The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1883-05-15
THE SENGERFEST.
n, First Day of the Grand Singing
Feast.
r.u Description Of the Beautiful
Temple Of Song.
d.. Brilliant Torchlight Procession
Some Historical Data.
STRAY Notes and Pertinent Pointers

r, Dallas has been vouchsated the honor
and privilege of entertaining the four
,..rtb biennial session of the Texas S@n'
..,,s,t The occasion, fraught with so
nrcb moment, the HERALD is rejoiced to
ro,s has been fully appreciated by our
,s.iaepts. Nothing has been left undone
,b.t SHOULD have been done that would
,.nt 10 the comfort AMI pleasure Of guests.
rvsy provision. within the confines OF
,s,son. has been provided for the enter
sjnnent ofthose who have extended the
.r"onracement of their presence, and they
.,s almost numberless even at
az. very date. The SHngeriest
San association OF singers, who, through a
lava nj the art, assemble to worship at the
urine of Euterpe. The term SHngerfest,
ina literal sense, is defined rs quartette
flour male voices. Its introduction into
4 America, and It's subsequent departure,
nom its accustomed guidance, is due, to II
4 meat extent, to untavorable and embarrass-
ine circumstances. Just at the sojourn OF
M Napo!eonic ides and when political
events were on the rampage
throughout Europe, it was deemed
nonC. in order to divert the clamor for
potca freedom, TO form associations for
4 ,beculture of music. The desired effect
resulted beyond expectation. The history
h a long one, but the object turned out
hyoraby. Then it was that new impetus
was given to the cultivation of vocal and
instrumental music, and it was nurtured by
al the governments of Europe and
especially so by Germany. During
the famine succeeding the year 1910, it was
considered mete by the dynasty of Ger
many and adjacent soil, that the middle
classes should be transported to America.
This quasi edict applied with especial force
TO the German empire. Those kindly dis
posed to the idea were encouraged and sup.
ported with money and influence.
And thus it was that large mum
bers landed upon the shores
Of Texas under the protection of Prince
SOlms Braunsiels. Many hardships, it is
true, were suffered and the colony was fear.
fully deClmsted through sickness. A suth.
Gent number, however were spared, with
the storied songs of the fatherland still
Wondering in their breast, to hold the first
SGDgerivst in New Braunsiels in 1852, 1t
Was voted to hold them bi.
ennialy,' and this regulation was ad-
hered TO up to the commencement of
OfOar civil strife. During the internecine
disagreement, aud for several years after
ward, S0ngellest was abandoned. In 1869
the Old impulses found an audience in the
German breast of Texas and another state
convention was called TO meet at New
Btaunsiels Since that date the meetings
haye been regularly held every two years,
the fourteenth of which Dallas has the
ura Of ,,,t,
courtesy was wisely conferred and is fully
appreciated. Dallas is famous for her hos.
pllaty and never acquitted herself to bet
tn advantage than on the present occasion.
THE BUILDING.
The hall, situated at the intersection OF
Lamar and Jackson streets, is a structure
upY which visitors lavish many encomi-
udS, and II is certainly deserving OF the
most enthusiastic praise bestowed. 1t is a
aOrcS building, two hundred feet square,
and was.erected at cost of $50 900 1t is
Completed in the most improved style, and
SOFA modern pattern. The ROOT is of cor
fugated iron, in curvature form,
WIN q lofty turret over
hemain entrance The dimensions of the
main hall are l35 by 20 feet, and its seating
capacity will accommodate seven thousand
persons. The seats are elevated one above |
another and are so constructed that per
ectvlew OF the hall is open to every occu-
pant The stage is also elevated, and pre-.
@n's the singers in bold review. In fact, |
every appointment is admirably conceived |
ana thoroughly completed. The main hall |
y Well ventilated and will afford but |
nt'le complaint on the score of neat. Seven |
eectric lights and about 200 gas Jets will |
furnish the needed illuminations during
Ae evening entertainments.
DECORATIONS.
Inc decorations are the finest ever at |
Wmpted in the state, a reference to which |
I Ias been made in former issue of the |
HERALD. Just over the main entrance to |
me nall are noticed the colors of America
sn1uermany, each thirty feet IN dimensions |
and so entwined as to form vase. The
vase surmounted by the word "Wel. |
come worked in garlands of rainbow hues,
WIN which ii is intended TO overflow, A |
alge harp constructed OF brilliants and |
sarlahdS guilds this feature. The coat of
MinS oil every nationality, in the form of
SmSilS, adorn the massive pillars OF the
nall, ana present pretty and imposing
steVlae'e' Just over thestage float the flags |
every nation, with harps OF garlands
anu brlllants underneath and in |
sueventer. Flower cornices are conspicuous
w. .he SIDES, and are so arranged as to pro-
a s acharmlng effect. From the center
VI Ihe building, beneath the roof, eleven
,sheailers OF garlands stretch forth in every
u.Hiecllon and add much to the beauty OF
mes surroundings. The windows are
,uaueu with lambrequins and afford soft
suOugh perfectly distinct light On the
uSS.snern and southern WALL the portraits
% such famed musical authors rs Haende,
WVselnoven, Schuman, Mendelsshon. List,
"asn.t' Meyerbeer, Verdi, R)ssini, Schu-
nv bach and Mozart are prominent,
wv large vases OF flowers ornament each
eeSuehlly OF the stage and are lovely in APP
pvMance, Over the side entrances are
,a. and German flags entwined to-
s sr' Much taste and an enormous
s onS OF tact is displayed in the decora.
c cg, me view is charming and highly
s que building, TOO, presents magnificent
sppearance, Thirty.two flags, represent.
,ns 'he different states. grace so many tur.
, Sel chlet among which grandly floats the
s .;I OF America, supported on either
sue Oy those Of Germany.
TUE TORCH LIGHT PROCESSION.
at nlght The opening festivities of the |
sion he''es' began with a grand process
, s NO, less than one thousand torches were
u ,ne procession, and the brass bands, one
ra ,ne mead of division, made the sweeteN
u, Mshal music. A hunter OF the members
S sn,' sanger socaty were in the process
S Mn anu 1t extends in length over three
SSs' Colonel Henry Ervay
L,"s chiet marshal with some
%., . dozen assistants. The procession
m,,n AT the SWngeriest building and
ih a,,vutu up Lamar street TO Commerce,
nr.,e To Austin aud thence to the tri.
Snl pna array at the intersection ol Main
NJ Stru ..' we arch. The streets along the line
Ss. "MVh were oil brilliantly lighted with
eS Jes chinese lanterns and the burning
sio o.ue and red lights here and there. All
rocn .ne line of the procession as 1t moved
MATS and roman candles we're shot off,
tsa magnificent display, As a whole
d Iv toIehlight procession was magnificent
disn and ma ~ beautiful transparences
..-l s...ssle1 appropriate notices.
.T-. s.ENGRRrEsr MOTIFS.
nwuesales from the singing societies 10
FraSan galveston, San Antonio, Waco and
Fral imIksourg arrived yesterday.
hay e thousand reserved Spnperfest seats
III ueen sold by Mr.. Moninger.
sue engine housp has ham tostofnllv