each musician is an artist and
most of them are members of the
Philadelphia Orchestra.
The Inhabitants and visitors TO
Wildwood are to be congratulated
upon the rare pleasure that lies before
them in listening to the music from
the worlds great masters, as inter-
preted by this group Of talented men
now playing in the new casino audito-
rum.
The director of the Casino Orchestra
is Mr.. Walter Pfeiffer, a noted violin
list, who also belongs to the Philadel-
phia Orchestra during the operate
season. He is a conductor of merit,
has remarkable control over his men,
who follow his lead with careful and
artistic comprehension.
On Monday night, the Sd inst,
when the writer heard the orchestra
for the first time, he listened to the
'Triumphal March, from Aida. This
was followed by the "Oberon Over
ture". Then came the Fantasia from
the Opera Cavaleria R~usticanna, after
"hiSb SohdS phC "uhSnildh AuSb5PIcl
Overture, and after that the "Dance of
the Symphs" by Berlioz, and several
other classics, including a violin solo
by Paul Meyer, the solo violinist of the
orchestra, after which he had to repeat
the concerto in full, and even then the
audience was most insistent upon
another Interpretation of the same, but
that was too much to ask for, and he
had to be excused from a third rendi-
ton.
The writer in speaking of the
orchestra and its ability and its make
up, does so to advise our citizens that
we now have something that we all
should be proud of, and therefore we
should give to it our hearty encourage
ment, and also take pride in telling