Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-08-28


On several occasions we have directed
the attention Of our fellow-citizens to the
approaching grand Festival of the German
Sengerbund, and observing the efforts and
preparations being made every day, we are
convinced that it will be glorious affair
indeed. AS many of our native fellow-cit-
izens may not be conversant with the orr
gin, history, nature and object of such So
cieties, we venture giving brief statement
of what we know about them. rH
1t isa historical fact that the Germans
are emphatically g musical nation, and the
art of instrumental and vocal music has
been cultivated among them for many cen-
turies; nay, it may be said the Germans
cannot enjoy themselves without music
and singing. The ballad-singers and troub-
adours were present at every, feast in the
royal palaces, as well as in the castles of
knights, to entertain and amuse the guests,
praising the deeds of heroism and singing
the devotion and adventures of enatnored
SWANS. After the troubadours, who most
ly frequented the feasts of the grandees,
each singly for himself, singing associa-
tions were formed everywhere; first, in the
larger cities and then in the villages, and
vocal music was practiced all over the
land. Such societies evidently exerted a
very beneficial influence upon social life,
for only good and moral individuals were
allowed to become and remain members of
the same, and the ameliorating power of
music In general cannot be denied. Hence
we may infer, that II such societies and
their practices had been, In any way, i'm
moral or demoraliElng, great and good men
would not have encouraged them. t.i1
What these singing associations have
been and are in Gtrmany-moral institu-
tions for the elevation of the mind and
heart; for the enjoyment and enlivening
of social life, and the furtberance of good
morals among themselves and people at
large, the same they are in this country, also,
and the native American people should be
glad for having them in their midst, and do
everything to uphold and encourage them.
? The first society of this kind in Columbus
was established in 1884.
Tomorrow is the first day of the Festi-
val, and there will, no doubt, be a lively
and Joyous time in our goodly city.,-f
We will give short description of what
we saw in the several halls on Saturday af-
ternoon. ...
The hall at headquarters, ,Schriner's build
ing, opposite the Court House, is very hand
somely and tastefully decorated, Col. Mar
row being the Superintendent of the work.
The walls are hung with green foliage,
flags and escutcheons. Four large green
wreathes contain the following Inscriptions
In verse:
"Sing, brethren, as your own feelings
and the words of the old poet may impel
you"
whenever the strains of song float
sweetly in the air, man will free himself
from any vain burthen, and his elated mind
and heart experience the Influence OF holy
power" =
"Song inspires us like tune from the spir-
itual world, like voices from the blessed and
happy time gone by; therefore, we hail and
greet you, to competition for what is no
BILE and beautiful; you are welcome to the
pleasant contest of emulating singers"
Concord, sweet concord reign, and the
sun of peace shed his glory over our Cen
eral Association of Singers" -.,. ,r..,.
Twenty-eight Singing Associations have
announced their intention of participating
in the Festival, and their names hang In
wreaths on the wall of theshall, from which
we copy them: la .st'.ia.. g.H
l. Meannerchor, of Columbus, o.; 9.
Sangerbund, of Buffalo, N. Y; 8. Maen-
nerchor, of indianapolis; a. Wyandot Ssen-
gerbund, of Upper Sandusky; 8. Trohsinn,
of Pittsburgh; 6. Maennerchor, of Wheel
ing;7. Germania Sengerbund, of st. Louis
s. Harmonic, OF Dayton; 8. S@ngerbund,
of Cincinnati; 10. Gesangverein, Of Cleve-
land; IL. Concordia, of ShebOyan, Mich;
II. Liedertafel, of Buffalo, NY; l3. Maen-
nerchor, of Cincinnati; IA. Liederkranz, of
Louisville; Is. 1Orpheus, of Louisville; 16
Trohsinn, of Louisville; IL. Liederkranz,
of Sidney; Is. Eintracht, of ChillicOthe;
Maennerchor, of Columbus, Ind; 20. Ge-
sengverein, of Piqua; 81. Harmonic, of
Cincinnati; ~. Bruderland, of Tiffin; 49,
Maennerchor, of Rochester, N. T.; "a. Lied
ertafel, of Akron; %. Germania OF Dun
kirk, N. Y; 20. Harmonic, oof Wheeling;
27. .Trohsinn, of Toledo; 2S. Liederkranz,
of New York city. .I.ik2 HOT
The very large dining hall is also being
beautifully decorated; the workmen are
busily engaged on it, and the front and en-
frances Of the headquarters building, we
understand, will also be richly ornamented.
We shall probably refer to these decorations
again. d. n,..aa-. ~Bk
From the headquarters we wentto Weng-
er's and Zettlers Halls, at which tile work.
menwere likewise busily engaged in orna-
mentation. In Wenger's Hall are three
large wreaths, beside many smaller ones,
bearing the following Inscriptions:
'Weleome, Singers !"
"Where people sing, there you may quiz
etly and safely settle.o ,,' ,.aa .laot .. ~,
''Be embraced, millions This kiss to the
whole world " ~ aff o1 seo1e.u5t ioE"
In Zettler's Hall are also two large
Wfeaths bearing the following inscripi
tions: sS,i& loi tosg--ot.i.i d
'sWelcome, singing brethrenp'
''Sing, to whom song is gwen, -u
The Headquarters of the Maennerchor OF
this city, q large upper front room in Het-
tesheimer's building on Front street, were
alsos ON Saturday evenfngs being ornament
ed with aprofusion oflarge and handsome
evergreen wreaths and other decorations.
The Bandesfdhne flag of the Singers