Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-06-18
OLDEST SOCIETY
GEsaNGyEREIN VIRGINIA FORTY
SEVEN YEARS OLD THIS WEEK.
The FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA MOVE.
Both Organizations Hard at Work
Their Needs-A Great Revival in
Music in Prospect-RcyiVni of the
Mozart Association.

The chartering of the "Gesangverein
Virginia Club" last week, calls to mind
the fact that the musical society of
which the club is an offshoot Is the oldest
social organization in the city.
The club Is to be entirely separate and
Independent Of the musical society, but
it is for the benefit OF the members of
the latter. The club Will take charge Of
the societys property on Seventh street.
known as Sanger Hall, which Will be the
private clubhouse Of the two organiZa-
tions.
The first minutes OF the Gesangverein
Virginia, written in German, with precise
penmanship, show that the society was
organized on the Ist Of July, 1852. Mr..
Oscar Cranz, ST., was in the chair, and
that gentleman now enjoys the distinction
Of being the only survivor Of the enter
prising band that promulgated the assoc
cation The minutes do not record the
place of meeting, but they bear the sig
natures of all the fifteen members pres
ent, who We're: Mesrs. oscar CranZ, ST.,
h. c. Zimmerman, T.. Behrent, Bernard
Krausse, ~ Schad, Max Mielke. c. Rit-
tershouse, q. KONG, r. Lehmkuhl, john
Happier, c. Weimer, H. Won Groning, r.
Dollinger, c. Guminger ana +. Kempe.
The purpose of the organization IS thus
stated We, the undersigned. band our
selves together for the purpose OF social
intercourse and to advance music and
song"
Mr.. c. Emminger was elected as the first
presiding officer, and Mr.. >. Krausse the
first musical director.
The first flag OF the Geslngverein Nir-
ginia was presented on June -, 1888, and
is still carefully preserved in the rooms OF
the society," and is in an excellent state OF
preservation.
The members took part in the National
Sangerfests at Philadelphia in 1853. ana
the following year in Baltimore, and the
society has been represented at many OF
these song festivals al New York, Phila-
delpha, and Baltimore, and some twelve
years ago they were successful competi-
tors for one of the prizes.
Messrs. Charles H. Siegel. Thilow, anc
Ambould have been among the most sue
cessful directors
The anniversary of the Gesangvereir
Virginia will be celebrated this year OF
July 3D. 1t will be purely social func-
ton held I'm the rooms of the society, ana
only the members and their families viii
be invited to be present.
Shouts of rejoicing have gone skyward
from many quarters during the last week
at the announcement that Richmond IS
TO have a permanent festival orchestra.
and a symphony orchestra. to boot. There
is excellent material here for both,
but the present outlook is not en-
couraglng, and the fittest will probably
survive. 1t is now pretty generally UNI
derstood that a great conductor Is as
necessary TO an orchestra as great
pianist 20 a piano The central figure In
the musical world used to De the prima
donna. but the development of the mo-
dern orchestra has changed all that, and
the conductor has ousted the diva from
pride Of place. Wherever one looks-lon-
don. New York. Berlin, Paris. Vienna
il is the conductor question that is agi !
tating peoples minds.
Some difficulty has been experienced IN
organizing the orchestras, or at least, !
one OF them. by the objection that has ;
been advanced by some musicians against
the possibility of being called upon 10
play AT rehearsals without compensation.
They do not believe in art for arts sake.
This difficulty is not irsuperable. and the
promoters are determined to organize an
orchestra that shall command the attcn-
ton OF Southern states. and bear favor
able comparison with the Boston Festival
Orchestra and other organizations that
have come this way within the past few
years.
one thing Is quite certain, and that is
that some musicians will have TO be
brought here to make up an effective or
chestra A movement Is on foot 10 create
a fund for the maintenance Of an Orches
ira and for the reorganization or an as
sociation on the familiar lines OF the old
Mozart Association In It's palmy days.
This fund is not TO be brought about by a
public subscription or by any of the
stereotyped methods of raising a wind"
but bv a great revival festival which will
Introduce four OF the greatest artists IN
this country as soloists and the church
choirs OF the city as a chorus. The fes-
tiyal will b. given a the Auditorium, and
will be well calculated TO stir up the mu-
steal enthusiasm OF the city and sur
rounding country.
The prospects for next season seem at
this writing to be unusually bright. There
will be a fair number OF concerts to
avoid and q few that will be distinctly
worth attending. The principal events
will. of course be the concerts 10 be given
by the Wednesday Club, in November and
May. for which great preparations will be
made.
To any one interested in temperament
there is a fascination In listening TO the
pupils of any music school at their al.