Topic starter
19/03/2013 4:51 pm
Courier Journal, March 26, 1860:
"Calliope Music: Those who heard sounds preculiarly discordant floating in the air yesterday morning are respectfully notified it was supposed to be music, and its name is calliope, introduced by the steamboat MELROSE as amusement especially adapted for Sunday. Those who heard it we reckon will never wish a day again made hedious by such noise. If there are any who slept soundly and thus escaped the infliction, they may esteem themselves born to good luck. The music (!) is something between the scream of a steam whistle and the bray of a jackass."
I don't think calliope music was well received on an early Spring morning in 1860.
19/03/2013 5:02 pm
Calliope criticism
Sounds like some of the French Quarter complaining the NATCHEZ still gets on occasion! There isn't nearly as much now as in the earlier days, because by now if you move into that area, you have to know of the daily concerts or else. But it exists. Probably the most frequent criticism came back in the 1980s when the resident calliope player played the same songs, same order, each and every concert for several years.