Ninth Regiment Band Concert

“The series of Sunday afternoon concerts inaugurated by Downing’s well known military band have, so far, met with the success they deserved. The spacious concert room of the Colosseum was well crowded yesterday, and the music was of the high standard that might be expected from such an experienced leader as Major Downing. There were a triumphal march, a couple of waltzes and overtures, by Mercadante and Herold, to please the popular taste; a chorus from ‘Tannhäuser,’ to gratify the Wagnerites; a shower of melodic pearls from Bellini’s operas, a fantasia on Verdi’s ‘Macbeth’ for those of Italian opera proclivities, another on ‘Fra Diavolo’ for the admirers of the French school, and a cornet solo by Mr. Benjamin C. Bent, a very talented and brilliant player. The concert ended with a cleverly constructed and effective quickstep by Downing, on themes from ‘La fille de Madame Angot.’ A very interesting feature of these concerts is the presence of large numbers of ladies and children, the little ones enjoying the gay scene with evident satisfaction. The view of the East River and its islands from the balcony is very picturesque, at times a huge Sound steamer sweeping past, almost directly beneath the concert room. There is abundance of good music and healthful enjoyment to be found at Jones’ Wood Colosseum on a Sunday afternoon during the summer.”