New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-07-17
THE COLOSSAL GERMAN sAENGEE-
FEST.
Origin OF the Festivais- Description Of
Them-Infercsting Proceedings.

The long-talked of Ninth Allgemeine Saen-
rerfest commenced yesterday in this city, As its name
shows the affair has been gotten mp 10y the united
singers Of the Northern, Eastern and Middle States.
who. ever since lsi9 have been eagued together in a
Brotherhood for the purpose Of ouyating vocal choral
music The German cannot exist without his popular
celebration and II the tOen is ANAL, the man
means ever 50 oramped his happy nature will not rest
conten,ei until he has least Rad one celebration
wear The origin of the singing festivals dates back "a
the time Of the Olympic Games, when proficiency IN
singing and poetry WAS Of certain OF prize as inc
sturdy athlete, who could do battle with spear and
sword.
The saengcrfes, proper in Germany cannot. how
ever be- dated back pri9r 70 the shtesn,n ssh1urt
riority in singing sometimes the origin Of bitter
feuds between the contestants The saenger'est OF
Wartburg show its great estimation by tie Teuons,
and many bard Of theirs gathered his rrst laurcs al
their festivals Richard Wagner's Iannhausor
represented Of these festivals though tue facts IN
that opera are not in strict accordance with history.
The popular mind al the beginning Of this century
being prepared by the wars for gathering Of sympa
ihizng minds, music WAS chosen re- the attractive
power and the singing societies began to take foothod
Ia Germany KoerncI's and Scher's muse furnished
many song which In those days were The property OF
the people who familarzcd with II by the means
Of the Gee Clubs. Leipzic jena, Berlin. and Vienna
boosted then Of their singing societies which did not
little toward educating the masses FOR the grand strug
gle for freedom which in 1913 "a and rs solved TIE
problem that Germany can al least Tor once be united.
Bat as soon AZ the war was over and Napoleon chained
10 the rock of ST. Helena, the dp0matiss 0f Germany
had no need Of popular enthusiasm, and steps
initiated and carried out 10 mulle the sing
ing societies because they dared 20 invoke liberty.
This lasted until 1890 when freedom again raised her
head in the Fatherland and since then, despite the
precautions Of crowned heads they have increased and
at present form power by no means despicable.
On the banks OF the Rhine. every year. musical
festival is being held at Whitsuntde alternately be-
tween Cologne. AK La Chspelle and DunewOrf and II
was at the latter place where Mendelssohn Heller and
Schubert Re,z and many others gained their reputa-
tons While this festival in this city in progress.
festival Of like object but on far grander scale there
being ess than 10000 singers engaged in it going
ON there.
In this country where music may be said to occupy
the public mind almost AS much as IN Italy and nnder
the free institutions II the land the singing societies
n rived and instead Of the Philadelphia Maennercbor
the oldest in the country and the only one there
are now upward Of five hundred societies extending
from Maine TO California aud from the 81. Lawrence
and even beyond 1t TO tho Gulf Of Mexico. All these
societies united by tue ties oi music, and the Ger
ESQ vert die dent.che Zunce Klingt
Ind Colt i'm llinlme Lieder sngt'
finds the broadest application in this country.
In 1919 the American Saenger Neieino foriaed a
league and ever since have annually OF blannuaIy,
had their singing festivals which thus far have been
held in Philadelphia In ls4y, whore the idea was
started; Baltimore in 1850; NewYork in le5l; Phla.
delphia in 1852; Baltimore in 1853 wYOrx In 1873.
Philadelphia in le57; Baltimore in 1850 and Buffalo in
ls6l but the latter rot regular festival Al the
Baltimore festival 1t resolved by the thrty.three
societies there represented TO hold the next festival in
this city IN the year 1861.
Ar the time fixed for the festival our young men
rushed TO tho defense Of the Old Flag, and many n
Saenger present at Baltimore sealed his devotion to il
by his life hood.
Last yenr however, when peace began 70 dawn. the
Singers again resumed the idea Of renewing the fest
yas and series Of meetings adopted tie plan for the
estyal Thirty -four societies enumerated in Thurs
days TRIBUNE, participated IN these deliberations and
the result is the
YIsTn GERMAN SINGING FESTIVAL
From early hour on Saturday the guests began "a
arrive but in small squads but toward night the bulk Of
the societies arrived and the streets Of the eastern
part Of the city presented an appearance both pie
turesque and CAV Almost every house in the Bowery
Essex street and the other streets where Germans live
embelshed with decorations containing notices
and designs abiding . the festival. The dwelling.
houses Of our leading Germans were not behind the
public places and all the German newspapers espe-
cially the Saats ZeitnH1 aud DersOkrat.
On Saturday evening oil the societies were expected
TO arrive by O'clock: but delay on the New-Jersey
Railroad detained them until near midnight when
they were at once taken charge Of by committee OF
arrangements to the City Hall Park where the New
York singers with torches and lanterns awaited their
arrival After song Of welcome and an address ny
Ills Honor the Mayor, the Societies marched through
Chatham.st, Bowery, Grand.st. Essexst.. AyeDue a.,
AID toufth-st, into the Germania Assembly Rooms.
ms large building. with its vast halls, spenddly
Illuminated. and contained "A large crown Of an rous
Germans. each OF whom had either friend acquaint
ance among the guests. After the inner had been
satisfied from splendid collation. 10 which zoo
persons sat down, Mr. Phillip Bssnger. the honorary
President welcomed the guests In a neat address in
which he rendered TO them the hand Of fellowship lie
was followed by the Hon. Frederick Kapp who in few
wei-timed remarks spoke to the assembago words OF
welcome and cheer. lie remarked that the singers had
to reach here by way OF Vicksbnrg. New Orleans
Richmond and Charleston, and though they had JEFF
behind in the soil Of the South many Q ffienj, -
formerly was among them they had the satsfscfSYky
know that they stayed true to the often rel cit
In songs for God. Right and Liberty" Tho guest,
then separated to the quarters provided for them b,
the Committee in varousparts Of the city escorted BY
bands OF music, at the late hour 81 O'Clock N.
| THE FIRST DAY