The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1890-06-08
Singing societies.
A History Of German Choir
uses in Hudson
County.
SONGS AND GOOD CHEER
Traits Of the Fatherland that Have
Been Fostered Here.


the German element is found, there, too.
are found singing and other musical as
sociations True to the traditions and
customs OF the yaterland the Germans
tind in the social musical club genuine
enjoyment, and ali classes fraternize in
these happy circles
La Hudson county the many singing So
cieties are an important feature of Ger
man social life, but why they should be.
as they are, almost exclusively confined
TO the masculine sex Is something pecus
societies of the kind II the county there
is only one purely rman In its man
agement, composed both male and Ie-
male members. exception 10 the
HUDSON City Geni Choir, organized
fifteen years ago, a.4zs-s-s. association in
which the late joseph Schneider ever
evinced a deep interest. The Gemischter
Choir has survived the Tuany changes
wrought BY time since its institution and
il is today a hea1thful, frst-ciass society.
Its officers are:APresident, Henry Stein
bruck; vice president, Henry Fuchs; sec
Julius Boehm, the well known director
of the popular Valencia Orchestra
Every Thursday evening the society
meets at Pohi mann's, on the Hill, and
the sweet harmony of mixed voices is a
source OF enjoy ment to all who hear 1t.
Eleven of the German singing societies
are connected with league known as
the United Singing Societies of Hudson
County. They are the Singing Society
Arion, Teutonia, MHnnerchor, Singing
Society Eiche. Gesang Verein Eintracht,
all of Jersey City Heights; Union Fill
Liedertafel. Jersey City Saengerrunde
and the MAnner Gesang Vereln Lyra;;
Hnk flra
muethlicherCh Choir, ali of Hoboken. Each
of these societies is represented IN the
central body by two delegates w. L.
Franken bach is president of the ass0cla-
ton, whose good work has been demon
surated in grand concerts for charitable
institutions, and more recently in the
erection and dedication of a monument
to the memory OF the pioneer Of German
musical societies in this country, Joseph
Schneider.
Ranking among the Oldest and best Of
German societies is the Hoboken Quar-
tette Club, a first-class organization. hay-
ing an existence OF more than thirty
years. ICw a special fayorite of Joseph
Schneider. 1t is a strong organization,
and many OF Hoboken's best citizens are
among its one hundred members. w. T.
Bender is IT'S president, and the singers
are driiied by Dirigent Herbert every
Wednesday evening at Odd Fellows
Hall
Another noted organization is the
Maenner Gesang Verefn "Lyra, former
~ known as the sSeheutzen Lyra. It
has had an active existence OF twenty
three years and is a popular institution
Of Hoboken. 1t contains many excellent
singers. including Herr Charles Bjeber,
the noted baritone. Richard Dufs IL IT'S
president and August Wehner the diri-
gent The Lyra meets Tuesday evenings
at the club house on Hudson street:
The Hoboken Liederkranz, meeting at
the corner of Fifth and Bloomfield
streets, IN that city, Wednesday evenings,
was organized fifteen years ago. II has
an active membership Of fifty. The
president is Herr Pfoersch and the diri-
gent William Braumann.
A JOLLY CHORUS INDEED.
The Gemuethlicher Choir, or Jolly
Chorus" meet in Disque's Hall. below
the Hill, once favorite road house in the
palmy days of the Paterson Turnpike.
The society was organized in 1879. and its
members at their weekly gatherings evil
dence the appropriateness OF the club
name. Mr.. Philip Bohley is the presi-
dent and A. Poletti the musical director.
The Union Hill societies are ali flourish
ing institutions. The ''Eintracht.n pre-
sided over by B. Hager, is thirry-fonr
years old Itnumbers fifty-tive members,
and rehearsals, held every Monday even
ing at Waas's Casino, are conducted by
| A. Poletti.
The Liedertafel is twenty-four. years
old. 1t is an influential body and num-
bers ITO members. 1t meets every Satur-
| day evening at Ruth's Hall. Its presl-
dent is r. Guenther, and Prot. Oscar
Klahre is its musical director.
The Ehrenritter is young society,
having an existence of only one year. It's
| membership is small, but under the presl-
dency of Herr Kopps, and the musical In
| struction of Herr Zung, the Ehrenritter
gives promise of a strong organization IL
| the future.
The Arbeiter Maennerchor, meeting at
| Krause's Arbeiter Hall, Is two-and-a-haif
years old and fifty singers constitute ITS
membership.
The Lyra Ouartette Club, recently or
gained, numbers fourteen members who
meet at Was Casino and are directed
.musically by Dirigent Sach.
Singing societies flourish in the old
Hudson City section. The best known
and most popular of them is the Singing
Soeiety Arion. In 1857 the Concordia and
Hudson City Maennerchor societies grew
out of the Hudson City Quartette Club,
the fiyst German singing society located
on the Hill. In 1915 the two organlzR-
lions united under the name Singing
Society Arion. The minutes and other
documents of the Concordia and Maen-
nerchor societies are part of the Arion'
archives, aud Charles Locke, ST.. and A.
Ffken fischer, pioneer members OF the
Hoboken Quartette Club, and the latter
its first director, are honorary members
of the Arion.
From It's organization the Ar1on Socl-
ETY. has been a justly popular institution
But its strength and influence nave
greatly increased the past few years, and
| today no musical organization IN the
State has q better name and standing.
| The society owns its club house and nall,
| at the corner of Hutton street and Cam
| bridge avenue, and among its one hun
| dred and fifty members are many OF the
| most influential citizens and enthusiastic
musicians of the Hill. Its officers are;--
President, Philip Pattsberg; vice presi,
dents, E. P. Reichhelm and Walter
/ Wirths; secretary, Oscar Polenz, and
treasurer, Stephen Lieber, Wilhelm
Groeschell is its dirigent, and under MS
direction the Arion now ranks among the
best German singing societies OF the
country.
SONG ON THE HILL
Another popular society OF the Hill IS
| the Teuronia Maennerchor, meeting Tues
day evenings at Henkel's Casino, corner
of Palisade and Rayine avenues IL was
organized in 1882, and now numbers about
eight-five singers The officers ares Presi-
dent, b. Buemler; vice-president. Charles
Somner; secretary, w Stelber. 1t Is dl
reeted by Prof Oscar Klahre, and for it,
| proficiency in German song and the ex