German Military Concert: 1st

Includes program.

“Weber, Meyerbeer, Wagner and Strauss supply most of the elements of the programme.”

“The success of the English, French, and German bands in their concerts in the United States last Summer will have done some mischief if it stimulate [sic] all the military bands of Europe to pay us a visit. There are very few organizations of that kind either in England or on the continent which could reasonably expect to find profit in such an adventure. The Band of the Royal Saxon Sharpshooters’ Regiment No. 108, from Dresden, have [sic] risked the voyage, and last night made their first appearance at the Academy of Music. They number forty-one pieces—all brass (except the drums) and are [illegible] by Mr. Hans Girod. Of course a band exclusively of brass is not intended to be heard within doors, and the concert at the opera house was intended rather as a formal introduction and welcome than as an exhibition of the performers’ best qualities. We may say that they play pretty well, considering the resources at their command, but with no special finish and with very little delicacy; and although in out-of-door music they are probably brilliant and effective, their execution last night called for no particular critical notice. Mr. Girod showed himself an accomplished player on the cornet-à-piston, and received in common with his men abundant applause from a tolerably large audience.” 

“A concert by the musical forces of the Royal Saxon Sharp-shooters’ Regiment, No. 108, was given at the Academy of Music last evening. The selections and their recital gratified extremely an audience numerous and decidedly enthusiastic, and while it cannot be said that the programme was as good as it might have been, it must be admitted that the work of the performers was above the average achievements of regimental bands. On the other hand, neither the composition of Herr Girod’s organization, from which wood instruments are excluded, nor the individual talent discernable in their efforts, nor their discipline, place them on a level with the French performers, or even with the French contestants, for the prizes awarded in Boston a twelve-month ago. The music illustrative of the scene of the benediction of the awards, in ‘Gli Ugonotti,’ was capitally played by the newcomers, and a recital, fair in respect of precision, of the well-known overture to Wagner’s ‘Rienzi’ was enjoyed; but we are bound to say that we have heard even these numbers delivered with more nicety of definition and variety of color, while the remainder of the bill can, at any time, have quite as full justice done it by local bands. The entertainment was directed by Herr Girod. Herr Girod leads with intelligence and spirit, and he can rest his claims to reputation upon his skill as a conductor, without aiming to eminence as a ‘cornet à piston virtuoso.’ In that capacity, last night, and as a composer, he did not impress us greatly.”

“The band of the Royal Saxon Sharp-shooters’ Regiment, under the direction of Kapellmeister Hans Girod, gave their first concert last evening at the Academy of Music. Quite a large audience greeted the strangers, the upper and lower portions of the house being filled, the boxes of the second tier alone presenting a vacant appearance.

We fail to find in the band any qualities of remarkable or unusual excellence. The first impression received is of the youthful elements of which it is composed. The average age of the performers does not apparently exceed twenty years. The band consists of some forty or more pieces, and is entirely composed of brass instruments. It is well balanced, deriving peculiar advantages from the fine brass instruments and the trombones, which, though not adapted to use in a marching band, are among the most effective of all orchestral instruments. What persons accustomed to the composition of our first class regimental bands will miss in this one is the reed instruments. These give a variety and character to the performances of military bands that nothing else can replace. A purely brass band sounds tame and monotonous in comparison. Another disadvantage that the performers labored under was that of being heard in a building instead of in the open air. This will be done away with at the concerts to be given this and to-morrow afternoon at Jones’s Wood. There never was a military orchestra heard to proper advantage within brick walls.

Herr Girod is apparently a good conductor and a good disciplinarian. He is also a solo player on the cornet-à-piston, which instrument he performed upon with a fair degree of skill, though neither in quality of tone, facility of execution, nor grace and sentiment, could his performance for a moment bear comparison with that of Levy or of many other non-resident and resident players whom we could name.

In a word, though the present band plays well, it certainly has nothing to teach us in the way of military music, and no point of excellence in which it is not surpassed by those that we already have. This we can say with the more freedom from all suspicion of national prejudice, inasmuch as nearly all the performers in our city regimental bands are also Germans.” 

“A large audience greeted the Saxon Band at the Academy of Music last evening, on the occasion of their first public appearance in this country. The band numbers forty-one pieces—all wind instruments except the kettle-drum. The audience last evening contained a large representation of our German residents, and they were liberal of their applause both for the band and its leader, Herr Hans Girod. The playing was not, however, remarkable. The band is well trained, but there was a lack of that delicacy and finish which was to be expected from players of their reputation. Nor was the cornet playing of Hans Girod, the leader, to be compared with that of Levy. We do not forget, however, that a brass band is not well adapted to indoor concerts, and should not expect of them as satisfactory a performance as of one arranged especially for the concert room.

It was remarked that all the members of the band are very young and the majority of them of very diminutive size.”

“A band belonging to the ‘Royal Sharpshooters’ regiment, No. 108, Prince George,’ who arrived at this port a few days ago by the steamship Vandalia, made their first appearance last evening before the New York public. They numbered about forty players and were directed by Herr Hans Girod, ‘Kapellmeister to His Majesty the King of Saxony and cornet-à-piston vistuoso.’ As the performance was not successful it is unnecessary to enter into detail regarding the programme. The Saxon band is immeasurably inferior to Saro’s Prussian band, that appeared here last Summer, and the organization ranked third at the Boston jubilee. The tone is harsh, almost painfully brassy and not always certain. In the ‘Marche aux Flambeaux’ of Meyerbeer, No. 1, there was little unanimity of ensemble and more noise than harmony. Herr Girod played two solos on the cornet-à-piston, and for an encore ‘Ah! che la morte,’ from Verdi’s opera. IT would be impossible to accord one word of praise to his abilities as a virtuoso. He was deficient, in truth, in many of the most necessary qualities of a cornet player. We do not think that the Royal Saxon Band will compare favorably with some of our militia bands, and we regret to be compelled to chronicle their failure at their début.”

“The band, which was under the direction of Herr Hans Girod, numbered forty young men, who performed upon brass instruments. Their performances failed to give satisfaction, being inferior to a majority of our city bands. Herr Hans Girod, during the evening, performed solos on the cornet-à-piston, which were far from satisfactory. The attendance was quite large, considering the temperature, but at the end of the first part large numbers left.”