Seventh Regiment Band Full-Dress Promenade Concert: 1st

Event Information

Venue(s):
Academy of Music

Conductor(s):
Claudio Solomon Grafulla

Event Type:
Band

Record Information

Status:
Published

Last Updated:
30 May 2020

Performance Date(s) and Time(s)

16 Dec 1869, 8:00 PM

Program Details

Band consists of 100 musicians. Sergeant Charles W. Wering and Corporal Francis X. Diller, additional directors (review does not make clear exactly what they did, though it seems like they assisted Grafulla).

Performers and/or Works Performed

Citations

1)
Announcement: New-York Times, 12 December 1869, 6.

“The arrangements for the first of a series of full-dress promenade concerts to be given by the Seventh Regiment are now complete, and the Music Committee announce that the concert will take place on Thursday evening next at the Academy of Music, when the band will number 100 performers. The tickets are limited to 1,200, each admitting a lady and gentleman, with 200 extra ladies’ tickets. It is anticipated that nearly all of the tickets will be taken up in the regiment. This concert cannot fail to be a grand success, so liberal have been the preparations for the event, and the Committee of Arrangements have issued one of the handsomest tickets we have every seen. An auction sale was held last evening at the armory for the disposal of private boxes. Members of the regiment are requested to appear at the concert in full uniform—veteran members to wear the badge of the Association—and citizens will attend in full dress.”

2)
Announcement: New-York Times, 13 December 1869, 2.

“The full dress promenade concert of the famous Seventh Regiment, National Guard, to take place at the Academy of Music next Thursday evening, promises to be a most brilliant affair. The band will number 100 performers; the concert will commence at 8 o’clock in the evening and close at 10; dancing will then commence and be continued to 1 o’clock in the morning. Tickets will be limited to 1,200, each ticket admitting a lady and gentleman, with 250 extra tickets, each admitting one lady… The members of the regiment will appear in full uniform.” Continues about other non-musical arrangements.

3)
Review: New-York Times, 17 December 1869, 2.

“Grand Promenade Concert and Hop at the Academy of Music Last Night—A Great Crush and a Grand Success.

“The officers and members of the Seventh Regiment, National Guard, gave a full dress promenade concert and hop, last evening, at the Academy of Music. Despite the storm and fog, the affair was a decided and grand success, as is usual with the Seventh, the arrangements for the concert having been made on the most lavish and extensive scale. The concert is intended as the initial one of a series to be given during the present season, and the demand for tickets was an animated one, in consequence of the limited number to be obtained by those not members of the regiment. The occasion drew together a great crowd and the interior of the Academy was thronged by a most fashionable assemblage.

[Paragraph about carriages and the hat room.]

“Professor Grafulla had increased his splendid band to the number of one hundred musicians, and the orchestra, under his leadership and that of Sergeant Chas. W. Wering and Corporal Francis X. Diller, was successful in affording some delightful music, the programme being a selected and pleasing one. The scene in the ballroom, after dancing had fairly commenced, was brilliant and bewildering…”

Goes on about uniforms and dresses; concludes with several paragraphs on the speeches of the evening.

4)
Review: New York Post, 17 December 1869, 2.

“The ball of the Seventh regiment [sic] at the Academy of Music last evening was a success, as is everything that this regiment undertakes. At ten o’clock the floor was crowded, and at eleven o’clock dancing was indulged in with difficulty. The orchestra numbered one hundred, and was led by Grafulla.” Lists notable attendees.

5)
Review: New-York Daily Tribune, 17 December 1869, 5.

“To the Seventh Regiment, National Guard, belongs the credit of inaugurating the Terpsichorean festivities of the season. Their reception at the Academy of Music last evening was a brilliant and enjoyable entertainment. The hall was devoid of decorations; but in the background was a beautiful Italian landscape scene, which excited general admiration. At 8 o’clock Signor Graffula and his superb band of 100 performers ascended the platform at the rear of the stage, and opened the festivities with a grand march, which was followed by several overtures and waltzes. Before 10 o’clock the floor was thronged with beautiful women, clad in the richest silks and satins… After 10 o’clock dancing commenced, which was kept up until 1 o’clock.” Describes the scene in greater detail; lists notable attendees.

6)
Review: New York Sun, 17 December 1869, 1.

Long review, mostly about those in attendance. Closes: “The promenade began at 8 P. M. Dancing was started at 10 P. M. The music was all that could be desired; and the Academy of Music was ever thronged with a more brilliant array than shone there last night.”