USA > Texas > History of the German element in Texas from 1820-1850, and historical sketches of the German Texas singers' league and Houston turnverein from 1853-1913, 1st ed > Part 11
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At this second Saengerfest the first steps were also taken for the forming of a German State Singers' League, and a constitution and by-laws, drawn up by a special commit- tee, were recommended to the different societies for adop- tion.
The third Saengerfest took place at New Braunfels on March 28 and 29, 1855. Of the thirteen invited singing societies the following seven participated : New Braunfels, Indianola, Columbus, La Grange, Austin, Sisterdale and San Antonio. Austin was selected as the meeting place for the fourth Saengerfest in 1856, but the Austin singing so- ciety finally declined the honor, and the singers of San An- tonio, La Grange and Austin met again at New Braunfels and celebrated the fourth Saengerfest on October 12 and 13th, as guests of the Liedertafel, the second German sing- ing society of New Braunfels. The older society, "Ger- mania," refused to participate in the festivities, and had even announced that on account of the depressed financial condition no Saengerfest would be held. But the Lieder- tafel was undaunted, and under the energetic management of its leader, H. Guenther, prepared for the fourth Saen- gerfest, that proved a grand success. The program for the concert contained for the first time a song with musical accompaniment. This was the prize composition "Eine Nacht auf dem Meere" (A Night on the Sca), by A. Tschirch, a difficult. chorus work with solos, duetts and orchestra. This latter was replaced by a piano. Mr. Guenther held the baton and Mr. Stademann played the difficult accompani- ment with considerable skill. H. Thielepape of San An- tonio, W. Schulz of New Braunfels and A. Oppel of Aus-
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tin, sang the solos and duets of the beautiful composition, which was received with deafening applause by the enthusi- astic audience.
In the fifth Saengerfest, which was again held at New Braunfels, only four singing societies, of San Antonio, Aus- tin, and two of New Braunfels, participated. The singing club of Sisterdale had ceased to exist. A delegation from Fredericksburg invited the singers to meet next year at their city. This invitation was gladly accepted and the sixth Saengerfest was celebrated on May 29, 30 and 31, 1859, at Fredericksburg, at that time on the border of civilization, with the following seven societies participating, viz .: New Braunfels "Germania" and "Liedertafel," Fredericksburg. Piedernales, Austin, San Antonio and Grape Creek.
At the seventh Saengerfest at New Braunfels, on March 26, 27, 28 and 29, 1860, the first chorus of mixed voices, the "Concordia" of New Braunfels, rendered two charm- ing songs at the official concert, and many more during the different social gatherings of the Fest. The next Saen- gerfest had been scheduled for Austin, but carly. in 1861 the threatening clouds, that had been hanging over the United States for several years, had bursted, the unfortu- nate and destructive war between the States had begun. and song and music were replaced for years by tears and sorrow.
Several years after the close of the war passed by, before the German societies of West Texas again joined in the celebration of a Saengerfest. On August 22 and 23, 1869. the singers of the two San Antonio clubs, the "Beethoven Maennerchor" and the "Liedertafel." the Austin Society and a club from Boerne, met with the singing societies of New Braunfels at the latter place for the purpose of re- viving the German State Singers' League. This was accom- plished, a new constitution was prepared and San Antonio chosen for the next. the eighth Saengerfest. This was cele- brated on the 9. 10 and 11th of September, 1870, more than
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ten years after the seventh Saengerfest had been held at New Braunfels. With this Saengerfest an enthusiastic cele- bration of the great victories of the German armies in France was connected, and the echo of the stirring times that created a German nation and the rejuvenated German empire reverberated in the hearts of the thousands of par- ticipants. The ravens no longer flew around Kyffhaeuser mountain, the ban was broken, the barriers between the many principalities were lowered, the marked distinctions between North and South Germany were effaced, and every German felt justly proud of being a son of the Fatherland, of a United Germany. This Saengerfest was by far the greatest that so far had been held. The following cities and towns were represented: New Braunfels ( Maennerchor and Liedertafel), Boerne, Comfort, Yorktown, La Grange, and San Antonio. Hopes had been entertained that Hous- ton and Galveston would be represented by singing clubs, or at least by some delegates of such clubs, but no word or representative came from either of these cities, and for several years more participation in the Saengerfests was confined to societies west of the Colorado River. At the business meeting (Tagsatzung) a resolution was adopted to celebrate the Saengerfests henceforth only biennially, and consequently the ninth Saengerfest was held at New Braun- fels on May 11, 12 and 13, 1872, in which the following singing societies actively participated, viz. : New Braunfels, Hortontown, Smithsons Valley, San Antonio, Austin, Com- fort, Boerne, and the two singing clubs of New Braunfels. In order to perpetuate the love of song in the growing gen- eration and interest them in the forming of new singing societies or joining the existing clubs, the "Tagsatzung' unanimously adopted a resolution that recommended the establishing of singing-schools for children, and for many years such schools were conducted in many cities and towns of South Texas. Not only children of German birth, but also of American parentage were received and instructed
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in the beautiful art of singing, and the missionary work done by the pupils of these schools ought not to be under- estimated. It awakened and fostered among the Americans of Texas the love of music and song, the active agents of a refined life, and the founding of most American singing societies in Texas, as elsewhere, must primarily be attribu- ted to the wholesome influence of these unpretentious sing- ing schools, organized at the suggestion of the German Texas Singers' League.
