Twenty-Second Regiment Band Concert

“This organization, which was formed a short time ago under the direction of the well known Jubilee projector, gave a concert last evening at the Armory in Fourteenth street, which was attended by a very large number of people. The band numbers 65 performers, among whom are several virtuosi of local fame. The programme last night had but few selections by which one could judge the degree of progress made since the opening concert at the Academy of Music. The principal feature was Wieprecht’s arrangement of airs from ‘Le Prophete,’ which, although rather too fragmentary in form to be accorded the praise that unity of idea and symmetry demand, is full of telling effects, and is calculated to exhibit the power of a military band to the fullest extent. The march is cleverly wrought in among the other themes taken from the opera. It may be regretted, however, that the old Prussian bandmaster did not use in this fantasia some of the most beautiful subjects in the ballet music, notably in the skating scene, which might be arranged in a very effective form. Weber’s ‘Jubel’ overture and the march from ‘L’Africaine’ were the other two numbers on the programme worthy of remark. The band has undoubtedly made progress in the precision and spirit which they bring towards the interpretation of a work. It is a great deal gained when 65 men play with correctness and obey implicitly the baton of the conductor. But much remains to be done by this band before they attain that wonderful power of expression and coloring—tone painting—with which some of the European bands adorn a work. The principal defect of bands in which the German element predominates is that they confound quality with quantity of tone. But this is a degree of perfection that is only reached by long practice together and by an indefatigable conductor, as Mr. Gilmore has proved himself to be. Everything depends upon the leader for the requisite interpretation of a work, a signal example of which is shown in the case of Mr. Thomas, who has brought his orchestra, after years of industry and perseverance, to that degree of artistic skill that the most delicate nuances of a work are observed by them. The soloists last night were Mr. Arbuckle, who played ‘The Whirlwind Polka’ of Levy with spirit and finish, showing remarkable ability as an executant, and Mr. Lefebre, the saxophone player, who is evidently a master of that instrument. Mr. Gilmore has been fortune enough to secure four saxophone players for his band. They are singularly effective, and give a solidity to the general tone of the other instruments.”