Morning journal and courier., 1889-07-04
THE GREAT SINGING CONTEST.

- rlon Concert Last Evening Tho
 Many Singing Societies Present-Pre-
 parations Made by the AriOns fer
 Entertaining Their Visitors - The
 Concert a 8ig Success - The Arlons'
 Decorated Building.
 The preliminaries of the great German sengerfest were ushered in yesterday, and even the disagreeable state of the weather did not suggest ono possibility that the big event for which 80 many preparations have been made could be anyting but grand suc- cess. The circles of the German societies were astir with remarkable activity through out the day. The Arion society, which is to entertain the many guests during the big festival, has drissed it's hall in the brightest colors and emblems that can be found, and a prettier place in which to welcome the many visitors could not have been procured. A great many of the members of the society gathered at the hall early in the morning and began preparations for welcoming the numer- ous guests which were soon to flood the city.
 Among the first societies which arrived in town was the Concordia of Seymour with twenty.six men. They came on the 9:20 train. During the morning the Germsnia of South Norwalk, the Liederkrsnz of South ington, the Sengerbund of MerideIl, the Ger mania and Concordia of Bridgeport had sent a large number of their representatives to the City of Films. The Hartford societies arrived shortly after noon, and most of the other State societies were represented by scores of members by nightfall. Nearly 200 more arrived on the late trains last evening. and still greater number is expected this
 morning. The Arions were at the depot with the Second regiment band as ssSh train bearing the o.os,ss ssss5A guests from the depot to their hall at Church and George streets. Here large luncheon was spread out on many tables throuebous the day, and the hungry. visitors passed in and regaled themselves after their journey to their heeFt's content.
 AZ noon song of welcome was sung by the Arions to their many friends who were assembled about the hall. The president of the State Sengerbund, Gustave Harder, made an address to the many societies and much enthusiasm was manifested. Prob ably more than half of the visitors have brought their families along with them to enjoy the general festivities.
 The multitude of visitors are provided with lodging places by the Arion society. As soon as they arrive in town they are given tickets which entitle them to places which have been secured by the society. This is all paid for by the Arions out of their treas ury, and the visitors are so well provided for by this society during their stay that they are under the necessity of spending very little for their visit
 A grand rehearsal of the evenings concert was held at the Hyperion at o'clock in the afternoon. Mayor Peck was present and ad- dressed the large number of Germans which had assembled. He was finely introduced by Selectman Sternberg, and congratulated fore the societies in their great celebration and offered them the Inequalities of the town.
 THE MAYORS ADDRESS.
 It gives me great pleasure to meet with the disciples of Handel, Beethoven and Mozart. Confucius said 100 years before Plato "Wouldst thou know of people well gov- erned, if it's manners be good or bad, exam inc the music it practices" Judging by this standard our people must be excellently we'll governed for at no period of our history has there been so much attention paid to the cultivation of correct musioal taste as now. If the barometer of good morals and good government is moved or influenced by the conditions of the atmosphere of music then we should interest ourselves in improving the condition. One writer says "Music washes away from the aoul the dust of every day life."
 Luther says music is discipline, and a mistress of order and good manner, she makes the people milder and gentler, more moral and more reasonable.
 It is said that music is coeval with our race. We are not informed that Adam and Eve had singing schools in the Garden of Eden, but we may conjecture that songs and dancing contributed to festivity when the race began to multiply, and we learn from history that the mention of musical instru- ments dated back to the sixth descendent from Cain ;that 800 years after ths deluge both vocal and instrumental music are spoken of as things in general use. The origin of mu- sical instruments, like the flute and the harp, are traced to the Egyptians, and from the long residence of the Hebrews in Egypt 1t is no improbable conjecture that their music was derived from that source. However that may be, music, vocal and instrumental, made one important part of their religious service. If the excellence of the music was conform able to the sublimity of the poetry which 1t accompanied there would be no injustice in supposing 1t unspeakably superior to that of every other people, and the pains that were taken to render the tabernacle and temple music worthy the subjects of their lofty odes leaves little doubt that 1t was so. The Hebrews in- sisted on having music at marriages, on ans niversary birthdays, st victories, at the in. auguration of their kings, In their public worship and when they were coming from afar to attend the great festivals of their na tion.
 But will not dwell on the history of mu- sic, only to say that it is within the last 200 years that music has been brought to such perfection. 1 believe it can be said with truth that we owe a great deal to the Germans fol the advance which we have made in this art We have caught the love for, and study oi music from them and this is owing largely no doubt, to the fact that so many of oul people who wish to perfect themselves in thif queenly art go to Germany to acquire the ne- cessary instruction.
 Probably the most popular songs ever known are those which were composed dur | ing the War for the Union. When George F. Root wrote "Tramp, tramp, the boys are marching" Q number of charitable ladies Of Chicago had arranged to give an entertain- ment, the proceeds of which were to be con. tributed to soldier's fund. The Doctor was uncertain about the merit of his song but he resolved to try 1t on the public thu night of the entertainment. It touched tn, tender chord of the heart of the public, and the soldiers too, and within a week after its original delivery it was being sung by every army in the field.
 Dr. George F. Root composed many of the best songs of the war, among them "Who'l
 save the left, :" "Battle Cry of Freedom" !" ant
 SO forth. These songs were sung in the camp, at fresides in the home and at all so.
 cial gatherings. Who can tell how muct this contributed to our final success. do not think New Haven is behind 1T musical culture. On the contrary, we ar, abreast, to say the least, of other cities, but
 as our city is taking the lead in it's education. | al advantages she should advance on the lin, of musical instruction. and much as we sn | courage athletic sports we should not allow them to overshadow the more refining in Auence of intellectual recreation.
 About three hundred of the four hundred | voices which sang in last evenings concer were present in the afternoon. The singer were massed upon the stage and were led b, Emil Peters of the Arion and Harmoni clubs of this city. A large number of ladie Il and other friends who were interested il the concert occupied seats in the auditor ium. Mayor Peck occupied a box and number of guests of the Arions were in othe boxes.
 The theatre was adorned with flags, em blems and trophies similar to those whic hung so prettily in the hall of the Arions.
 By eight o'clock in the evening, tn Hyperion was filled by a large gathering Tho big chorus of four hundred voices wer massed upon the stage. The boxes wer
 filled with ladies and prominent citizens an
 officials.
 At the concert tho two lower boxes at tn
 right were occupied by Lieutenant Governo