The tenth Saengerfest was again celebrated in San An- tonio in May, 1874, with societies from New Braunfels, Boerne, Comfort, Austin, and Fredericksburg, participat- ing. At this meeting Messrs. A. Groos, H. Bosshard and A. Siemering were appointed as an executive committee to act in the interest of the State Singers' League and prepare a new constitution to be presented at the next Saengerfest. New Braunfels was designated as the meeting place for this Saengerfest, as neither Austin nor any other city repre- sented at the Tagsatzung were willing to be sponsor and host for the next celebration. The attendance of active sing- ers participating in the concerts had constantly grown, and the boarding and entertaining of nearly two hundred par - ticipants for three days, with the additional expense for the proper arrangements and other incidentals, amounted to too great a sum, that smaller places would attempt to invite the Saengerfest within their walls. Even New Braunfels, the birthplace of the German Texas Saengerfests, could not raise funds enough for the next Fest and was unable to meet its obligation in 1876, and the executive committee therefore had to find another Verein, willing to undertake the arrangements for the next Saengerfest. The Beethoven- Maennerchor of San Antonio readily accepted the responsi- bility, and under its auspices the eleventh Saengerfest was celebrated at the Alamo City on the 12th, 13th and 14th of September. 1877.
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Eleventh Saengerfest at San Antonio, 1877.
This Saengerfest exceeded its predecessors in many ways. "Fest Praesident" F. Groos, with his chief assistants, A. Siemering, C. Mueller, B. Wolfram, and musical director, E. Zawadil, were equal to their arduous task, and all ar- rangements were perfect. A new Saengerhall, with a ca- pacity of 1500 seats, had been erected in Central Garden, and an orchestra of 34 pieces for string music had been organized by the indefatigable efforts of Mr. Zawadil, and proved the "piece de resistance" of the whole Saengerfest. The following thirteen singing societies were represented, viz .: Beethoven Maennerchor, Teutonia and Mendelsohn Clubs of mixed voices, of San Antonio, Echo of Smithsons Valley, Austin Saengerrunde, New Braunfels Maennerchor, Boerne Gesang Verein. Liedertafel of Comfort, the singing. societies of Yorktown, La Grange, Brenham, and the Gal- veston Saengerbund. This was the first Saengerfest in which societies from east of the Colorado River partici- pated. The concert, on the second day of the celebration, was a great success from beginning to end, and musical director Zawadil, at the close of it, received an enthusiastic but well deserved ovation for his tireless efforts and his marked ability as an orchestra and chorus leader. The string orchestra opened the concert with the overture from Balfe's melodious opera, "The Bohemian Girl," and .later played the overtures from "Martha" by Flotow, and "Ne- buchadnezzar" by Verdi. It also played the discreet accom- paniment to the Chorus-song, "Meeresstille" by Fischer, rendered with great precision by the Beethoven-Maenner- chor, and to parts of Rossini's great composition "Stabat Mater," sung by the Mendelsohn mixed chorus, with Miss Lacoste, Mrs. Karber and Messrs. C. Mueller and A. Kar- ber as soloists. When the sound of the last note of this classical work had ebbed away, there was a grave-like silence for a few seconds, but then an applause broke forth from all parts of the great hall that was filled to overflow, as
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never had been heard at any previous Saengerfest. The in- troduction of an orchestra and the singing of chorus songs with orchestra accompaniment had proved so successful that the orchestra from now on became an integral and indis- pensable part of all succeeding Saengerfests, greatly in- creasing the budget of these affairs, as every city vied to outdo the other by furnishing a larger and better orchestra. Soon local orchestras and local talent alone did not suffice and soloists as well as whole orchestras were engaged from Cincinnati, St. Louis and Chicago, to add splendor to the concerts and tax heavily the progressive and public-spirited citizens of the cities in which the Saengerfests were cele- brated. It was considered impossible to have a Saengerfest without a grand orchestra and some soloists of national fame, and thus the character of the Saengerfests was en- tirely changed. It is true that the Saengerfests of the last fifteen years have become more metropolitan in style and quality, but it must nevertheless be regretted that now the orchestra and the soloists are the chief attractions of the concerts, instead of the singers. The Saengerfests are un- questionably tending more and more to become great music festivals, with the singing of chorus songs as a necessary adjunct.
