Central Park Band Concert

Event Information

Venue(s):
Central Park Mall

Conductor(s):
Harvey Bradley Dodworth

Price: Free

Event Type:
Band

Performance Forces:
Instrumental

Record Information

Status:
Published

Last Updated:
30 April 2020

Performance Date(s) and Time(s)

03 Jul 1869, 4:00 PM

Program Details

The orchestra and conductor are not specifically named in the citations; Music in Gotham assumes them to be Dodworth and his Central Park Band. Dodworth frequently appeared at the Central Park Mall and is only sometimes explicitly advertised for these Saturday afternoon performances.

Performers and/or Works Performed

1)
LIST OF PERFORMER(S)/ORGANIZATION(S)
Participants:  Central Park Band
2)
Eau merveilleuse, L', overture
aka Wunderwasser, Das
Composer(s): Flotow
3)
"O bitt’euch, liebe Vögelein"
aka Ye merry birds that sweetly sing; Ye pretty birds; Come ye pretty birds
Composer(s): Gumbert
4)
Cornet waltz
Composer(s): Lanner
5)
INTERMISSION
6)
Milanello
Composer(s): Hamm
7)
Muette de Portici, La, overture
aka Masaniello; Mute Girl of Portici; Stumme von Portici
Composer(s): Auber
8)
Messiah, "Hallelujah chorus"
Composer(s): Handel
9)
Cameral's polka
Composer(s): Marelly
10)
INTERMISSION
11)
Geneviève de Brabant, march
Composer(s): Offenbach
12)
"Ave Maria," (Instrumental version)
aka Méditation sur le 1er Prélude de piano de J. S. Bach; Meditation, prelude, for piano, organ and cello; Meditation on Bach's Prelude No. 1
Composer(s): Gounod
13)
Old and merry friends
aka Auld and merry friends
Composer(s): Dodworth
14)
Burlesque galop
Composer(s): Cassidy [composer]
15)
Home thoughts
Composer(s): Dodworth

Citations

1)
Announcement: New York Post, 02 July 1869, 2.

Includes program.

2)
Announcement: New-York Times, 03 July 1869, 2.

“The Central Park Commissioners announce that if the weather be fine, there will be music on the Mall at the Park this afternoon, commencing at 4 o’clock. The following is the programme: [lists full program].”

3)
Announcement: New-York Daily Tribune, 03 July 1869, 2.
4)
Review: New-York Times, 04 July 1869, 8.

“The attractions of Central Park are irresistible. Yesterday afternoon the multitude that visits it every Saturday was there again, undiminished in numbers, and scattered as usual over the lawn, the walks, by the lake, under trees, and in every delightful spot and rustic work. Neither the sultry heat nor the prospect of sudden showers lessened the crowd of visitors or prevented the play-ground from swarming with boys who seemed to be doing their utmost not to keep cool. The Mall of course was covered with people, and no empty seats were to be found around the music stand. [Continues about crowds throughout the Park.]

“The one attraction at the Park on Saturday afternoons is undoubtedly the band. The superior music it furnishes is a treat to the very many of the visitors which they cannot often indulge in elsewhere. But it must be said that the Park music might be improved, excellent as it is. Not a few persons have remarked that the band lacks power for the occasion. It often happens that listeners sitting but a short distance away from the stand on the outside of the crowd, cannot hear the music with any distinctness. The finest strains are lost in a breath of wind or the rustle of the leaves. As a general thing, the pieces selected were never intended but for the area and stillness of the opera house; and anywhere else their charm and effect is impaired. Then the band itself is weak in sound for such a place as the Park. If the idea did not horrify New-Yorkers, the music there should have something of the Boston Jubilee volume, which would reach a distance a little further than a few yards. Nothing certainly would be more agreeable than to be able to listen to the strains of a band in the Park without being obliged to crowd up to the very instruments of the performers.”