San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-03-30

company shortly aluer lts lncep
ton.
For two years the members thu
sang until they were invited Il
New Braunfels in 1869, where they
first made any pretence toward or
ganized, trained singing. They
were welcomed most cordially. A
this time the membership mum
bered about Is to 20.
In 1870 the first Saengerfest was
given in the Casino hall and was 9
great success. DIR. F. Herff, now in
San Antonio, and DR.. Meissner at
tended the "Kommers" on this oc
casIon.
After the great Chicago fire Di,
rector Thielepape, who was an
architect, decided to remove To
Chicago, and did so. His position,
director was filed by the election
of Andrew Scheidemantel, the
brother of our present assistant
city clerk Chas. Scheidemantel.
He was very much liked and his
too early death was deeply re-
GREETED by his little group Of sing
ing, jovial friends.
Mr.. HI. Grossmann, whose family
still lives here, took the leadership
but was at length compelled, on
account of i'll health, to leave, in
June, 1877, for Boerne. During
his leadership, September II, 1876,
after an existence of nearly ten
years with no bylaws, no organiza-
ton, no name, the first organiza-
ton was effected, and Beethoven
was chosen as its patronymic. The
first minutes Of meeting were
written by Secretary Schuwirth,
and each member signed the roll
of mem bership. Professor Schu-
wirth still has this book which he
exhibits with pride.
After Mr.. Grossmann a gentle.
man styled Ritter Won Bukowitz
was leader for a short time, follow
ed by Prof. Zawadil, a fine mu-
stefan and orchestra leader. Under
his leadership, in 1877, the Maen-
nerchor held grand singing festi-
val in Central Park, when the
first orchestra was introduced to
the citizens of San Antonio. Mr..
Sam Maverick built a large hall
for this event, in the Park, which
was afterwarf taken away.
On account of ill health Prof.
Zawadil resigned and was succeed
ed by Mr.. Christoph Plagge from
1878 to 1880, and Mr.. Jos. Kreutner
followed him as leader. After Mr..
Kreutner's resignation, Mr.. Plagge
was chosen second time as direct.
or or leader, which caused a split
in the Maennerchor and the dis
senting members organized the
Arion Singing society.
Mr.. VIM. Barbeck, now princi-
pal of the German. English school,
succeeded Mr.. Plagge, and under
his administration reconciliation
was effected and the two societies
became one. Mr.. Barbeck was
followed for three months, by Mr..
Helbig, of New Braunfels, as di-
rector, and then Mr.. Plagge was
chosen third time as leader. He
remained for six months, and in
July, 1888, Prof. G. KatZenberger,
now of Chicago, was made director.
He was followed in May, 1884, by
Prof. Carl Beck, the present popu-
lar director.
CARL BECK
Is a native Of the grand duchy Of
Sake eimar, and being highly
educated in music, as all Germans
are in their youth, he finished his
musical education as Leipsic. He
entered the Prussian army when
he was but seventeen years OF age,
and went through the Franco.
German war. After that he spent
some time in France, and during
the Philadelphia centennial he
was introduced to America as the
leader of the celebrated Prussian
band, which, after the centennial,
toured tho principal cities Of the
United States. During this period
the band came near to San An
tonic, reaching Galveston. Re-
turning to Europe, Mr.. Beck went
through France, Italy and his own
country, for a time, and next Wis
tied America as musical director
OF a big French opera company,
which came direct to New Orleans,
but which went to pieces there
during the engagement. Mr.. l..
Doepp gathered the pieces togeth-
or, and engaging Mr.. Beck as di-
rector, came to San Antonio. Here
the members of the Beethoven and
Mendelssohn societies soon learned
his excellence as a director, and
succeeded in engaging him jointly.
The Mendelssohn is now out of ex-
istence. He has continued with
the Beethoven ever since 1884, and
under his administration the roll
of membership has increased to
over 800 OF our best musicians and
singers.
BEETHOVEN.
Ludwig Van Beethoven was
born at Bonn, Germany, Decem-