St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-06-06
THE SENGEERFEST.
The German Singing Societies Hold
ing Their Annual Festival.

The German Singing Societies Hold.
ing Their Annual Festival.
The day which has so long been looked
forward to with feelings of the livelieSt
pleasure by the German singers of the state
dawned yesterday beautiful and bright,
and the first days program of the thirteenth
fest of the Minnesota SRngerbund was car
ried through without a twitch or flaw. The
st. Paul societies assembled in the morn
ing at 10 o'clock at the headquarters at the
atheneum, and preceded by Siebert's band
marched to the union depot to receive the
Saltwater delegation. The other delega-
tons arrived in the city earlier III the morn
ing.
THE RECEPTION.
The guests were escorted to headQuar-
ters, where Henry Weber. the chief mar
shall, introduced Albert Scheffer as the
president Of the festival
Mr.. Scheffer made felicitouS speech in
his usually happy manner. saying that the
visiting singers could easily see by the smil-
ing faces of their hosts how welcome they
were. and that the city felt proud to enter
tain so eminent body of singers. Music
and song had through all time been the
balm for the woes of earth. the bitterness
of life and the pangs Of poverty. From his
own experience he knew it. His own fam
lily was pOOF when he came to this state and
for whole year had no meat to eat. The
father then sung over and over the German
marseilaiSe, Friend. ! Am Content" An
Indian one day gave to the father piece
of meat. WhereupOn the whole family sang,
Eve are the Kings Of the Earth" Laugh
ter. The speaker dug up Incidents from
classic history. showing how beneficial had
been the influence OF song in the world
He then introduced Herr Adolph Jarshi-
SheE, the president of the S@ngerbund
He babe the visitors welcome in the name
Of the societies i'll ST Paul. The city had
dressed her streets in holiday attire in honor
of her guests. 1t was the aim of this festi-
val to make more firm the bonds of friend
ship between the unions, and to show that
the COMMUNICATIONS in their thoughts
and ways were becoming more and more
impregnated with American life This
was the silver jubilee of the Sengerbund,
and the speaker hoped that in another
twenty-five years. when the golden jubilee
should come, it would. find the union still
marching forward.
Mayor Rice was next introduced. He
also spoke of the great pleasure it gave him
to welcome the societies to the city. He
was also a wOrShiper at the shrn of music
and was reiOiced to see such a gathering
composed of German-Americanc citizens. As
the father of the city, among his sons and
daughters, there were none i'll whom he
took more pleasure than the Germans. He
hoped at some future time to meet the
organization again.
Speeches were also made by Mr.. erode,
the musical director, and others. These
exercises closed with the singing of song
of welcome by the st. Paul societies.
THE CONCERT.
In the evening came the concert at the
opera house which was we'll filled. which
was all that had been anticipated for it.
The palm OF the solo singing was easily
won by Miss Emma Heckle of Chicago
whose waltz song by Arditi was sung i'll a
superb manner. Miss Hec kle will be able
easily TO number herself among st. PauPs
fav0rites. Nine. Emile Mltner and Mr.. j Ohm
Oestreicher showed themselves to be singers
OF the highest order, and We're heartily en-
cOred. The orchestral selections were by
Seiberts orchestra and were festival over
tUre by ReiSSiger. and Beethoven's over
ture to King Stephen. The opening chorus
by the combined strength of the societies
was sung with much force and spirit.
The second part of the concert was con-
test III singing by different societies for
prizes. For the prize OF the first class, to
be competed for by societies numbering not
less than sixteen. Minneapolis entered
Frohsinn, numbering twenty-four. and
Saltwater her Mennerchor. numbering
twenty. The selection sung by each was
Morning Greeting, a chorus by Kreutzer.
The NRnnerchor came first and showed in
the first few bars that it was under
capable leadership and had faith
fully practiced. In fact the chief
fault to be found with its perform
ance was the inordinate and extreme
changes made from pianissimo to fortissimo,
which showed careful and severe practice
rather than correct musical taste and judg-
ment. The Minneapolis society. OH the
other hand, while composed possibly of bet
ter singers, did not respond with such fidel-
ity to their leaders motions. The contest
was nearly even. and the judges will find it
difficult to decide between the two.
In the second class, societies composed of
not less than eight singers, the East Mime
apoliS M@nnerchOr was the only entry.
The unwonted size of the hall and audience
evidently embarrassed them, and they had
some difficulty in keeping the key, but re-
ceived hearty applause.
THE COMMERCE"
Following the concert the singers adj
journed to Turner hall where real German
''commers' was INDUCED in, each society
present singing its songs in turn, while the
beer flowed merrily.
The program for to-day has been an
nounced i'll full heretofore. The societies
will parade the streets in the morning, in
the afternoon will hold their business meet
ing in the athenaum, and i'll the evening the
second concert, followed by ball, will be
given there.