At the Tagsatzung the new constitution prepared by A. Groos, F. Bosshard and A. Siemering was adopted with a few changes, and remained in force until 1906, when it was again changed to conform with the changed conditions. During the festivities a number of delegates from the Turnvereins of San Antonio, Houston, New Braunfels. Fredericksburg, West Mill Creek and Quihi, met and or- ganized the "Texas State Turnerbund." adopted a consti- tution and appointed Houston as "Vorort," with the general offices and next meeting place, and consequently the first State Turnfest was celebrated in Houston in the spring of 1878, in which all associated societies of the State partici- pated.
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Austin was selected as the place for the twelfth Saenger- fest, and there, in April, 1879. the silver jubilce of the Ger- man Texan State's Singers' League was celebrated with appropriate festivities. A virulent yellow fever epidemic ravaging Texas in 1878, had prevented the celebration in that year, as originally proposed, but in order to remember the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Texas Saengerbund in an appropriate manner at the proper time, the Beethoven Maennerchor of San Antonio and the Singing Society from Comfort met with the singers of New Braunfels on Octo- ber 12th, 1878, at the birthplace of the Saengerbund and celebrated a joyous jubilee meeting on the banks of the sil- very Comal.
At the Saengerfest at Austin. the societies of New Braun- fels and Comfort were represented for the last time. They did not remain members of the League any longer, but, to- gether with other singing societies of West Texas, formed their own association. the "Gebirgs Saengerbund." which is still flourishing and celebrating its annual Saengerfests in the picturesque cities of West Texas with great enthusi- asm, original simplicity and real German "Gemuetlichkeit" (good fellowship).
The Jubilee Saengerfest at Austin, 1879.
Elaborate preparations had been made by the Germans of the Capital City for the proper and dignified celebration of the twelfth Saengerfest, the jubilec of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the State Saengerbund. The Central Com- mittee under the able leadership of Dr. Weisselberg. fest president, and Walter Tips, musical director. ably assisted by Messrs. Ed Schuetze, Samostz. Brueggerhoff. Frisch- meier, Stakemann and others, had perfected all arrange- ments with great skill. finding ready assistance from all merchants and the general public of Austin, and when, on the morning of the 16th of April the singers held their tri- umphal entry into the city, under the booming of cannon.
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Congress Avenue, from the Colorado River to the Capitol, was gaily and profusely decorated with flags and bunting, while two immense arches of honor had been erected, one at the foot of Congress Avenue, the other at the Opera House, where the official concert was held. As a special attraction, the orchestra of the National Theatre of New Orleans, a well known musical organization from St. Louis, had been engaged. The following singing societies partici- pated in the festivities : Beethoven Maennerchor, San An- tonio; Maennerchor, New Braunfels; Frohsinn, Dallas ; Germania, Brenham; Salamander, Galveston; Saenger- runde and "Gemischter Chor," Austin, and two delegates each from Houston, Comfort and LaGrange. This was the first participation of the societies from Dallas and Brenham at the Saengerfests, while the presence of two delegates from the Houston Maennerchor indicated that the German singers of the Magnolia City would participate at the next Saengerfest. The singers from Dallas, Brenham and Gal- veston had arrived by a special train in the morning, while the societies of San Antonio and New Braunfels had come overland in sixteen wagons, being received by the entire festival committee, three miles south of the city, in gala coaches and accompanied to the city. At the Colorado River bridge the other singing societies had assembled, and after the arrival of the contingent from New Braunfels and San Antonio, the line of march was quickly formed, the ban- ners unfolded, and the festival march (Festmarsch) to the Opera House begun, cheered all the way by the thousands that lined both sides of Congress Avenue. In the spacious, profusely decorated hall of the Opera House, tables, laden with substantial delicacies, invited the singers to a bounte- ous repast, and after hunger and thirst had been allaved, Dr. Weisselberg welcomed the singing societies in some well chosen words, to which Mr. H. Seele, of New Braun- fels, the nestor of the Saengerbund, responded. Then Col- onel De Gress. Mayor of Austin, bade the singers a hearty
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welcome in the name of the city, handing the freedom and the keys of Austin to them during the Saengerfest. The official oratory closed with some humorous remarks by Mr. Samostz, chairman of the lodging committee, and after the singing of a few impromptu songs, and the faultless rendering of some classical compositions by the orchestra, the joyous assembly adjourned at midnight for a well earned rest after a pleasant but strenuous first day of the jubilee festivities.
