Thomas Popular Garden Concert: 6th

No program given.

Includes program.

No program given.

No program given.

“The first sacred concert at Terrace Garden, last evening, had a young and happy audience, and Mr. Theodore Thomas’ orchestra, under Mr. Eben’s direction, was heard in its most earnest excellence. The number of those who may once have held with Dean Swift in despising 'fiddlers and all their fine stuff,' seems to be growing less and less, and these Summer evening promenade concerts, which were begun last season in presence of a devoted few, have now attained a popularity quite beyond any early anticipation. The music is certainly the main attraction at Terrace Garden, although it may not be the only inducement for the tired and thirsting to leave the dull and dry City, while the selections performed are of a varied but entirely unsensational character. Years ago, when promenade concerts were introduced here at Castle Garden, the selections were mostly of dance or ballad and light operatic music. But these had no very long or great success; and only a spasmodic interest was revived in such Summer entertainments when Jullien excited the taste for novelty in his Crystal Palace concerts, by bringing forward in rapid succession some piece of musical grotesqueness. His selections from the popular operas, with the airs of the soprano arranged for the violin or clarionet, and those of the baritone and basso for the bassoon or orphicleide, cannot have been forgotten, although terrible nuisances some of them were. Nevertheless, the sentimental sighing fo the ponderous orphicleide found admirers, and any number of foolish virgins clapped their hands when, like the wedding guest in the 'Ancient Mariner,' they heard the loud bassoon. But all through his career, Jullien sought success through the construction of musical curiosities, rather than by dependence upon pure music. Still, as Jullien is supposed to have started the popular taste for instrumental music, and even to have elevated it, it is proper to be merciful when regarding his weaknesses. Pure music, it is delightful to know, however, is the credo and amen of Mr. Theodore Thomas’ faith; and to that alone, in its most elevated character, are the visitors at Terrace Garden treated; the grotesque music which most orchestra leaders, since Jullien, have thought absolutely necessary to success and popularity, obtains no favor in his esteem.” Concludes with brief but positive review of Popular Garden concert on 6/14/67.