The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-01-04
New Year Marks Progress in Prep
arations for the National
Saengerfest.
EXPECT TO RAISE $4,000.
Orchestra Will Be Composed of
Two Hundred Instrumental
lists. to Be Led by Di-
rector Ernst.

The thirty-irst National Saengerfest. to
be held in st. Louis next June. according to
the New Year report OF the officers having
| preparations IN hand. will be the largest
gathering of singers tina has yet met to-
gether In one place in the United States.
Since the selection OF the Worlds Fair
| city az the location for the music festival,
! work of preparation has gone steadily for
ward. President Otto F. Stifel has received
word from the many singing societies
throughout the country that unusual inter-
est Is being manifested in the St. Louis
festival. In reply the message has been re-
turned that St. Louis means 10 give a true
demonstration OF what st. Louis hospital
ity can do.
Profiting by the experience Of previous
years the work Of the local organization
has been to put the work OF preparation on
Il sound financial basis. Funds have been
actively solicited. and the reports thus far
are very gratifying. There IL every lndica,
ton, say the officers, that the desired 1uio
CT s5a,Ut will be raised without trouble.
ORCHESTRA OF TWO HUNDRED.
The Committee on Music is at present
actively engaged in selecting 10 trained IN
strumentaiists, who shall compose the fes-
tlval orchestra. As IS usual on these occa-
sions the nrst concern Will be to draw the
music forces from the home city, and when
these no longer meet the supply, to re-
enforce the festival orchestra from among
the leading musicians of other cities In the
Union.
Mr.. Alfred Ernst of the Choral Symphony
Society will be the leader. For the last
nine years Mr.. Ernst has addressed HIM
self 10 the twofo.d duty of building up a
representative orchestra for st. Louis and
advancing the local taste in the higher mu-
sic.
his body will consist of the leading male
and femaie singers of st. Louis, REINFORCED
by the SIMILAR c~ontingents from neighboring
cities. and it is the duty of this chorus to
u nrfhi1y raNQiyn y-ffh the vraoffnU cnrn y
the visiting. singers. This chorus. having
thus assisted at the receptions OF the singers
from afar and thus met its art obligation,
according to the dictum of the North
American Saengerbund. is then ~disbanded.
In order that the festival may be con-
Quoted in accordance with the wishes Of the
general public on the occasion Of the re-
Chorus will sing only in English. Accord,
of the following great compositions:
Finale Of Mendelssohn's uncompleted
Finale D Of act ! Of Wagner rGN famous
LoHESGRIN EXCERPTS
The Iohengrin excerpt, beginning with
presentation the assumption by the sololsts
OF the parts of King Henry. the fowler,
and the latter's sinister spouse, Ortrud. and
only artists of the first rank are to be
engaged for these parts. In this lumber the
CAUI rs HIS dSull d SpAchou Vppoi I'LL AOT
effective presentation and this will doubt
less be employed to full advantage. The
massed male chorus of the Festival Chorus
section win also sing American national
songs.
Up to yesterday applications to the num-
her of 600 for positions In TIC. chorus have
been received IN the offices OF the Festival
Board. Nos. 3l5-s1s WainwItKhf building.
The officers of the board hare announced
that II is their intention to recruit the cho
rus until 1000 singers have enrolled.
Rehearsals will be held in various parts OF
the city. "a follows:
West End-The Odeon. Grand and Finnsy
avenues. First rehearsal to take place jan
uary "a. under the direction OF Doctor +. e.
Fischer.
Central Section The Liederkranz Han.
Thirteenth street and Chouteau avenue.
First rehearsal. January 16. under the d.
rection of Richard Stempf.
South Side-Lemp's Park Hall. Thirteenth
and Utah streets. First rehearsal. January
16. under the direction Of William Lange.
North End-Freie Gemeinde Hall, Twen-
tieth and Dodier streets. First rehearsal:
january Il, under the direction of Fred
Schillinger.
The hours OF all these rehearsals, which
take part regularly each week. are from y
to 10 p. m. -