CENTRE OF MUSICAL ACTIVITY

The new home of the Department of Music, for which ground was broken a year ago this month, is now a completed structure, and is serving as a meeting-place for all music courses and as the centre of all musical interest in the University.

During the past few years, the in- creased enrollment in the different music courses have made the need of such a building almost imperative, as the inadequate accommodations of Holden Chapel made matters very difficult for the Department; and some graduate, seeing this need, accordingly made an anonymous gift of $80,000, which together with an endowment fund of $50,000 raised among others, made possible the new home.

The Music Building is situated back of Lawrence Hall, facing the Jefferson Physical Laboratory. Harvard brick and marble have been used in the construction itself, while tiles have been used for hall floors. There are two entrances and porches, one on the west and the other on the north side; the west porch being of semi-circular design, while the one to the north is rectangular and upheld by pillars. On the first floor, besides the vestibules, coat-rooms, and the office, there are two recitation rooms, one large lecture room, and the practice hall for the University Glee Club. Upstairs, together with several offices, is the John Knowles Paine Concert Hall, the dimensions of which are approximately 60 by 54 feet, exclusive of the stage. Inclusive of the large apron, the stage dimensions are about 29 by 33 feet, and under the stage are kept sliding platforms which can be drawn out to increase this size for larger musical organizations. A drop at about mid-depth of the stage may be lowered when this extra space is not desired. The organ is to be placed on the north side of the stage. Together with the seats in the balcony, the hall has a seating capacity of 578.

On the third floor, behind the balcony are cloak-rooms, conference rooms, and the sanctums of the Musical Club and the Musical Review. The furnishings for some of the upstairs rooms have not as yet been installed, but it is expected that they will be within a very short time