New-York tribune., 1900-07-01
THE BIG SONG FESTIVAL.
FORMAL OPENING OF THE GERMAN
SINGING CONTESTS.
NORTHEASTERN sAENGERBUND TO BREAK
RECORDS IN CELEBRATION OF ITS
GOLDEN ANNIVERSARIES
KAISER'S PRIZE.
KAISER's PRIZE.

The great sangerfest was begun last night. 1t
is irrld in the 18th Regiment Armory, at Sumner,
Jefferson and Putnam aves This carnival of
song Will take a place in the history of music IN
this country because OF the magnitude OF the
undertaking and the number of those taking
part if for no other reason. Some Of the well
known soloists of the country will add TO the
attractions Men prominent in the German
musical world for half century will aid in the
direction OF the huge song celebration. The sue
cess of the festival is being watched not only
in this city and this country. but in Germany,
whose Emperor for the first time has offered a
magnificent prize 10 be competed for in America
The celebration opened formally last night is
the nineteenth National festival held by the
Northeastern S8ngerbund This sangerbund
is an association of 24O German singing socie-
ties in New-York. Pennsylvania, New-Jersey'
Rhode Island. Connecticut Massachusetts and
the District of Columbia In 1850. in Phiadel-
phia was held the first celebration OF the SAN
Esrsest. Three years ago the festival was held
there again. In 1903 the festival will be held
Fl Baltimore. The present celebration marks
the golden jubilee Of the Northeastern Sanger
bund.
En- peror William OF Germany has given a
statue OF a mediaval minstrel, for which only
eight societies Will compete. This small num-
Der is due the fact that most Of the aspiring
riority of the Brooklyn Sangerbund. This
ciety has for it's director Louis Kommenich.
There will be ninety-fve voices in his chorus.
royal competition of song is expected. The
singing for the Kaiser's prize has been reserved
for Wednesday July +. The greatest interest
Of the week is centred in this competition. The
winning society may hold the trophy until the
next National festival. when it must be offered
again for competition. the holder being
cluded from the contest.
THE KAISER PRIZE.
The Kaiser's prize is said by those who have
seen il to be beautiful in design and workman
ship. 1t is of solid silver and stands three and
one-half feet in height. It is worth $4,000 in a
marketable sense, but is practically beyond
value as trophy. 1t was selected by the EN-
peror himself from twoscore artists designs sub
mitted by the best artists of Germany. The
song to be sung by the societies in this compe-
ution and the music to which the song is to be
sung were selected out Of several hundred sub
mitted. The selection was made by the Music
Committee OF the sangerbund
The Kaiser's song, which is entitled My Ger
man Song" was composed by Peter Fassbender,
Of Switzerland. The words are by Adolph Hacht-
mann. of Brooklyn.
FIVE BROOKLYN SOCIETIES COMPETE.
Five Brooklyn societies will compete for the
Kaser's prize-the Arion, the Sangerbund, the
Williamsburg, the Deutsches Liederkranz and
the Beethoven Liederkranz. The other three
competing societies the Junger Manner
chor of Philadelphia; the West Newark Quar-
tet Club and the Kreutzer Quartet Club, Of Man
haitian.
To-day there will be general convention OF