The morning of the second day was spent in a general rehearsal of the chorus songs, and in the afternoon an ex- cursion was made to Mount Bonnell, where some pleasant hours were enjoyed. The great concert began precisely at eight o'clock, before a brilliant audience that filled every available seat in the Opera House. The following interest- ing program was executed with considerable skill :-
PART I.
Overture Egmont, by Beethoven, Orchestra. Lob des Gesanges, by L. Maurer, Mass-Chorus. Zauber der Liebe, by J. Herbert, Salamander, Galveston.
Das Deutsche Lied, by P. E. Schneider, Mass-Chorus and Orchestra.
Das Einsame Roeslein. by Hermes, Germania, Brenham. Phantassie, Die Zigeunerin, by Balfe, Orchestra.
PART 2.
Siegesfeier, by Rheinlaender, Mass-Chorus.
Chor aus Ernani, by Verdi, Mixed Chorus, Austin.
Potpouri, Aida, by Verdi, Orchestra.
Wie hab ich sie geliebt. by Moehring. Frohsinn, Dallas. Schaeferlied, by Eckert, Mass-Chorus.
PART 3.
Leichte Cavallerie, by Suppe, Orchestra. Muttersprache, by C. Kuntze. Beethoven, San Antonio. Bundeslied, by F. Lachner. Mass-Chorus and Orchestra.
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Song, by New Braunfels Mannerchor.
Fackeltanz, No. 3, by Meyerbeer, Orchestra.
The orchestra numbers and the mass-choruses, the latter under the firm and effective leadership of Mr. Walter Tips, found especial favor with the attentive and critical audience and were loudly and enthusiastically applauded. A social gathering of the singers at Frischmeires' Hall after the con- cert pleasantly concluded the second day of the Saengerfest.
On the third and last day the delegates of the societies belonging to the State organization assembled in the fore- noon at ten o'clock at Scholz's Garden for the biennial "Tagsatzung." As officers for the next two years Messrs. Walter Tips, president, W. Brueggerhoff, treasurer, and A. Stakeman, secretary, were unanimously elected, and an in- vitation from Galveston to celebrate the next Saengerfest, the thirteenth, on the sun-kissed shores of the Gulf of Mexico, was received and adopted amid the rousing cheers of all delegates present.
For the afternoon a picnic at Pressler's Garden had been arranged, which was attended by thousands who were car- ried there by special excursion trains of the I. & G. N. rail- road. When Hon. A. W. Terrell, of Austin, mounted the speaker's stand at about four o'clock, the large grounds were filled by an immense multitude of merry and joyous people. In an half hour's speech Mr. Terrell spoke inter- estingly on music and song, laying particular stress on the debt of gratitude the American people owed to Germany for the introduction of these refining and ennobling arts that brought good cheer and sunshine even into the humblest home. He then paid a glowing tribute to the Saengerfest and German social gatherings generally, which were al- ways so delightful, harmonious and orderly, that they could well form an example and pattern for American entertain- ments.
After Mr. Terrell had finished amid loud and appreci-
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ative applause, Dr. Hadra, of San Antonio, delivered the German oration. It is doubtful whether an equally scholar- ly German speech has ever been delivered from a Texas rostrum as that of Dr. Hadra at the Saengerfest at Austin in 1879. In a masterful manner and diction on the differ- ent problems agitating the minds of the people, he depicted the longing desire in the hearts of many men for intellectual advancement and the materialistic tendencies of the present age. As a softening agent in the turmoil of daily life and strife, he eloquently lauded the music, and among the beat !- tiful art of song, the folklore songs, the "Volksgesang," the real music of the people, of the masses, that captivates mind and soul with its sweet melodies and easy strains. Dr. Hadra concluded his interesting and highly instructive speech with the wish that at the next Saengerfest some American singing society might actively participate as a competitor for the laurels of Apollo, stating that this would be considered the proudest conquest of German pioneer- work in Texas.
