Wallace Shawn, as Vizzini, in The Princess Bride, reminded us that it’s a classic blunder to “get involved in a land war in Asia.”

I would add “never perform at an outdoor venue without a microphone.”

Inconceivable, yet, that’s exactly what the 5th Wave Collective chose to do. Perhaps that would have been okay in the middle of nowhere, but in Washington Square Park, no more than 30 feet from a street that wasn’t closed off to traffic, it wasn’t a great idea.

It also might be okay for a brass band, but not so much for an ensemble featuring five string and three reed instruments and a lonely French horn.

That said, the crowd could mostly hear well enough to very much enjoy the hour-long tribute to the music of Florence Price.

The song introductions that the group’s members took turns delivering were less audible, but fortunately, for me, I already had some knowledge about the rebirth of Price’s work, thanks to information gathered at other concerts over the last several years.

Perhaps next time the group will use a microphone, as I wish.