Central Park Band Concert

Includes program. 

Includes program. 

“Even the threatening clouds that served as a warning yesterday afternoon against outdoor exercise, but which proved to be entirely harmless, could not deter thousands from visiting the Park, attracted thither by the natural beauties of the scene and the concert provided by the Commissioners. There was no undue waiting for doors to open at this concert. Through the score of entrances poured the merry throng, and among them the sweet voices of the children found a pastoral symphony. The little ones were in the majority, and how they enjoyed the cool breezes, laden with sweet odors from flowers and foliage, was a pleasure in itself to their elders. Now scattered in dense groups over the playground, becoming initiated into the mysteries of base ball, then mounting the wooden horses of the merry-go-round, again seeking the placid sheet of water near Fifth Avenue and Seventy-second street to launch their tiny craft on its bosom, now feeding the fish and the swans on the lake, now dabbling in the Bethesda fountain with candied hands and anon guiding the fiery team of goats on the Mall, while their fresh, young voices rang out in merry peals, the eyes of their parents and guardians glistened with delight at their antics. At four o’clock Grafulla and his men were huddled together on the music stand, and a more inartistic and unacoustic structure could scarcely be devised for a band. A plain platform without a roof would be preferable. The musicians are so close together that there is no chance for them to play with any degree of comfort. The roof of the stand serves as an extinguisher on the tone of the band, and, therefore, criticism of the performance of the music is entirely out of the question.” 

“…The concert began at 4 p. m., and at that hour a large number of people had assembled. Extra accommodations in the way of seats had been provided for visitors, but still the upper end of the Mall and the walks in the vicinity of the musicians’ stands were covered with auditors who stood throughout the concert. Many children were present, and the goat carriages which run up and down the Mall were filled with delighted boys and girls. Awnings had been stretched overhead to keep off the sun’s rays, but they were little needed, as the sky maintained a sullen gray aspect all the afternoon, unbroken by a glimpse of sunshine. This, however, added to rather than detracted from the pleasure at the Park, the air being cool and pleasant.”