Central Park Band Concert

“The Department of Public Parks announce that, if the weather be fine, there will be music by the Central Park Band in Central Park this afternoon, commencing at half-past three o’clock.” Lists program.

The hot weather “was not as condusive [sic] as many might suppose to drawing a large crowd to the Park. There was, it is true, a good many there when the concert began, at half-past three olclock [sic], but nothing to the immense throng two hours later, as the concert was nearing its close. The fact was fully demonstrated that the hour, as at present fixed, for these Saturday afternoon concerts in the Park, is fully two hours earlier than it should be, and particularly with the thermometer at the excruciatingly uncomfortable high point it was yesterday. It is undoubtedly the design and wish of the Commissioners to furnish music and recreation for the million, and to do this, and especially as regards the musical part of it, the concert should not begin until the tides of visitors has reached its flood. Sweltering suffocation in the compactly crowded city cars, at an hour in the day when the heat is at its maximum point, is more than our people will endure, even to enjoy all the magnificent attractions of the Park, including the finest music by the finest of our city bands. It is to be hoped, therefore, that the hour for the concert will be made later, and thus the grand symphonies of its swelling harmonies be protracted to the cooler and more enjoyable hours of the setting sun, and not so much of its sweetness wasted, as yesterday afternoon, upon empty benches and the surroundings ablaze with the light glare of a scorching sun.

“It is unnecessary to state that the music was fine, for Grafulla’s band never gives anything else than the best music, played in the very best style. [Lists program.]

“And surely a splendid entertainment was this music. An air of stately grandeur characterized the ‘Central Park March,’ such as rarely exhibits itself in modern musical compositions. The ‘Polka Militaire’ was sparkingly vivacious, and strongly in contrast with the low and softly subdued strains from the selection from ‘Der Freischutz.’ Richest gem of all was the ‘Reverie.’ It is Cole’s ‘Voyage of Life’ set to grand music, the poetry of dream life embodied in the sweetest of possible sounds. As we have already stated, the music was all of the best, and most fully enjoyed. The only pity was that there were so few to listen to the opening pieces, and those arriving late only regretted that they heard so little.”

“…At about 3½ o’clock, as of one accord, the visitors quietly turned their faces toward the music stand above the terrace and found seats beneath the awnings or reclined on the grass, sub legmine fagi. The musicians were a little late and took their own time in getting ready for the concert, all feeling that no mortal could be asked to stir more vigorously than he pleased on such a day, and no one was impatient or in a hurry. Sprawling on the ground, yawning beneath the trees or fanning themselves in the pavillions [sic], all waited with perfect indifference. At length, after the indispensable tuning and taking up and laying down of instruments, and the preliminary gesticulations, the band struck up the familiar Central Park March. The tired sleeper turned and yawned on his verdant bed, the children pricked up their ears and the music was begun. A drowsy, Summer-like programme it was, well suited to the time and place, with the ‘Dark Linden’ of Gumbert, the ‘Reverie,’ by Vieuxtemps, Strauss’ ‘Beautiful Blue Danube,’ with other favorite selections, concluding with a potpourri of national airs.

“After the music the crowd still lingered, and many remained to enjoy the cool air of the evening…”