New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-07-12
CONCERT IN THE GREAT FESTIVAL HALL
ADDRESSES OF WELCOME BY Governor
M,KINLEY, MAYOR BLEE AND OTHERS.
inv rELECRAPU TO TIE Tribunal

the art Of song itself rather than the socii nsutu
lions with which the German male singing societies
are wont 10 associate it, the festival as planned would
- 20 mark a step backward. Nnetdrn years am
,,.,dod the twentieth festival OF the North-Amcn.
Ca, sa,ngerbnnd in this city. The worship OF Gam
brinus on that occasion predominaed so greatly over
the worship OF Apollo that the administrative board
., rho saencerbund concluded that In order to save
the artistic purposes of the periodical gatherings the
character Of the future festivals should be changed
, ,ovdv tribute to womans influence was paid In the
determination thenceforih to constitute the fes-
,,,I choir OF men and women 10.
toad of depending exclusively upon men.
This determination the fruit OF the Olhcihnaa
.lay festival CT the previous year, 1873, ana seemed
IN nromjse a revolution OF extraordinary sgnincance
I'm the history OF musical progress In tie Wes, The
first experiment under the new regime was made In
Louisville in 1877. the second In 1872 III 'ihelhhacL
unfortunately they demonstrated that the desire to
attain creditab5 artistic results was chiefly confined
IN the musical directors and the administrative board
The mems singing societies, when uii then had CON-
stituted the Saengerbund were still convinced that
The primary purpose Of Saengerfest was the pro
motion OF "Gemuethlchkeit' instead OF music, and
the intercIn the festivals suffered a great falling
oil.
The now idea ar American product though the
Cincinnati Nav festival OF 1873, which had inspired
IT, was itself child of the German gathering OF 1870,
WAS faithfully maintained, however, in the festivals
subsequently at st. Louis, Chicago, Bnhalo ana NIL
vroulee. AID it seemed as II the festivals OF the
North American saengcrbund had been thoroughly
regenerated Now comes the twenty-seventh festival
and discoscs return 10 the old notion. 40 not
with to ar:icipae the developments OF the week, and
shall therefore refrain from comment on the isuVa
scheme for the present Within the last twenty yeau
there has been Il mighty change in the musical
activities Of the country and it might be asserted with
much propriety and some show OF reason thit "usD
for mems voices Is again entitled to spechc CULTIVATION
in festival form. II 50, however, the manifestation
NIGH, well be modified 80 a. To employ the mav
Clubs which have sprung up all over the country
that cultivate the same kind OF music as the "ermao
societies but make use of the vernacular
The Imagination warns at the thought OF what
vould be- accomplished II such clubs as the Men,
delssohn and Musurgia OF New-York, the Apollo OF
BROOKLYN Apollo and Orphe,s OF Cincinnati ana
a hundred other similar organizations would unite 10
n festival TO exploit music composed expressr! i9r
mems voices. II would be vastly different IRON
German Saengerfest; but for that very
reason Il would perhaps be impossible Of
accomplishment. Mr. Thomas had such
festival In contemplation as feature OF
the music at the Worlds FAIR but lad to abandon 1t.
The German saengeres is only possible because OF 'ns
prediction OF the Germans for the GOOD Fellowship
which is now promoted too often at the expense of
music The present affair must be judged from 'm'
pont OF view and II 1t sa. show that the experiments
Of the last nineteen years have raised the musical
standard without celebrating the social element 70
which the German in America cngs with great@
tenocitv than any other nationality In our popuiae
tion the North American Saengerblnd Will deserve
hearty commentator. That, however, remains 10 %
SEEM for the concert Of the first day was wholly In
the hands OF the local chorus, which was composer
OF mixed voices.
All day long committees have been trudgins through
citv
various headquarters. Among the earliest arrivals
were the Liederkranz OF New-lork. which. however
Is not n member OF the saengerbund and Will take
but little active part in the festival beyono singing
alone ut the matinee concert tomorrow ana Joining
the mass chorus In the performance OF Mt. Loehners
prlze composition "Die neue Welt In the evening"
when the New-York excursionists arrived In their
special train from Chicago they were nevertheless
welcomed by the reception committee and paho
stationed without the doors OF the railway station
sent them in good humor TO the carriages winch hau
been provided by their own committee to carry them
IN the Hollenden Hotel The afternoon was spent
IN a carriage drive through the citys residential por
lion and a visit to the Garfield monument, when
with the participation in the concerts OF tomorrow
make up the ClevelsUd programme Of the pilgrims
Tho visit to this city, indeed. IS only an incident In
the Western tour made practicable b. happy CO.
Incidence OF dates, but an exceedingly amiaole ana
welcome one.
The other societies which gave greater concern 70
the committees Of reception and entertainment came
chiefly from Western and Southern cities. The chorus
Of the festival will embrace about eightyhve societies
from, thirty cities. and will number probably about
D ono voices The city has made generous show Of
bunting and other decorative features, and fesuvs
feeling peryades the people. The fesuVal nal Is .
plain structure which, by happy acciueh'' mas
proved 10 be possessed OF most admirapie acous1o
properties 1t is wholly OF wood though covered e1.
"a and
marks a departure from conventional models which
might be worthy of the attention OF architects because
of its excellence as a concert hall. 1t Is perfectly
SQUARE with the main entrance at one corner ana
the stage built across the opposite corner ihere as
seats for 5000 choristers on the stage ana eoVo
listeners in the audience room. The orchestra is built
into the middle of the stage, with moor siahtihS
downward and extending some distance under 'us
chorus seats the walls being rounded as to obtain
the acousca effects supposed to result from snen
shaped structure. The slant in the floor OF the Or
chestra results I'm the concealment OF the band from
all but the listeners In the gallery. The device u
new and apparently excellent.
The first concert OF the series OF seven which VIII
constitute the festival was the reception concert
given by the singers Of Cleveland to their NSunS
brethren persed I'm It. occupying indeed the
major part OF the programme were the ceremonials
without which 1t impossible to launch German
saen rer(est There was first address Of wetNms
hv DR. : Wolferstein the president OF the board
which organized the festival then an address OF
welcome on behalf OF the city by the Mayor Robert
Rlee: then an address of welcome on behalf Of the
state by Governor Mckinley then an address accom-
pauying the transfer of the flag OF the saengerbund
by Professor j. Ianno Deiler OF New-Orleans. Most
OF these speeches were mere dumb snow 10 tns
audience I'm the distant parts OF the room, which 10
much TOO large for speaking though admirably fitted
fr the prrposes TO which It will be devoted during
the remainder Of the week.
The chorus numbered 800, the womens voices out
numbering the mems. and outclasses them decidedly
I'm respect 70 volume and quality. The fact that this
chorus which sang the chorals from the last act OF
DIE Mcistersnger,' hymn with orchestral accom-
ponlment entitled SIN the Temple OF the Muses." by
Iermapn Nohr: the Iailstone" chorus from Israel
NcudulsS1l.n,s cnntaia The EtrSt