Central Park Band Concert

“There is no more beautiful spot in the metropolis to enjoy music than Washington square [sic]. It is secluded, umbrageous and hedged in on every side by private dwellings of the coziest character, while the cathedral-like walls of the University on the east side add to the general somber appearance of the neighborhood. Therefore when the Park band of Grafulla under Wernig’s direction took their seats on the platform erected in the middle of the square, hundreds turned down form the dusty and never ceasing clatter of Broadway and thronged the square, delighted listeners of the choice programme prepared for them. First came the dashing quickstep, ‘The Retreat,’ by Riker, then the beautiful ‘Tancrede’ overture, with its charming andante and joyous allegro, and third on the programme was an air by Schondorf, ‘When the quiet moon is beaming.’ Wiegand’s gallop, ‘Ours,’ brought the first part to a close. The next number was the ever welcome waltz, the best that Strauss ever wrote, ‘On the beautiful Danube,’ the strains of which arrested many a passer by, and even a dozen or so of carriages. A reverie by Vieuxtemps, the celebrated violinist, came next, and was followed by a bouquet of melodies from ‘La Perichole.’ The overture to Flotow’s ‘Das Wunderwosser,’ which is of a very different school from his ‘Martha,’ concluded the second part. Parlow’s ‘Bilse Polka,’ a scrap of melody from ‘Dinorah,’ Reichardt’s well known song, ‘Thou art so near and yet so far,’ and the ‘Damen Galop’ constituted the last part of the programme. The band is an admirable one, and under Wering’s experienced baton there is nothing wanting in the performance of every piece.”