A brilliant ball at the Opera House was a fitting finale of the jubilee Saengerfest, that had been of unparalleled success from beginning to end.
Thirteenth Saengerfest at Galveston, 1881.
On May 18th, 1881, the Texas Saengerbund assembled at the fair Oleander City for the celebration of the thir- teenth State Saengerfest. The people of Galveston had made extended preparation for this occasion. An immense pavilion with a scating capacity of 5800 had been built at the beach, and there the two concerts of the Saengerfest were held, while the great assembly that filled the spacious hall, was fanned by the cooling breezes from the Gulf. Houston was represented for the first time in the history of the Saengerfests by the Houston Maennerchor, a triple quartette under the direction of Prof. G. Duvernoy, and the following voices: First tenors, O. F. Kuehn. A. Boccius.
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A. Baldry; Second tenors, Ernst F. Schmidt, Jacob Binz, E. Raphael; First bassos, Louis Harde, E. Blaffer, Louis Peine; Second bassos, Jolin Reichman, Gus Tips, Jacob Voorsaenger.
The program was the most elaborate of any Saengerfest, containing not only the innovation of two great concerts, but being extended over five days instead of three, as had been customary heretofore.
First Day : Reception of singers at 8 P. M. at the Union Depot. Torchlight procession to Artillerie Hall and ad- dresses of welcome by the mayor and chairman of the re- ception committee.
Second Day: General rehearsal in the morning and afternoon, and first concert at night at 8 o'clock.
Third Day: Rehearsals in the morning, oyster roast and fish chowder on the beach at noon and afternoon; sec- ond grand concert at night, followed by a grand ball at the Garten Verein.
Fourth Day: Procession ( Festmarsch) of all singing so- cieties, fire department and military companies. In the afternoon, picnic and concert by orchestra in Schmidt's gar- den, and summernight's festival at night.
Fifth Day: Excursion over the waters of the bay of Galveston and the Gulf of Mexico. Biennial session of delegates of the Texas Saengerbund. Reception and prome- nade concert in the afternoon at the Garden Verein. At night grand Saenger-Commers (banquet). This extensive program was carried out without the least hitch or im- pediment. The singers enjoyed the fest immensely and all returned home after having spent five days most pleasantly and agrecably, unanimous in their unlimited praise of the hospitality of the inhabitants of the Island City.
The fourteenth Saengerfest was held in May, 1883. in Dallas. This was the first time the singers of South Texas had gone to North Texas to proclaim the reign of the merry
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muses of song and music, and great and most favorable was the impression made upon the American citizens of Dallas, many of whom had never before heard a mass-chorus of more than two hundred trained voices. At the Tagsatzung the delegates unanimously passed a resolution that the Saengerfests of the Texas Saengerbund should henceforth be held alternately in Houston, San Antonio, Austin, Gal- veston and Dallas, and thus the next fest was celebrated in Houston.
This rotation has been kept up regularly since then, only the time having been changed twice to conform with local conditions.
The Fifteenth Saengerfest at Houston, 1885.
Shortly after the Dallas Saengerfest the Houston Sing- ing Society "Maennerchor" ceased to exist, and instead two clubs, the "Liederkranz," Prof. G. Duvernoy, leader, and the "Saengerbund," Prof. C. E. Zeuss, leader, were formed. These two societies, although being active rivals in differ- ent matters, worked harmoniously for the success of the coming Saengerfest, the musical arrangement of which was placed in the trusted hands of Professor Duvernoy, while Messrs. Zeuss and Juenger effectively superintended the preparations for changing the large public hall in the market house into an artistically decorated "Saengerhalle." The other necessary arrangements lay in the hands of Mr. John Reichman, President, G. Tips, I. Japhet. L. Harde, L. Kosse, C. Schwarz, E. Raphael, A. Moser and E. Blaffer.
When the opening day of the Saengerfest arrived every- thing was spick an span. The city was gaily decorated along ali the principal streets, Main and Preston, Congress and Travis Streets, however, wearing the most gorgeous ap- parel. The public spirited merchants along these thorough- fares seemed determined to outdo each other in promoting the spirit of the occasion, and had draped their house fronts in the gayest attire.
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