Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-07-31
Annual Fest" of the German Singing
Societies.


!
BUFFALO, N. Y, July 20, 1860.
Having often observed the interest in music
manifested by your paper, venture hurried
account of grand festival" just closed here.
The occasion was the annual "fest" of the
"North American Saengerbund, "a conven.
ton of the various German singing societies
of the country. The cities represented were
New York, three societies. Boston, Philadel-
phia, Pittsburg Cleveland, Columbus, Akron,
Albany, Rochester, Buffalo, and others. The
fest having been appointed year since, at
Cleveland, ample time was afforded for all ne
cessary preparations and when the time ar
rived Buffalo was ready to extend fitting
welcome to her guests.
For several days previous to the occasion
the streets of our beautiful city began to give
evidence of approaching festivities, and by
opening day had assumed a really beautiful
appearance. Arches, testoons of greens and
bunting, transparancies, notices, banners, and
flags, innumerable, among which prominently
Haunted the sanguinary German red republi-
can "1ag Of 40, met tho eye on every side.
Monday was devoted to the reception of such
societies as arrived, and a "welcome" concert
| given by the Saengerbund and Liedertapie So
cietes of Buffalo to their guests. This was an
admirable concert--a worthy Inauguration of
an occasion that perhaps has had no equal in
our country.
On Tuesday evening, in the immense depot
of the Central Railroad occurred the NAM
moth event of the week. The depot is 4SO
feet in length and about 100 feet in breadth
a stage, consisting of one broad platform for
the orchestra and fourteen rows OF seats rising
one above the other, was built at the enclosed
end of the building and seats for the accom-
mediation of six thousand persons filed abou
two thirds of the grand Auditorium" III
creased facilities for lighting the building wer,
introduced and added much to the general eff
feet OF the room. About twelve thousant
persons were present at the concert, not count
ing the thousands that crowded the court
and streets without. And one may see man,
sights that rouse admiration, but not havinj
seen an audience like that, there is at leas
one sensation inexperienced. | know O
nothing so like such a scene as the view on
sometimes gets of vast field of grain gent
waved by lazy winds moving along in sultr,
summer morning.
The choir of this concert numbered six hur
dred and fifty-six singers and about one hur
bred instruments. The programme includes
, Overture to "Tannhauser," by Wagner Ovel
ture to Beethoven's Fidelio, LISTS "Las
Words of Goethe,-Light, more light"
, grand psalm" by Schnaben, the Hunter
t Chorus, by Tschirch, and The Midnight RI
+ view Of Bonaparte by Till, with other pieces
like character. l should mention, too, til
Pilgrims Chorus from Tannhauser, by man
. thought the especial gem of the evening
Words are inadequate to describe the massiv
, grandeur of the accumulated voices of 81
hundred singers-men singers but we VIII
listened to them, thought ourselves perhap
! better able to imagine the effect OF such trt
mendous choruses as gather occasionally j
England and Germany, than they who hay
not heard as much as we. 1t is worth a lon
journey TO hear such an entertainment an
to us Americans the opportunities are rare
When shall we have such festivals?
, Wednesday was devoted to prize sing
ing, by the different societies. This was, I
the singers, the event of the week Each 81
ciety sung alone, and relied upon the jud,
ment of committee to award to the best
splendid goblet worth Sl00) as the prizC
The "Arion" of New York won the prize, bl
if applause from crowd is worth anything
the "Orpheus" Of Boston, and "Lederkranz
oil New York, must have given the committe
great credit for discriminating judgmen
However, all seemed satisfied with the resu
of the contest, and singers even though the
were, no sign of jealousy or envy appeared
Thursday was spent in pcnicing, a d in
splendid ball at st. James Hall. A rain
morning was the first and only unpropitiou
circumstance of the week. Friday was deyo
ed to an excursion to the falls. To-day tSa
urday) is parting day-and SO the great Saen
ger.fest is of the lost.
One whole week of music and happiness
When can we Americans ever get start i
such good and beautiful emotions Why nc
now make u beginningq How many socete
will meet together at some appointed pac
next year VIII yaur Worcester society jo
in such an enterprise Do let us begin now
Think of a union of the glorious old Handle
and Hadyn of Boston, Harmonic" and Men
delssohn" of New York, with the forces tina
might easily now be organized from Portland
to Chicago, and the mighty effects with which
such choruses as "Hallelnjah" and its likes
might be rendered. appoint you my "agenl'
Tor receiving and forwarding the names oil any
societies willing to join the great "Amercar
Choral Union" UNION.