The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-10-31
PERSONAL SKETCHES.
Carl Barus's Transition from Architecture
and Farming to a Musical Directorship
he of Aho Ind;nnn-al:.

Carl Barus's Transition from Architecture
and Farming to a Musical Directorship.
The leader of the Indianapolis Mannerchor
Carl Barus, was born in Schurgast, Silesia,
Oct. II, 1923. in 1929 he began attending
school in Oppeln, Silesia where his aptitude for
music soon became apparent and in 1888 he
began course of musical training in the gym
nasium at that place. He remained there for
FIVE years, studying with great assiduity and
making rapid progress. When fifteen years old
he went to Briez, in Silesia. TO prosecute his
study of music under direction of the eminent
teachers, Organist Forster and Cantor Fischer.
In 1S41 he went to Breslau, where he studied
under Prof. Friedrich Richter, of the royal
seminary, and began piano practice and the
study of thoroughbass under A. Hesse.
He remained thus engaged until 1884, when,
having reached his twenty-frst year, he en-
tered the royal architectural school. having
decided to adopt the career of architect rather
than that of musician. He entered enthusi-
astically into his new study and was about to
pass his examination for graduation when the
revolution of 1S4S came on, upsetting all his
plans and inducing him. in May, 1849, to come
to the United States.
On coming to this country he made up his
mind that farmers life was the life for him.
He bought land in the neghborhood of Saginaw
City, Michigan, where he remained until the
year 1851 Besides attending to his farm, he
brought together singing society of forty five
voices. In 1851 he and a friend conceived the
! purpose of forming concert troupe. He went
to Cincinnati and his friend to New York in
| search OF singers. The friend found a lucrative
| business in New York, remained there and the
travelling concert project failed to materialize.
| Prof. Barus made an engagement in Cincin-
natl to fill the position of leader of the orchestra
| in the German Theater, and this was his first
step in brilliant and successful musical career.
| In 1882 he was engaged as leader of the Ger
| mania Liedertafel and Turner ging societies.
| In 1856 ne was made leader of the Phil
harmonic Society, an organization =. OF
| the society performed a series of SYM
| phonies by Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Mozart,
! Haydn and Gade In 1858 he became leader OF
| the Cincinnati M@nnerchor and directed in its
concerts as we'll as in the operas, GEAR und
Zimmerman" "Stradella." "Der Freschuetz, y
| might Camp of Granada" "Massaniello, LA
| Dame Blanche" ''Undne" and "Oberon." In
1869 he took direction of the Society of Orpheus
and with it performed Tampa" "Wildschuetz,
| 'Gustav Ill.," "Unterbrochene," and "Opfer-
| fest After these renderings the society gave
| only classical concerts
In 1860 he organized his only American soci-
! ETY., the Harmonic and directed it in the rend-
| ton of Messiah" Creation" ''The Seasons, ~
| etc. In connection with all these he led musical
festivals at Canton, O., in 1854. Indianapolis 1858,
! Lafayette 1859. Terre Haute 1860. Columbus, o.,
| 1865 and in Indianapolis in 1868-the first great
musica. event Indianapolis ever had, the National
! Sangerbund, for which special building was
erected on the courthouse square. In 1858 he
was made musical principal of Wesleyan College.
| He was long at the organ of the Jewish temple
on Plum street. beside which at times he occu-
pied like position in number of Christian
| churches.
| After leading the great North American mu-
steal festival at Cincinnati in 1879 he made up
| his mind to remove to Indianapolis city which
had always been favorably disposed to him, as it
is to all men of musical ability. In 1882 he re-
moved to this city and became leader of the
| M@nnerchor, which position he yet holds
| The first week in June, 1885, will not soon be
| forgotten in Indianapolis, giving as it did the
| grand musical festival at Tomlinson Hall led by
Professor Barus, Papa" as he was called by
the chorus for his,quiet, fatherly care. He con-
tinues to be, as he always has been, busy man,
as in addition to directing the Msennerchor, his
| duties as organst at the First Presbyterian
Church, and vocal instruction given to private
| pupils, he always manages to have other irons
! in the fire.